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60-745: The PRC was founded in 1924 as a result of a controversy regarding common grace in the Christian Reformed Church . At that time the Christian Reformed Church had adopted three doctrinal points on the subject of common grace. Reverends Herman Hoeksema , George Ophoff, and Henry Danhof rejected these three points and maintained them to be contrary to the Reformed confessions of faith. Soon thereafter, when these men said they could not abide by these three points, they were disciplined through suspension, or deposition, from

120-463: A body of elders chosen out of the congregation. The PRC holds that God has given the "keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Matt. 16:18, which is understood as granting authority for the preaching the gospel, and the exercise of church discipline) to the instituted church, not the denomination. Thus in the PRC only an instituted church can place an individual or a church officer under discipline. The PRC denies that

180-475: A diminution of saving grace in the same way undue emphasis on General Revelation diminishes the ultimate authority of Scripture. Special grace , in Reformed theology, is the grace by which God redeems, sanctifies, and glorifies his people. Unlike common grace, which is universally given, special grace is bestowed only on those whom God elects to eternal life through faith in Jesus Christ. This special grace

240-660: A mayor-at-large on a non-partisan ballot. The current mayor of Alamosa is Ty Coleman. Alamosa Public Schools are part of the Alamosa School District RE-11J , and include Alamosa Elementary School, Ortega Middle School, and Alamosa High School . Robert Alejo is the Superintendent of Schools. Adams State University , founded in 1921 as a teacher's college, offers both undergraduate and graduate programs. Graduate level programs emphasize teaching and education, art, history and business with many of

300-454: A meeting of Classis or Synod has the authority to do this, though they may advise a congregation to do so. At the same time the PRC maintains the binding authority of the decisions of the broader assemblies. Individuals and congregations must submit to these decisions if they are going to remain in the denomination, and if an individual congregation refuses to do so, the broader assembly has the authority to declare that congregation to be outside

360-465: A minimum of 32 °F (0 °C) or less. In the 1981–2010 period, there was an average of 46 nights with minima at or below 0 °F (−18 °C). On July 10, 2020, Alamosa made weather history by measuring a record low temperature 37 °F (2.8 °C) and a record high temperature 92 °F (33.3 °C) in less than 12 hours. As of the 2020 United States Census , there were 9,806 people, 3,828 households, and 1,935 families residing in

420-722: A new denomination, taking the name of Protesting Christian Reformed Churches. The denomination later renamed itself the Protestant Reformed Churches in America. Rev Hoeksema become the pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan . The Protestant Reformed Churches grew rapidly in the following years, but in the 1950s the denomination struggled because of internal, doctrinal controversies in defense of

480-634: A publisher of theological and other Christian books by PRC authors and of a semi-monthly magazine The Standard Bearer , located in Jenison, Michigan . The denomination is also closely connected with The Reformed Witness Hour , a radio broadcast. Common grace Common grace is a theological concept in Protestant Christianity , developed primarily in Nineteenth and Twentieth Century Reformed/Calvinistic thought, referring to

540-417: A semblance of the "image of God" with which they were originally created (Gen. 9:6: 1 Cor. 11:7). Providential blessings to mankind – Human advancements that come through the unredeemed are seen as outcomes of God's common grace. For example, medical and other technological advancements that improve the lives of both the redeemed and unredeemed are seen as initiated by common grace. In summary, common grace

600-598: Is a home rule municipality and the county seat of Alamosa County , Colorado , United States. The city population was 9,806 in the 2020 United States Census . The city is the commercial center of the San Luis Valley in south-central Colorado , and is the home of Adams State University . Alamosa was established in May 1878 by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad and quickly became an important rail center. Alamosa

660-420: Is accepted, macro evolution is seen as contrary to biblical teachings. They believe that God created the world to be mature, so that the stars were created to be millions of light years away, and the light to be already hitting the earth. Since the flood, micro evolution has occurred bringing about differences between animals in a population. The denomination holds to the presbyterian form of church government and

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720-571: Is also the distinctive made by later theologians such as Abraham Kuyper of the Netherlands, Louis Berkhof and R. C. Sproul . Following Kuyper, Berkhof sees three categories of common grace: One of the earliest writers on common grace was the Dutch Reformed theologian Abraham Kuyper . The specifics of the Reformed doctrine of common grace have been somewhat controversial and at times bitterly contested by some Calvinists. Especially in

