The Standard of Jesus!
Commissioning Service Rev. Case & Gremar VanWyk
Sunday, January 12, 2014
Introduction:
Minister: Beloved in the Lord Jesus, it is a special day and privilege to commission fellow members off to a foreign land to bring the Good News of our Lord. Today, we bind ourselves to the VanWyk’s.
The Power of the Spirit in Missions: Acts 1:4–8 (NIV)
4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”
7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
The Commissioning:
Minister: Congregation of Jesus Christ: Today we rejoice in Christ’s special care and love for His worldwide church as we have the privilege of commissioning Case and Gremar VanWyk to missionary service. Upon His ascension into heaven, Jesus Christ entrusted the Gospel of His kingdom to his apostles. He commanded them to be his witnesses to the ends of the earth.
All: As heirs of this calling and partners in this mission, we join in the task of telling this life- giving message of salvation. We rejoice in the knowledge that the Gospel knows no geographical boundaries.
Minister: The Holy Spirit moves us to share the Good News that Jesus is the Son of God, that the glory of the nations belongs to Him, and that His grace, love, and redemption are offered to them in the way of repentance and faith.
All: We at New Community Church of Newaygo are called to share this message in word and in deed, with our families, our co-workers, and all our neighbors, both nearby and far away.
Minister: In our congregation, God has assigned a world missions calling on the life of two of our members, Case and Gremar. They have heard the call to perform missionary service in Nigeria.
Pastor: In this work of missions, the church lifts up its eyes to the Lord. We pray for the power of the Holy Spirit in everything that you do on His behalf. We ask the Lord to send his Spirit in abundance in your work abroad.
God’s Word Goes Out
Isaiah 55:10–11 (NIV)
10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Accepting the Call:
Minister: Case and Gremar, to show that you accept this task, you are requested to stand in the
presence of God and His church to answer the following questions.
1. Do you believe that the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and life?
2. Do you subscribe to the doctrinal standards of this church, and the denomination of the Christian Reformed Church, rejecting all teachings which contradict them?
3. Do you believe that God Himself calls you to this holy ministry?
4. Do you promise to do the work of your office faithfully, in a way worthy of your calling, and in submission to the government and discipline of the church?
Case and Gremar: With the Lord’s help and the Spirit’s leading, we accept this call. We also promise to model the Kingdom of Jesus in our life and teaching.
The Congregational’s Responsibility (please stand):
Minister: Congregation of the Lord Jesus. You also have a commitment in this. Please answer the following:
1. How will you support Case and Gremar as they are sent to Nigeria?
Congregation: Case and Gremar, we offer the following: we offer our prayer support. We will pray for you all the time for fruitful and Godly work. We will also pray for divine protection from our enemy. We also will provide financial support the best we can. We also offer mutual accountability to you. You are not doing this alone, but with us. Be blessed in your work
LAYING ON OF HANDS: (Council members, plus those who have offered special support such as family and prayer partners, may come forward for the laying on of hands.)
Minister: Brothers and Sisters, be in continuing fellowship with these missionaries whom you send in the name of Christ. Sustain Case and Gremar with your prayers. Support them with your gifts. Strengthen them in hand and heart in every need. As Christ received you, be ready to receive those who are brought into the body of Christ through their ministry, that there may be one flock, one Shepherd. Case and Gremar, go with boldness and faithfulness in the Lord. For he can do more than we can ask or imagine. Amen.
An Unlikely New Year’s Prayer
Psalm.19 An Unlikely New Year’s Prayer
Psalm 19 was written and sung for the purpose of glorifying God in worship. There are three voices in the Psalm: Nature’s voice, God’s voice, and Man’s voice.
The first voice and first stanza glorifies God: The heavens, the skies proclaim the Works of His hands. Silent speech day and night, day after day, night after night, His Glory is proclaimed throughout the earth without sound. We cannot help being reminded of John 1:3 “Through Him (Jesus) all things are made: without Him nothing was made that has been made. The work of God’s hands in Jesus Christ glorifies God in nature all around us!
