Jerry Van Oyen
I am a retired CRC minister, Seminary class 1957.
I have served the Hills CRC in Minnesota, Pella Calvary CRC and the12 th Street CRC Grand Rapids, Called to Foreign missions in Costa Rica and Mexico (Juan Calvino Seminary), returned to USA and served Covenant CRC in Cutlerville, then organized the Pinegate CRC Cutlerville, and my final charge was Caledonia CRC in Caledonia, MI.
During my ministry I organized the Providence CRC in Cutlerville. I served on the Calvin College and Seminary board of trustees as well as the Dordt College board; simultaneously for several years. I served the Board of Foreign Missions for a total of 19 years, one term as Vice- President. I was a member of the Back to God Tract Committee. I was a co-founder and board of Appalachia Reach-out for 19 years and during that time did the fund raising and other promotions, including the organizing and training of the 10 week summer youth ministry teams.
Since retiring, I have twice served the Orangewood CRC, in Phoenix, AZ as interim pastor, served as interim for the Lake Worth CRC in Florida, spent 3 winters working with Wycliffe Orlando and Dallas. I have been a Snow-bird pastor in West Palm Beach, Florida for 4 years, (5 months each of those years) Now I teach Bible at the Bradenton Florida CRC during the Snow-bird season. I also am a chaplain in the Port of Manatee near Tampa. I volunteer for 5 months at Anchor House which is the Seafarers Center there on the port. Our ships are all container ships or bulk carriers and their crews are from many nationalities. I minister one on one and also conduct worship services aboard the ships when possible. I am writing a series of e-mail Bible studies so that I can remain in contact with crew members who are seeking the Lord. Many are Muslims.
Posted in: Who Should Participate in the "Laying on of Hands"?
Texts such as the following indicate that the laying on of hands is much more than symbolism.
Acts 13:2-3 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off. off.
1 Timothy 4:14 Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through prophecy when the body of elders laid their hands on you.
Acts 8:14-17 When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had accepted the word of God, they sent Peter and John to Samaria. 15 When they arrived, they prayed for the new believers there that they might receive the Holy Spirit, 16 because the Holy Spirit had not yet come on any of them; they had simply been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 17 Then Peter and John placed their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.
In some congregations, anyone is invited to lay on hands. What I read in Scripture is the Apostles and Elders exercising the laying on of hands. This signifies "Apostolic succession" and the receiving of God,s gifts to adiquately accomplish the calling of God Himself. I believe that ministers and elders are those who should participate in this function which visibly conveys being set aside by God to minister the Word and sacraments.
Posted in: What advice would you give for grandparents requesting a grandchild's baptism?
Thank you for that information. I will investigate that. I thought this would be a simple question since the Scripture says "the promise is to you and your children" not to your grandchildren. There should be some reference in the CO I am guessing.
Posted in: What advice would you give for grandparents requesting a grandchild's baptism?
I am aware of the "Halfway Covenant" history and error. It appears to be resurfacing. I sense the heart break of believing
grand parents whose unbelieving son or daughter produces a grandchild from a "shack-up" scenario. Should we uphold
the principle or make grandparents happy. Church discipline requires withholding the sacraments from those who are
practicing a contra Biblical life-style. Will appeasing the grand parents help a sinful couple come to repentance?
Posted in: What advice would you give for grandparents requesting a grandchild's baptism?
Dear Henry, I have been absent for several weeks because of illness, not lack of interest. Thank you for directing me to your book. I do not know any one who owns that book so I have not been able to consult those pages. Please give me your take on this subject. Jerry
Posted in: Tablets in Church?
My wife Ellen and I play weekly in our "Grace Gospel Band". We play in a different Senior facility each week combining worship, instrumentals and group singing. I have all our music scores and lyrics on my tablet and placing it on a music stand, I can swipe to the next song easily. Since these facilities are kept quite warm there are fans blowing. Having our music on a tablet avoids paper sheet music from blowing away.
You raised the possibility of controling sound and lighting from a tablet. That is already being done from anywhere in church. I heard of one sound person controling the sound from a seat well forward in the sanctuary. After the service as he was walking down the isle to exit with the rest of the visitors, an elderly lady chastised him loudly for playing games on his game pad during a church worship service. His explanation did not "fly" with her!
Posted in: Waiting Pastors, Counting Sheep and Counting Shepherds
I would like to comment on our ethnic congregations needs for a pastor. Years ago (1955), I was assigned to minister to the congregations of Haney and Chilliwack, British Columbia. These congregations were fresh immigrants from the Netherlands. They could speak very little English but wanted to learn. So they requested that the Scripture be read in Dutch and that the outline of the message be spoken in Dutch, but that the sermon be presented in English. Why then can our American candidates not serve more ethnic churches. These churches should be encouraged to learn the language of the land they now live in. When we send missionaries we give them language training. Certainly some candidates are able to become bilingual which would be an asset to the congregation and pastor both. I believe that we should make every effort to utilize our seminary graduates before we invite ministers from other backgrounds to minister to our churches. The seminary should educate pastors who are able to minister the Word and Sacraments. We provide Classical assistance for those who need financial assistance; we suppliment seminarian's education by quota support to our seminary. I believe it is the CRC's responsibility to help every church have a minister of the Word and Sacraments and help every candidate obtain a congregation in which to minister. In one of my charges there was a candidate that had not received a call in three years. It was well known that churches did not appreciate his sermons. He did not seem to fit anywhere. People asked why the Sem and Synod even approved him for candidacy. He asked if I would help him, ( I had just become the new minister). He told me that he had applied to be a military chaplain and needed a church to call him. It was a struggle to get our consistory to call and endorse him. Some might have deemed that a mistake. However, he not only became a chaplain but rose to high ranks and served the Lord and our soldiers well for over 35 years