780-535: Is distinguished from the Calvinistic understanding of special or saving grace, which extends only to the elect , those whom God has chosen to redeem. Sam Storms writes that common grace is every favor, falling short of salvation, which this undeserving and sin-cursed world enjoys at the hand of God; this includes the delay of wrath, the mitigation of our sin-natures, natural events that lead to prosperity, and all gifts that human use and enjoy naturally. In

840-720: Is frequently linked with the five points of Calvinism as irresistible grace or efficacious grace. Common Grace is God working in the heart of the sinner to emulate the Christian life but not effectually saving that sinner. This is a most important distinctive of historical Calvinism as it is a distinctive made by John Calvin in his book the Institutes of the Christian Religion and by a number of Confessions of faith for Calvinistic denominations originally in Europe. It

900-448: Is grace common to all. The Bible says, for instance, that God through the Son "upholds the universe by the word of his power" (Heb. 1:2–3; John 1:1–4). God's gracious provision for his creatures is seen, for example, in the giving of the seasons, of seedtime and harvest. It is of this providential common grace that Jesus reminds his hearers when he said God "makes his sun rise on the evil and on

960-530: Is not sent in love to unbelievers and only adds condemnation to those who never believe, in the same way rain is beneficial to a living tree but causes a dead one to rot. Connected to the first point of common grace, which asserts that God's "common grace" is demonstrated in a "general offer" of the gospel, Hoeksema asserted that such a view is pure Arminianism . While God commands all men to repent and believe and this command must be preached to all, Hoeksema insisted this command, like all other commands to godliness in

1020-560: Is on the Rio Grande River, which is crossed by two auto bridges, one pedestrian bridge and one rail bridge in town. Auto traffic is served by U.S. Highway 160 running east and west and U.S. Highway 285 and State Highway 17 running north and south. Alamosa is served by the Colorado Pacific Rio Grande Railroad and Bustang . The local airport is San Luis Valley Regional Airport . Alamosa

1080-440: Is only 7.31 inches (186 mm), with the months of July through September being the wettest. The aridity depresses normal seasonal (July through June of the following year) snowfall to 27.6 inches (70 cm). The altitude and dryness of the air cause day–night temperature differences to be severe year-round, averaging 35.4 °F (19.7 °C) throughout the year. There was a long-term annual average of 227 days per year with

1140-402: Is organized in two classes, Classis East and Classis West (the eastern border of Illinois is the boundary between the two), which meet two or three times a year and in an annual Synod. As reflected in the denominations use of the plural "Churches" in its name, the PRC maintains that a denomination is not a church but a federation of churches, and that each of these churches is self-governing by

1200-736: Is part of Colorado's Bustang network. It is on the Alamosa-Pueblo Outrider line. Alamosa is the shopping center for the San Luis Valley and has several national and regional stores. There are a number of fast food restaurants , two medical clinics, and a regional hospital, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center . Adams State University is located in Alamosa. ASU is a four-year, state-supported university founded in 1921 and offering degrees in several fields including business and education. Trinidad State College has

1260-506: Is seen in God's continuing care for his creation, his restraining human society from becoming altogether intolerable and ungovernable, his making it possible for mankind to live together in a generally orderly and cooperative manner, and maintaining man's conscious sense of basic right and wrong behavior. Opponents agree that such phenomena appear at work in civilizations, and cannot operate outside God's providence, but to call this "grace" leads to

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1320-851: The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve , Colorado Gators Reptile Park , and the Rio Grande Scenic Railroad . The town hosts "Summer Fest on the Rio" which occurs the first weekend in June, the Early Iron car show over the Labor Day weekend, and "Weekends on the Rio" on various Sundays throughout the summer The city takes its name from the Spanish adjective Alamosa , meaning "of cottonwood ", for

1380-682: The Heidelberg Catechism , the Belgic Confession , and the Canons of Dordt . While the PRC approves of most of the Westminster Confession of Faith , it does not endorse it. This is partly due to a different understanding of marriage and divorce and the covenant of works . The PRC believes that marriage is a lifelong bond and that, although an individual may divorce his or her spouse for continued infidelity,

1440-466: The Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) in the Netherlands, and he believed that this could be an opportunity to grow the church. Hoeksema saw this as heresy and insisted that salvation is only for the elect, including the baptized children of believers, and that those who were not elect could not receive salvation. DeWolf and his supporters were suspended in 1953. That year 60% of