Only in the 4th verse is the sun brought into the picture that the Psalmist paints for us. Genesis 1 comes to mind: The first thing God says in creation. “Let there be light”, and it was so but the sun and moon come into the Creation story three days later, a little like this part of Psalm 19.
Revelation 21 tells us about the New Heaven and Earth and the Holy City; the New Jerusalem. In the city we will not need the sun or moon because God will light the city and the Lamb will be our lamp! What are we talking about? God’s Light, light for our eyes, yes but also and equally so justice, compassion, grace, forgiveness, salvation and the Fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. We see God’s work and His glory in nature, including sun and moon as part of general revelation, it is all around us.
My neighbor Bill finally saw God in the natural beauty around him when I pointed out to him that all this beauty has a purpose and doesn’t just happen. By the power of the Holy Spirit Bill gave his life to Jesus some time later. Praise God!
We move to the second voice. The voice of God! That voice begins with God’s covenantal proclamation to Abraham: “I will be your God and to your descendents after you” Gen. 17 and “all nations of the earth will be blessed through Abraham” Gen.18 and “I will be your God and you will be my people “Ex. 6. That is now complete in Jesus Christ. The voice of God in Ps. 19 is given because we are the people of God. Obeying this voice does not establish us as his people but is given to keep us from damaging our relationship with God. We are his people before the law so to speak.
The law begins with the internal function of the covenant: “The law is perfect reviving the soul. The law is trustworthy making us wise. The precepts are right giving joy to the heart.” Here also, as in creation, and in nature’s voice physical light comes a little later. We move from the internal to the external: “The commands of the Lord are radiant giving light to the eyes, the law enduring forever, more precious than gold, sweeter than honey and in keeping them results is great reward.” Take note that God’s voice is described in five different ways: The law, the statutes, the precepts, the commands, and the ordinances.
Verse 11 “By them is your servant warned. In keeping them there is great reward.” God’s blessings come to mind here. Take a moment to reflect on 2013, in your mind review the many blessings God has given us. So what is to be our response?
We see God’s glory every day and every night! Besides that we also have something what many people do not have and don’t hear, that is God’s voice. We hear it every week, perhaps for some every day, reading God’s Word. We hear it now and as his people God’s voice demands a response.
Man’s voice responds: Look at verse 12: It begins with repentance; we all have sins even sins that are hidden. The first response is asking God for forgiveness. The second response is asking for help! O Holy Spirit “keep us from willful sins, may they not rule our lives”, may they not damage our convental relationship with you O Lord my God! The third response is at the end of verse 13: the desire to be blameless and innocent of great transgression. Because we are God’s people, that is accomplished for us by believing in and responding to Jesus Christ. Amen! Praise be to God!
How do we go forward as God’s people, as His church into 2014? With the Psalmist we pray this prayer, it is vs. 14 of Ps 19: “May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be pleasing in your sight, O Lord my Rock and my Redeemer”. Father God, bless us in 2014! Amen.
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A winter wonderland!
A winter wonderland!
Prayer, Support, and Encouragement
Click to enlarge
Steps of Healing
The Warari Bible School Connection, Oct. 2013.
Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk
Contact cgvanwyk5@gmail.com Support crwm@crcna.org
It has been a long three weeks with three weeks to go. That is how long it takes to recover from prostate surgery. It may take a lot longer if the cancer has spread. By God’s Grace it has not spread and is now removed from me. The first step to healing is to acknowledge God’s providence. Satan is the source of all disease and brokenness in the world. God allows these things to happen but only to build up our faith and the faith of those around us. “In all things God works for the good of those who love God (Rom. 8: 28)”. God’s permission is a difficult truth to come to grips with initially but for Gremar and I God’s sovereignty comes to mind here. Secondly, we pray but often in these circumstances “ we do not know what we ought to pray But the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express Rom.8:27. “
Thirdly, the prayer of friends and supporters, when praying for others the Spirit guides us and we become part of God’s healing for that person. Thank you for participating in my healing. Fourthly, We need to trust our doctors, they are God’s gift to us, particularly the Christian doctors in my case. We must not take our health care and health insurance for granted. We are blessed in America.
