Pastor Frank Walker of Covenant Reformed Church in Sacramento reports a very trying year for him and his family, as one of his dear children was excommunicated from the Church. Nevertheless, he is grateful for the privilege to minister God's Word, even in the furnace of affliction. He speaks of the necessity of prayer, not just for individual members, but for the entire Reformed Church. He notes that our preaching and teaching are impotent if we do not cast ourselves before the throne of grace in prayer.
The Rev. Michael Voytek of Providence Reformed Church praises God for the fifteen in attendance at his new membership class. He is confident that most of these will join the congregation. He sees the greatest need of Providence Reformed Church to be the "development of godly men." While noting that the congregation displays the three marks of the Church, he also informs us that the elders and deacons of Providence Reformed Church are diligent in their oversight of the congregation. He praises God continually for His governmental gifts to the Church.
Pastor Gary Mancilas in Chico tells us of his busy labors for the denomination and of the small, but steady attendance of Covenant Reformed Church of Chico. The church has nineteen communicants and three unconfirmed members. The visitation of the church is faithfully performed, and the church recently nominated to the office of elder their current deacon-treasurer-Jim Gochnauer. The marks of the church continue to shine. The radio ministry of the congregation continues, too, with several sermons being preached on "The Hour of Reformation." The congregation as a whole remains very committed to the Reformed Faith.
One of our newest ministers, Jay Nelken, speaks of the joy of serving in his first full year at Grace Reformed Church of the Antelope Valley. The Word of God was preached and there were no formal discipline cases. Jay is also conducting evangelism classes at Grace Reformed Church, which will continue throughout this year, too. He bemoans the loss of four members and five tithing families, who relocated out of state. As a result, he addresses the issue of declining finances, as the church often finds itself living "month to month." The church appears to be running low on funds. He wants us to understand that it is difficult enough to meet their fixed expenses, let alone the other discretionary expenses. As a result of this result, the Church would not financially survive without the help of benevolent support of Classis and Synod. He earnestly covets our prayers and advice about this matter.
The Rev. Jonathan Merica tells of the new meeting place of Calvary Reformed Chapel in Stockton, that is twice the size of its previous building. He tells of the many evangelism efforts, including a very busy website that translates into over ten thousand sermons downloaded since last year! He also praises God for the help of the elders of Covenant Reformed Church at Grass Valley. He also tells us that his attempts to find a full-time job have been abortive up to this time. He thanks God for the financial aid of Western Classis, especially as it relates to health insurance for his family, which covers the expense of his wife's "chronic health issues."
Pastor Dennis Roe thanks God for being able to minister God's Word in Grass Valley. The Sunday morning services continue to average 60-70. The Rev. Eric Bristley helps out in the preaching and teaching, especially during the time when Pastor Roe was undergoing treatment for hepatitis. But he praises God that his hepatitis is in full remission and hopes that within two years he will be pronounced cured by his doctor. Perhaps the greatest concern for the Church are four families who are in danger of losing their homes because of the current economic slump. He thinks that 2009 may be a year of great trial for the church.
Pastor Sam Powell reports of good things happening at First Reformed Church in Yuba City. The church is God's family and shows it. New members were added and the summer saw the church "eating bread with joy and drinking wine with a merry heart." Both the elders and deacons are faithful workers in Christ's vineyard; the congregation is active and energetic. The Church website averages 30 sermon downloads per month. He writes of being overwhelmed by the goodness of God through God's people.
The parochial report of Pastor Hank Bowen informs us of dwindling attendance, which on some Sundays even plummets into the teens. Also, there are no children to have a Sunday School. Yet, he faithfully continues to preach God's Word twice each Lord's Day. He reports there are currently no new prospective members and even a drought of visitors in 2008. He tells us that if progress is not made in 2009, the "viability of the congregation may need to be addressed." He praises God for the benevolent aid of Synod and Classis last year, as several members lost their jobs and the giving declined as a result. His report ends with his determination to be the Lord's agent in bringing new families into the church, as he employs biblical methods of evangelism for 2009.
