I provide a link here to the sermon preached on Sunday, May 16, 2021 to the Reformed Protestant Church Fellowship of Hull, Iowa.
In this sermon, which in truth was the word of God (1 Thess. 2:13), the saints were instructed from the word of God that the church is built not upon man, but upon Christ, and the truth of Christ.
It is Christ, and Christ alone, that builds his church.
“And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matt. 16:18).
This truth was driven home to the saints who heard this word in a very real way at the conclusion of the service. There it was announced that the Council of the Protestant Reformed Church in Bulacan, Philippines, together with the entire congregation, made the “inevitable and painful decision to withdraw membership from the Protestant Reformed churches in the Philippines.” It is their intention to seek a sister-church relationship with the Reformed Protestant Church denomination, according to the will of God.
Because I cannot improve upon what he wrote, I include, with Elder John Reuben D. Catalan’s permission, part of an email sent to the First RPC Council, along with the pictures he included:
May God bless our work together in the service of His truth, though there is a great distance between us, nevertheless, our fellowship in the sovereign grace of Jehovah conquers that distance and in likemindedness, we consecrate ourselves to the ministry of the gospel.
God bless you and the whole church of the FRPC.
I attached here the snapshot of the assembly of the saints in Leyte during our congregational meeting in Bulacan. The other picture is of the newly instituted First Reformed Church in Bulacan. May those photographs encourage the saints there. Blessings!
“Pray for us: for we trust we have a good conscience, in all things willing to live honestly” (Hebrews 13:18)
Brother Catalan, and fellow saints in the Philippines, your photographs and your letter have encouraged us greatly. We give thanks to God for you and your faithful witness to His truth.
We consider ourselves blessed to stand side by side with you all in the defense and proclamation of the glorious gospel truths of God’s word.
“Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto God for every and ever. Amen” (Rev. 7:12).
What in the world are you doing? As if CERC is not small enough? You want to split a church because you have a perception there’s rot in the leadership? What’s this rot? Moral? You divisive schismatic person.
Indeed we are glad, What a privilege to live at this time in history when God is again reforming His Church. Its all of Him, has always been of Him and always will be of Him. Man is nothing, God is all . Glad we are that in Christ’s cross we are His now and forever, Paul Starrett
Yes, the RPC stands willing and ready to help and support the work in Singapore, as God so grants and according to His will. This from the Act of Separation: “We declare at the same time our desire to exercise fellowship with all true Reformed members and to unite ourselves with every gathering founded on God’s infallible Word, in whatever place God has also united the same (Eph. 4:1-6; Confession of Faith, Article 28).”
As you seek such support, I encourage you, fellow saint, to speak to your fellow members in Singapore about the danger they are in, and thereby you can sound the trumpet (Jer. 6:1), and those who have been given ears to hear, can join with you as you follow the path God is setting out before you.
“Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded” (1 Pet. 2:6).
Dear Elder Dewey,
Do you think the RPC is able to support the work in Singapore? We have like minded people who want to leave but are stucked as there are no other alternatives. I know of at least 5 other families who are desperate. We see the same rot at the leadership level which they have a monopoly of.
Please accept my apologies for remaining anonymous at this time.
Looking forward to hear from you.
Regards
Thanks Dewey, for relaying those greetings from our brothers and sisters in the Philippines. We rejoice in the great works that Jehovah is doing all around the world. Rev. Langerak used Psalm 126 recently for devotions for a meeting, and I find it appropriate for this news also. Matt Medema
1 When the Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.