1500-402: The grace of God that is either common to all humankind, or common to everyone within a particular sphere of influence (limited only by unnecessary cultural factors). It is common because its benefits are experienced by, or intended for, the whole human race without distinction between one person and another. It is grace because it is undeserved and sovereignly bestowed by God. In this sense, it

1560-512: The "Reformed Free Publishing Association." Shortly before the schism, several members left and joined a rival publishing house called "Reformed Believers Publishing." The PRC has continued to grow since the schism of 1953. In 1994 the membership passed the 6,053 members it had at the time of the schism. The turmoil within the CRCNA resulted in a number of former CRC members joining local Protestant Reformed Churches. No CRC congregations affiliated with

1620-551: The Bible, Paul teaches that civil authorities have been "instituted by God" (Rom. 13:1) to maintain order and punish wrongdoing. Although fallible instruments of his common grace, civil governments are called "ministers of God" (Rom. 13:6) that should not be feared by those who do good. God also sovereignly works through circumstances to limit a person's sinful behavior (Gen. 20:6, 1 Sam. 25:26). In man's conscience – The apostle Paul says that when unbelieving Gentiles "who do not have

1680-462: The Bible, is not a "well-meant offer" since it is impossible for unregenerated, totally depraved man to truly perform apart from God's saving grace. Both Calvinists and Arminians generally accept the concept of common grace in that there are undeserved blessings which God extends to all humankind. However, the Arminian sees this common grace including what has been termed "common sufficient grace" or

1740-608: The CRCNA denomination-Hope CRC in Hull, Iowa , Alamo Ave CRC in Kalamazoo, MI , Bethel CRC in Redlands, CA and Faith CRC in Grand Rapids, Michigan. In 2021–2022, a number of pastors and elders, along with hundreds of members of the PRC left to establish a new denomination named the "Reformed Protestant Church." The impacted congregations included Byron Center, Michigan, Dyer, Indiana, Hull, Iowa, and Edmonton, Canada. Sister churches of

1800-676: The Dutch tradition, it has been the cause of divisions. For example, in a 1924 Synod of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), the CRC adopted what became known as the "Three Points of Common Grace." Certain ministers within the CRC refused to subscribe to those "Three Points," and they (with the majority of their consistories) were either suspended or deposed from office. Thus began the Protestant Reformed Churches in America . These ministers, and others after them, wrote responses to

1860-601: The PRC changed denomination, but one pastor, Rev. Audred Spriensma and a number of CRC families from Alamosa, Colorado joined the Protestant Reformed Church in 1993. In 2004 a former Orthodox Christian Reformed congregation in Listowel, Ontario became part of the Protestant Reformed Churches and, as of 2004, is known as Wingham PRC. According to the Yearbook 2017 of the Protestant Reformed Churches

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1920-525: The PRC in the Philippines and Singapore were also effected, which led to a number of people leaving to form two distinct church works in those countries. One of the seceding pastors, Rev. Andrew Lanning stated that "the doctrinal issue itself is the ABC’s of the gospel and the 123’s of the covenant: Fellowship with God is by grace and is unconditional." A split also occurred in the PRC's unofficial publishing arm

1980-632: The PRC sing the Psalms with organ accompaniment. In contrast to exclusive psalmody , it does permit the singing of certain hymns, but not in worship services. The PRC believes that preaching is the most important part of a worship service. Article 69 of the church order adopted by the Synod of Dordt states that: "In the churches only the 150 Psalms of David, the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer,

2040-560: The PRC uses the King James Version of the Bible, although they do not endorse the King James Only movement and members are free to use other Bible versions. The PRC holds to the truth of six literal day creation. They take the first chapter of Genesis to be a factual account of the creation, taking the words "the morning and the evening of the first day" to show a normal, twenty-four-hour day. Although micro evolution

2100-753: The Protestant Reformed Seminary writes that "Even though home-schooling of their children might be possible for a few, specially gifted parents whose circumstances provide the time that is needed, home-schooling is still not an option". The denomination supports the Protestant Reformed Theological School in Grandville, Michigan . Also closely tied with the denomination, is the Reformed Free Publishing Association,

2160-801: The Twelve Articles of Faith, the Songs of Mary, Zacharias, and Simeon, the Morning and Evening Hymns, and the Hymn of Prayer before the sermon shall be sung." It is a common practice within PRC services to open with the singing of the "Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow" doxology and some end the service with the singing of the "May the Grace of Christ the Savior" doxology. Outside of the official church service, members are free to sing hymns and carols. Also,