My own (Jim West) report concerning Covenant Reformed Church in Sacramento is that many good things are happening. City Seminary continues to thrive, the many youth are instructed, God's people are becoming instant in prayer, the Gospel is preached in two Lord's Day worship services, and the church continues to push ahead in various missionary enterprises. Fellowship opportunities abound throughout the week, as the church tries to practice "the communion of the saints." If there was any thorn in the rose last year, it would be the discipline cases that resulted in two excommunications and one suspension from the Lord's Supper. Nevertheless, all the people are supportive of the work of the elders, who burn the midnight oil in order to advance Christ's cause and truth. The church also sees many, many visitors each Lord's Day.
Pastor Gil Baloy reports about the ongoing work at Covenant Reformed Chapel in San Diego. While the church continues numerically in the day of small things, what sustains his spirits is laying the foundation of the Word of God. The congregation is blessed by a steady stream of visitors, not counting their "regular visitors." Evangelism continues to be a priority emphasis of this congregation, including the spread of the Gospel in public parks, people's homes, and shopping malls. Additionally, this missionary push extends across the oceans, too-all the way to the Philippines, where Pastor Baloy plans another journey shortly after this classis meeting ends.
Pastor Vern Pollema's report focuses upon his desire to retire from the pastoral ministry, even though in recent years his intent has not been realized. With the decision by Pastor Jay Fluck to continue at Rehoboth Chapel, Pastor Pollema states that it should be easier for the Consistory to find a new minister in Shafter. The other news is that the work of the church continues in terms of outreach, weekly Lord's Day services, and a host of other Christ-centered activities (too many to mention here). He concludes his report saying that this could be his final report of his labors in Shafter, and thanks God for the fellowship of the saints there.
The Rev. Paul Treick speaks of preaching God's Word some 100 times at Trinity Reformed Church in Modesto. There were a number of births in 2008 at Trinity Reformed Church, and nine children attend the weekly catechism class. The rapport among the leaders is good, even in the midst of disciplinary matters. The Reformed doctrines are preached, taught, and practiced. The mortgage debt on the building is nearly retired. There are abundant opportunities for God's people to fellowship, as the congregation remains strong in the faith, serving the Lord.
The report of the Rev. Lloyd Gross speaks of his various preaching junkets to churches of other denominations. He also reports of his declining physical condition, as his prostate cancer has returned after a number of radiation treatments in 2006. Yet, he praises God for being blessed with 75 years of life, serving the Lord. The final paragraph of his report finds him exhorting us all to "unflinchingly proclaim that gospel to a world that so desperately needs it."
Pastor Jay Fluck reports of an average attendance of about 50 each Lord's Day morning at Rehoboth Chapel. The church conducts two worship services on the Lord's Day, and a mid-week meeting which averages about 14. The giving increased to about $97,000 for 2008. The Church also has a monthly men's fellowship as well as a monthly women's fellowship. There is a fellowship dinner each Sunday afternoon, too. With regard to finding a replacement minister for Rehoboth, Pastor Fluck says that "we need to be desperately in prayer for men" to be willing to consider Rehoboth. Yet, he recognizes that for the time-being it is God's will for him to remain there. He praises God for the support of Synod, Classis, and especially Ebenezer Reformed Church in Shafter.
The elder's report about the work of the church in Willows, California, speaks of a communicant membership of 32, with a total of 43 baptized members. Members of the church continue their faithful attendance each Lord's Day. Many RCUS ministers have preached in Willows the past year, including Gene Sawtelle and Frank Walker. Elder Doug Schlegel has also proclaimed God's Word there. The church has "real unity of heart and purpose." Your President notes that little was said in the report about attempts to find a full-time pastor; perhaps at this meeting Classis can receive an oral update on this important issue. Your President also reports that he has been in touch with the elders of Grace Reformed Church, although not in a formal setting with the whole Consistory present.
Pastor Emeritus Gene Sawtelle reports of preaching some 21 times at Grace Reformed Church in Willows. He also reports his physical ailments, including excruciating migraine headaches which he experiences at least five out of seven days. He requests prayer for his back problems and these tortuous headaches which will not permit him to attend either Classis or Synod this year.