Fifthly, whatever is the final outcome of our treatment we give God the glory. That is the point, Jesus says more than once to his disciples when questioned why something has happened “ this has happened that God is glorified”. Jesus says that to us as well. I glorify God for the love and care of my wife.
By God’s Grace we hope to return to the school in Jan. 2014. That means we will teach for all of the 2nd and 3rd terms instead of half of the 1st, all of the 2nd and half of the 3rd. Our work is to train indigenous leaders for the Christian Reformed Church in Classis Niger in Nigeria. Please continue to pray for us and for the School and the Church in Niger State, Nigeria. Most of the Christians are fist generation and are under persecution from family and friends. Pray for God’s protection. Thank you for your support. To God be the glory!
Steps in Faith
Warari Bible School
Connection, Aug. 2013
Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk
Contact: cgvanwyk5@gmail.com
Support: crwm@crcna.org
It has been a busy summer so far and it is not letting up. What a blessing to be able to spend time with family and friends. Gremar and I really had to stop and reflect on what missionaries give up when they and their families spend years away from their home country with short visits home. For a long time two and a half years was the length of the average tour on the mission field. Often, there was not a suitable school near-by for the children. In our early years in Nigeria we had two choices: home schooling or boarding school. We chose boarding school even though the school was far away in Jos. Our work in remote areas of Nigeria was not our children’s choice but they supported us in our efforts. We made our work on the mission field a family affair. One reason we chose boarding school is that the Nigerian village culture was great when our children were young but was not a healthy place when they became older. Second, Gremar had the opportunity to treat people and deliver babies as part of our overall outreach to the community. Our children speak positively about the boarding school experience for which we thank God. The other side of the story is that families on the home front also make sacrifices. At the time we did not think much about it but our parents were deprived of much interaction with the grand children. A reality brought home to us now that we have our own grandkids. So why are we still doing missions? Well, we are in a unique place of service right now. We know the trade language well, we have the experience to deal with remote situations, and we are able to befriend, love, and interact with the people we serve. However the bottom line is that God calls us to do the work of teaching, preaching and treating the ill in the name of Jesus while we have the strength to do so. The blessings far outweigh the sacrifices and we pray that is true for our state side family as well. We however are not able to do this work without you; we need your support and prayers.
Talking about strength for service, God is calling on us to dig deep right now. We know that disease, setbacks and problems in life are caused by Satan but God allows them and uses them; turning them into good and building us up and moving us to depend more on Jesus. Rom. 8:28-32. We ask you to pray for us that by God’s grace we are built up and encouraged as we go through prostate cancer and the treatment supporting each other. Surgery is set for Sept. 19. We had hoped to return to Nigeria in Nov. but now we set our sights on the middle of Jan. 2014.
That will still give us two full terms at the Warari Bible School. We step out in faith trusting God for healing and strength and trusting Him for the continued support and prayers from you. Please continue to pray for the School, staff, and students, and for the people of Niger State, Nigeria, where many still do not know Jesus. Thank you for all the things you do for the Kingdom. Praise Him! Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk.
Ps. Life is short! Live it to the full for Jesus!
