|
RP International Conferees Head Home
Thursday, August 3
GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN--The final day of the conference had
no shortage of highlights.
Conferees awoke to another unseasonably cool and pleasant
morning. Temperatures scarcely made it to 80 all week, with
lows reaching the 50s. There was occasional drizzle through
the week, but today was a perfect day for a car wash.
And that's what the fourth-to-six graders did. To raise money
for a motorcycle for pastor-trainees in China, they donated
time while drivers donated money. The juniors had hoped to
raise the $235 needed for one Chinese motorcycle, but actually
raised enough for three.
Today was perhaps the day when children led the way. The
sight of several hundred children on stage reciting Bible
verses, singing Psalms, and demonstrating what they had learned
prompted comments expressing thanks for covenant blessings.
Children from each age group took turns in the spotlight as
about 700 adults watched.
Earlier, the adults had listened to an exposition of the
last phrase of the Great Commission, "Lo, I am with you
always." Pastor Harry Metzger (North Hills RPC, Pittsburgh,
Pa.) emphasized that, without this last promise of Christ,
we would not be able to fulfill the commission itself. But
with Christ's promise, we lack nothing we need for the work.
He said that Jesus is using everyday believers like us to
conquer the world, even as He changes us more and more to
be like Him.
In the afternoon, conferees had the opportunity to take in
more Covenanter history or to learn the news at several RP
institutions: the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary,
the Reformed Presbyterian Home, and Ottawa Theological Hall.
A reunion of the CoviChords warmed up the audience for the
final convocation of RP International 2000. The CoviChords
were a Geneva College barbershop quartet whose alumni have
often sung at RP events. Though some of the members finished
their tour with the CoviChords over 50 years ago, their voices,
harmonies, and humor brought rousing applause. They closed
by softly singing Psalm 23 after recounting that two CoviChords
alumni, Armour McFarland and Ray McCracken, have gone to be
with their Shepherd since the last international conference.
All week long, Eric and Dean Filson have been filming the
conference; and tonight conferees got to enjoy the fruit of
those labors. A 30-minute video focused on the highlights
and the faces that made the conference so meaningful to many.
Conference speaker Pastor Bill Edgar (Broomall, Pa., RPC)
had the last word of RP International 2000. Keying on the
conference theme "A Godly Heritage," he spoke of
the importance of meeting God often, of meeting God apart
from idols, and of meeting God on His terms rather than on
ours.
Conference manager Dave Willson announced today that the next
quadrennial international conference will again be held here
at Calvin College. The dates are July 24-30, 2004.
--Drew Gordon, editor
Covenanter Witness
Reformed Presbyterian Church of North America
www.psalms4u.com
|
