Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, God is good!  It is truly a blessing to see Him at work in our lives.  Since many of you are supporting the VanDyk family with your prayers and financial gifts, I wanted to let you know how things are progressing in this year of residency.

We reached our 50% funding goal on Saturday, August 23.  The following Monday I set out getting things ready:  registering for classes through the Christian Leaders Institute, ordering a higher speed internet connection so that I could do my work online, ordering textbooks, etc.  Pastor Jack and I met, and continue to meet regularly, to discuss preaching schedules, the format for evaluation of sermons, possible connections for pastoral visits, and the like.

In the last couple of weeks, I have begun to preach in the area churches.  That has been a real blessing and the feedback I get from the members of the church has been helpful.  I also made a few visits that again proved the old adage, “When you visit someone to bless their day, you come away more blessed!”  The faith of God’s saints in the face of trials is a true inspiration!

I am currently taking three online classes:  Systematic Theology (“What does the whole Bible teach us today about several key doctrines of the church?”), Christian Apologetics (A defense of the truthfulness of the Christian faith for the purpose of convincing unbelievers), and Christian Home Discipleship and Evangelism.  In October I will begin teaching a video class to juniors and seniors on the Belgic Confession.

I want to thank all of you for your commitment to honoring God by supporting this  preparation for Kingdom work.  We don’t know how God will use us in the future, but we do know that He has the perfect plan!  We are excited to watch it unfold in the weeks and months to come.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever.  Amen. (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Randy and Elaine VanDyk