Fear and Faith
The Warari Bible School Connection,
June, 2013. Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk,
cgvanwyk5@gmail.com Support www.crwm.org
The one constant in missions is change. Fellow missionaries come and go, mostly leaving the field and many not returning to Nigeria. Mission methods change, reporting changes, fund raising methods change, it all adds up to a lot of changes. Change can be good, mostly, but also may raise our anxiety and fear. Fear is an evil spirit and minimizes our faith (Mt. 6:25-34). We also are in transition, leaving the Warari Bible School in Niger State, Nigeria after a six-month stay. It is hard to leave, we leave behind people we have come to love and who love us, people who want and need more teaching in God’s Word, more study methods, more evangelism methods, and stronger Spiritual development. Not to mention the thousands of our neighbors who have not yet responded to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
It is also hard to leave our home in Michigan, our children, our grand children and friends. We live in two worlds very different one from the other. Both worlds have their challenges, anxieties, and changes but by God’s grace our faith is strengthened. Our trip from Abuja to G.R. Michigan was uneventful except for something that has not happened to us in twenty trips from Nigeria. We arrived early at the airport, check in was smooth, no checking of our luggage except for our carry on. We were leaving at 10:00 PM and with boarding pass in hand had plenty of time to order food at the restaurant. We were enjoying our meal when someone came over to tell us our Lufthansa flight was canceled due to mechanical problems. What? No! That was not what we wanted to hear! It turned out we had the option of coming back the next evening for the next Lufthansa flight or try to get on Air France leaving at midnight that day. We had scheduled one day at home and then fly out to California to see our daughters and our new grand child, Kaia Grace. For us there was only one choice, Air France. We were doubtful but we were amazed at the young Nigerian lady at the computer under considerable pressure from people wanting to get on Air France, she booked us: Paris, Detroit, Grand Rapids. Amazing, there was no extra cost and we were only a half hour later than our original time of arrival. The next day we went on to Cal. had a great time with our daughters, their husbands, and baby Kaia.
We left LAX for GR no problem but that was the only time flights were on time. We arrived Oklahoma City the day after the tornado. Flight delayed and flights out of Dallas canceled. Finally, we got to Dallas late spent the night at the Airport. American Airlines booked us on Delta, Dallas, Minneapolis, GR arrived 12:00 the next day instead of 12:00 midnight but we arrived safe and sound, even our luggage arrived and not one penny more for changing flights. Wonder of wonders. God says to us and to you: O you of little faith! I am in control of both worlds you live in! Praise the Lord!
Please pray for the Warari Bible School, for the staff, students, and for our neighbors around the school. Pray for us as we transition and adjust to MI, meet with and/or contact our supporters and prepare to return to Niger State in Nov.
Our God loves the Children
The Warari Bible School Connection,
May 2013. Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk,
Contact cgvanwyk5@gmail.com Support crwm@crcna.org
Between the second and third terms we had a two-week break and many of our students went home for Easter. The students who stayed had the opportunity to work. We needed almost 600-mud blocks for two outside kitchens for two staff members. They are outside kitchens because everyone here uses wood for cooking; the price of kerosene and or gas is prohibitive. There was a large anthill between the chapel and the school building and we wanted to reduce that as well. Making the block took about half of the hill. The other big project was re-grading the space around the student’s quarters. Nine years of rain and constant sweeping had exposed much of the foundations. Twenty-two pick up loads later we had the foundations covered up.
In the meantime we had a visit from Chuck Powell the Director of Timothy Leadership Training Institute. We had a great time visiting one of our evangelists who is doing a TLT course in his area. The idea was for me to teach the pastors and the evangelists and they in turn would teach a course in their area with the manuals I provided for each student. We were pleasantly surprised to find a church full of young people. After some introduction they proceeded with songs, drumming and dancing. Then Chuck gave a short presentation. After the program we were served lunch. That afternoon we met with the pastors and the evangelists we did not see in the morning. We now are teaching the TLT course Sustainable Development at the Bible School in both English and Hausa. All and all a very encouraging visit.
The next day I had promised to move two evangelists to their new stations; Barki and Tudan Kura. Pastor James the evangelist’s supervisor and I started at about 9:00 am and picked up Samson and his family, they have 5 children. We loaded up their belongings and headed out for Barki. The problem was that not a one of us knew the way since all other visits were made by motorbike that follows a bush path. After some time we found the right road that took us into the bush. Most of you would not call it a road but if a four-wheeled vehicle can go down it, it is considered a road. There were several turns that we missed, you simply keep a look out for the two tracks. We finally got to the place and people soon surrounded us to welcome the new evangelist. These are new Christians. The church was built and they had built a house for the evangelist but the roof still had to go on. The way back was easy.
We then picked up Ayuba and his family also five kids, a dozen chickens and a dog. Since now we knew which path to follow we found Tudan Kura with ease. The people were waiting for us since we had gone by there on the way to Barki. These two places are about five miles apart, not too far for the evangelist’s families to keep in contact. This is a remote place and I give these families a lot of credit for coming out and starting a new life among these people. We prayed with each group committing them to God and asked for a blessing on their work and their new place of residence.
