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First RP Visits OY Again!

On March 14-16, 2008, a delegation from First RP consisting of Brian Anderson, Adam Bonner, Josiah Gentry, Mark Jurries, James and Evie Lanning, Lynette and Peter Sikma, and Abigail and Lydia VanTimmeren attended the OY (Older Youth) conference at the Elkhart RPC in Elkhart, IN. The bulk of the group met at Puritan Reformed Seminary Friday night to depart, and had an impromptu tour of downtown Kalamazoo as they tried to find Abigail’s dorm. All turned out well, and after stopping at a local McDonald’s and a Meijer in Three Rivers, they were blessed yet again with an unplanned tour of downtown Elkhart after Google Maps led them astray. A quick phone call to Rev. Keith Magill brought the sightseeing to an end, and the delegation was soon at the conference.

Things got off to a quick start with a long night full of games, singing, and accidentally breaking lightbulbs while playing dodgeball. The weary crew woke to find that Adam had joined them in the early hours of the morning, and after breakfast went to listen to Rev. Magill’s first lecture on outreach, which covered the definitions and motivations behind evangelism and exhorted the students to live the gospel. All adjourned to play a brief game, after which Rev. Magill presented his second lecture on the methodology of presenting the gospel, which accurately and convincingly presented the gospel message.

It was determined that practice is the best way to learn, so after lunch time was spent preparing literature packets to distribute in local neighborhoods. The packets included booklets by John Piper and Mark Driscoll about Jesus and the Gospel, a letter from Elkhart RP, and a trifold pamphlet (expertly folded) about the church. Four teams then went canvassing the area, presenting the literature personally if possible, otherwise leaving it on the household door. In the end some 500 packets were given away, a most impressive sowing. They then met back at Elkhart RP, where all had positive reports about the experience and reception they had, and it was prayed that God will reap a rich harvest for Elkhart.

A well-earned dinner was then served, during which time the First RP envoy wrote and rehearsed their skit for the OY theater scheduled for that evening. Their skit incorporated elements from Rev. Magill’s second lecture as well as a musical number, and despite being hastily put together, it was able to hold its own with the other churches’ skits while representing some of the unique qualities of First. The rest of the night consisted of psalm-singing, more games, including rousing games of “Oy-Pong” and dodgeball, this time making sure to mind the lights.

The morning started with devotions centered around Psalm 48 and singing. After breakfast, the OY group then joined the Elkhart church in their study of J.I. Packer’s Knowing God, which this week was focusing on Christ’s incarnation. They then heard an excellent sermon from Rev. Magill on Joshua 7 and living in the church. After a church dinner, the First RP commission said their goodbyes to their friends, old and new, and were soon homeward bound for Grand Rapids, using a much better set of directions provided to them by the Elkhart folks. It was agreed that it was a blessed and enjoyable time, and all hope that another similar event can happen soon.