2220-770: The United States. Elevation is about 7,544 feet (2,299 m) in Alamosa with peaks over 14,000 feet (4,300 m) within 23 miles (37 km) of town in the Sangre de Cristo Range . Alamosa is the gateway city to the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve . Alamosa features a cold desert climate ( Köppen BWk ) with long, cold winters and warm summers, and dry weather year-round. The normal monthly mean temperature ranges from 16.3 °F (−8.7 °C) in January to 64.6 °F (18.1 °C) in July. Annual precipitation

2280-560: The Wesleyan " prevenient grace " whereby the effects of the fall are offset such that all persons now have free will and the moral ability to understand spiritual things and turn to God in Christ for salvation. The Calvinist maintains that God's common grace does not improve man's unregenerate nature , nor does it improve his ability to change his moral standing before God. Alamosa, Colorado [REDACTED] US 285 Alamosa

2340-576: The city was $ 29,593, and the median income for a family was $ 33,017. Males had a median income of $ 27,100 versus $ 22,671 for females. The per capita income for the city was $ 15,405. About 18.1% of families and 25.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over. Alamosa is a home rule municipality like many other Colorado towns. The city council has six members, four elected from wards and two at large. The council has authority to make, change, and repeal laws and ordinances. The city elects

2400-520: The city. According to city-data.com from 2014 there were 9,531 people, 2,974 households, and 1,769 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,995.0 inhabitants per square mile (770.3/km ). There were 3,215 housing units at an average density of 805.8 per square mile (311.1/km ). The racial makeup of the city was 44.5% White , 2.6% Black or African American , 2.20% Native American , 1.7% Asian , 1.3% Pacific Islander , 0.3% from other races , and 0.9% from two or more races. 49.00% of

2460-570: The communicant (4,982) and non-communicant (3,645) members; numbers 8,627. The PRCA has 2,118 family units and 33 churches in Classis East and Classis West combined. The denomination has four missionaries and four professors. The PRC believes that the Bible is the infallible and inerrantly inspired word of God and that the message therein is well summarized in the Three Forms of Unity :

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2520-459: The cottonwood forests which grow along the Rio Grande and throughout town. Alamosa is located at the junction of U.S. Routes 160 and 285 . At the 2020 United States Census , the city had a total area of 4,910 acres (19.871 km ) including 47 acres (0.192 km ) of water. Alamosa is located along the Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley, in the highest general agricultural land in

2580-447: The courses available online. In 2015, the college reached an all-time high enrollment of 3,701 students. The university's location in Alamosa, with an elevation of about 7,800 ft above sea level, attracts many athletes (especially runners) to the school's athletic program. In 2014, ASU added a cycling program. The schools in Alamosa were the subject to the educational segregation lawsuit, Maestas vs. George H. Shone . Alamosa

2640-456: The covenant or to stay in the covenant) though good works are needed to enjoy the covenant and repentance is required in order to be forgiven according to the Acts of Synod 2018. The PRC rejects Antinomianism , believing instead that God calls the people of the covenant to believe and obey and that he personally and entirely produces in them the required faith and works. In public worship services,

2700-676: The decision that was taken and ever since, the Protestant Reformed Churches have maintained that these "Three Points" were contrary to Scripture and the Reformed Confessions. The position of Herman Hoeksema and all leaders of the Protestant Reformed Churches is unique to the denomination, and is based on a high view of the word "grace" as a Biblical concept of favor applied only to the elect. According to Hoeksema (and any PRC writer) God's undeserving gifts of sunshine, rain, etc. are "providence" and while providence serves grace for believers, because it adds to their spiritual growth, it

2760-680: The denomination membership, the so-called "DeWolf Group", formed the Orthodox Protestant Reformed Church (OPRC). Before the schism the denomination had 6,063 members (1953)—the PRC has passed this membership mark as of 1994. The remaining 40% continued as the Protestant Reformed Church with 2,353 members. DeWolf worked for the reunion of the CRCNA . The union took place in 1961 and as a result seven OPRC congregations were dissolved, with their members joining other Christian Reformed congregations, and four became part of

2820-1003: The development of two churches in Singapore , the First Evangelical Reformed Church in Singapore (no longer in relationship with the PRC since 2007) and Covenant Evangelical Reformed Church. The PRC also has relationships with a small fellowship in New Zealand ; the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Australia) ; a sister church in Northern Ireland, the Covenant Protestant Reformed Church in Ballymena, and Limerick Reformed Fellowship