The next day, Friday, Gremar and I went to Jos for the Memorial Service for Rachel Horlings Magri. It was a comforting and uplifting service. We drove back to Warari on Monday and by Monday night I became very ill. I need to take my own advice; pace yourself. I am now feeling better and we are thankful to participate in these events. Our God is a good, merciful, loving God; we are privileged to serve him at the Bible School. Next week we pack up and head home for six months and God willing hope to return in Nov. 2013. We hope you have enjoyed this experience with us and continue to pray for the Church and for the people of Classis Niger. Also, Praise God! We all have much to be thankful for!
God Hears Our Prayers
The Warari Bible School Connection,March,2013.
Rev. Case and Gremar Van Wyk
Contact cgvanwyk5@gmail.com Support crwm@crcna.org
Recently, the week before exams, the school set aside a day for fasting and praying. We began at 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM and from 4:00 PM- 6:00 pm. We spent the day singing, dancing, praying, and listening to short messages.
The principal kicked off the day with a message from Ezra 5: 1-5 The returning exiles from Babylon started to build the temple again at the prophecies (preaching) of Haggai and would not stop, “The eye of their God was watching over the elders of the Jews…” The message: God watches over those who listen to the Lord their God and put their trust in him. Those who attend this school have plenty of opposition from their traditional African relatives. At times even their Christian relatives oppose them as well for perusing something as frivolous as education at the expense of their farming and I suppose the help they are lacking on the farm. Life for many Ava’adi revolves around making money farming.
Students were designated to pray for the school, for the new Primary/Nursery School, for schools in general, for the students and the upcoming exams. For people in this area to see the importance of education. Please join us in praying these prayers.
The next message was on Daniel in the lion’s den. Daniel’s fearless faithfulness in serving God in spite of the consequences. That is a powerful message for this place and at this time. A message that people need and understand in this environment of oppression. Students have a hard time getting land to farm even with a lot of it left fallow. The monopoly of produce dealers locally prevent people from getting a fair price for their crops and makes it more difficult for students paying school fees. The uncertainty of indiscriminate bombings and killings that go on in the North and are spreading into other parts of the country brings on fear and discouragement.
More students were assigned to pray for the country, for the leaders and for the safety of all of us here in this area. For the local leaders. We thanked God for the calm we have enjoyed, thanked Him for a very good 2nd terms full of blessings and we thanked Him for healing those who were ill. Please join us in praying these prayers.
Margaret one of our fellow teachers preached on the Armor of God Eph. 6: 7- 17, 18 “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” That God would prepare us spiritually and that we would prepare ourselves as well by putting on the whole armor of God in our daily lives and in our work at this school. A timely message for this small emerging church and this barely established Bible School under persecution at every turn.
More students prayed: For the evangelism going on and for the Youth for Christ (KYK) planning to reach out to a village this Saturday. For the leaders of the church and for the evangelists, for other outreach programs like Water Wins. Please join us in praying these prayers.
After the break we started again at 4:00 PM. Hezron, one of our fellow teachers preached on Matt. 21:18-21, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer”. The secret of prayer is as Jesus tells us: “if you believe and do not doubt,” you will move mountains! The question posed to us: “do you believe Jesus”?
Students prayed for fellow students especially for the pregnant wives and for the new babies on the compound. They prayed for protection from evil powers and principalities and for assurance of Christ’s presence. Please join us in praying these prayers.
I presented the last message, Jeremiah 1:4-9 How often do we think about what God says to Jeremiah and what he says to every Christian? “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart, I appointed you as a…” whatever it is God calls you to do! How many excuses have we brought to our calling? Jeremiah: “I am only a child.” Us: “I am not able, I am not suited, I am not educated, I don’t have the desire, I am afraid”, and you could go on and on. God counters every excuse and meets us in our doubt as he did with Jeremiah. “ I have put my words in your mouth and I appoint you…” Yes! God appoints you and God equips you! That is a message we all need.
Heavenhigh 