Pastor Emeritus Neale Riffert tells of his opportunities to preach and teach, mostly in Orthodox Presbyterian Churches in Texas during the past year. He reports of even teaching the adult Sunday School class on a regular basis in Sherwood Shores Chapel in Gordonville, Texas. He gives praise to God for guiding him throughout the golden years of life which he calls his "gray" years. He especially gives thanks to God for the generosity of God's people in supporting him in his years of retirement from the pastoral ministry.
Associate Pastor Eric Bristley speaks of his many labors in Covenant Reformed Church at Grass Valley. He tells us about his teaching at City Seminary, his labors in the area of publishing, and his "pinch-hitting" for an ailing Dennis Roe both in preaching, teaching, and counseling. He is also involved in many publication projects for the Synod of the RCUS. Additionally, he assists Westminster Biblical Missions and Middle East Reformed Fellowship. One of his deepest passions is that he might become "more faithful and effective" in serving the Lord in whatever path God chooses.
Foreign missionary Thomas Mayville reports of his busyness in Uganda and Kenya, while teaching, preaching, and doing even diaconal work. His greatest joy is teaching in the theological seminary, especially those students who brave it from Kenya. He reports that his stay in Uganda will be drawing to a close in about 18 months. He covets our prayers for good health for himself (as he suffers from asthma) and for his wife, Carolyn. His morale seems to be buoyant, despite the difficulties of the physical and spiritual climate. But he is very optimistic about the future, believing that within the next 100 years the Church in both Uganda and Kenya will become significantly larger and stronger. He also tells us that, God-willing, he will be present at the next Synod of the RCUS where he can be debriefed further.
With regard to the statistics of Western Classis, it was difficult to discern anything out of the ordinary. According to the statistics I have before me as of this writing, the total communicant membership for 2008 stood at 714 compared to 697 in 2007. The total baptized membership stood at 949 versus 932 in 2007. The total receipts were $1,930,664 versus $1,930,757 in 2007! The number of adult baptisms was two compared to one in 2007. In the area of regular offerings we jumped to $1,472,688 from $1,421,841. There are different ways to analyze statistics that do not dramatically fluctuate-everything from the negative of stagnation to the positives of stability or holy pruning. A church can have growth, but the question is: Is it the growth of mushrooms or the trees of the Lord? Applying these questions reasonably is even more difficult when it come to analyzing a Classis of churches and mission works. So, your President defers to (I hope wisely!) some of our wiser sages about these matters.
Regarding an overall assessment of your parochial reports, I believe that the three marks of the church continue to thrive in the Western Classis, the morale of the ministers is upbeat despite a few ecclesiastical tempests, the yearly elder's visitation of God's people runs hot and cold, and the craving to do more evangelism remains intense (although how to do this remains problematic). I believe that on this matter of evangelism it is the pastor of the church who will have to be in the vanguard of leadership. More evangelism is not going to happen by our mourning the lack of evangelism or by our telling our members, "If you want evangelism, you do it!" As shepherds of the sheep, it is our responsibility to lead. If there is only a token amount of evangelism, this may indicate that we as ministers and elders are not leading. But the bright side of our repeated concerns about evangelism show that we do have compassion for the lost and that we do not have a fortress-mentality or a hyper-Calvinistic view of the Reformed Faith. I have often said that the greatest act of love that we can show to our neighbor is to invite him to embrace the Lord Jesus Christ. Praise God that we see the people outside the Church as sheep having no shepherd! And, that we desire to reach these people with God's truth. A city on a hill cannot be hid and must not be hid.
A most urgent issue continues to be the filling of two, perhaps three pulpits, that is, finding pastors for Ebenezer Reformed Church in Shafter, Grace Reformed Church in Willows, and Rehoboth Chapel in La Habra. The fact that these congregations have not been able to find the Lord's replacement indicates that qualified men are not "a dime a dozen" and that finding replacements is-ultimately-not our choice, but God's. Just as Samuel examined all of Jesse's sons before he found "the man's after God's own heart," these churches find themselves in a similar predicament. Let us earnestly pray for pastors after God's own heart to fill these pulpits.