2880-454: The education of approximately 1500 children. Home schooling in the PRC is strongly discouraged when a Protestant Reformed school is available. The 2009 PRC Synod forbad office bearers from using home education for their children in most situations, stating that an office bearer is "expected to send his children to those (PRC) schools unless there are special circumstances judged by his consistory to be valid." David Engelsma, Professor Emeritus of

2940-566: The federation of churches. Only male members who have made a public confession of faith and are in good standing may vote for church officers or be ordained . The PRC has 33 member churches throughout the United States and in Canada. A majority of the churches in the United States are in western Michigan but there are also churches in the midwestern and western United States. The PRC has few formal relationships with most reformed denominations and organizations. The PRC contributed greatly to

3000-411: The good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust" (Matt. 5:45). We also see evidence of God’s common grace in the establishment of various structures within human society. At a foundational level, God has ordained the family unit. Even pagan parents typically know that they should nurture their children (Matt. 7:9-10) and raise them to become responsible adults. Providential restraint of sin – In

3060-451: The law, by nature do what the law requires, they are a law to themselves, ...They show that the work of the law is written on their hearts, while their conscience also bears witness, and their conflicting thoughts accuse or even excuse them" (Rom. 2:14–15, ESV). By God's common grace fallen mankind retains a conscience discerning the moral value of doing good over evil. This may be based on the fact that human beings, though fallen in sin, retain

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3120-450: The marriage bond is not dissolved apart from death. Hence, neither party is permitted to remarry while the other person is still living. Those who do divorce and remarry while their first spouse is still alive are considered adulterers, regardless of the circumstances of the divorce. The PRC holds that God's covenant is only with his elect and that it is unconditional (meaning that there are no conditions that people must fulfill to enter into

3180-425: The ministry by their respective classes . The CRC maintained that the position of these three men was inconsistent with the Bible's teachings. The men objected to this deposition also from a church political point of view, arguing that only the consistory has the right to depose their minister, not a classis. The CRC disagreed, and these ministers, as well as their followers, were deposed by the CRC and organized into

3240-435: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 2,974 households, out of which 32.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.5% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.5% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

3300-473: The unconditionality of the Covenant of Grace . Hubert DeWolf , who had become the pastor of the First Protestant Reformed Church in Grand Rapids , was influenced by the theology of the Reformed Churches in the Netherlands (Liberated) , this included conditional theology. DeWolf began to preach sermons which promoted conditional theology, because he saw the ever increasing number of immigrants that were part of

3360-627: The words of Reformed scholar Louis Berkhof, “[Common grace] curbs the destructive power of sin, maintains in a measure the moral order of the universe, thus making an orderly life possible, distributes in varying degrees gifts and talents among men, promotes the development of science and art, and showers untold blessings upon the children of men,” (Berkhof, p. 434, summarizing Calvin’s position on common grace). The various aspects of God's common grace to all mankind may be generally gathered under four heads: Providential care in creation – God’s sustaining care for his creation, called divine providence,

3420-410: Was 2.36 and the average family size was 3.04. In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.4% under the age of 18, 21.8% from 18 to 24, 24.8% from 25 to 44, 18.1% from 45 to 64, and 10.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 28 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.1 males. The median income for a household in

3480-620: Was founded with the help of the PRC and; the Protestant Reformed Churches in Myanmar . The PRC has also developed contacts in India , Germany , Myanmar , Venezuela and in Singapore ; there is a sister Reformed Church in Singapore. Currently, the PRC is engaged in missions in a few locations in the United States, and they have recently organized a church in the Philippines and several mission churches were started. The Berean Reformed Church

3540-568: Was organised in 2006, and the All of Grace Protestant Reformed Fellowship in Gabaldon, the Philippines, recently a new work is underway, the Provident Christian Church in Manila . The Georgetown PRC is involved in mission in India . In 2005, the Synod of the PRC closed the denomination's missionary field work in Ghana , due to a lack of membership. The PRC holds that "it is necessary for them to maintain good, Christian schools in which their children are educated". To this end, Protestant Reformed parents maintain twelve primary and three high schools for

3600-418: Was the terminus of the D&RG until 1881, when the line was extended to Monte Vista. The railroad had an extensive construction, repair, and shipping facility in Alamosa for many years and headquartered its remaining narrow gauge service here with trackage reaching many points throughout southwest Colorado and northern New Mexico . Alamosa is now a notable tourist town with many nearby attractions, including

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