History First Reformed Church (Orange City, Iowa)

1 history

1.1 years
1.2 dominee bolks - 1872-1878
1.3 rev. ale buursma - 1879-1889
1.4 rev. harm vander ploeg - 1890-1893
1.5 rev. matthew kolyn - 1893-1898
1.6 rev. n. m. steffens - 1898-1901
1.7 rev. e. w. stapelkamp - 1901-1907
1.8 rev. john engelsman - 1908-1925
1.9 rev. dr. henry colenbrander - 1925-1960
1.10 rev. raymond van heukelom - 1961-1979
1.11 rev. cecil martens - 1981-1988
1.12 rev. steve vander molen - 1989-2005
1.13 rev. perry de groot, rev. edward suffern, rev. james daniels - 2005-2010
1.14 rev. timothy breen - 2010-present

history
early years

first reformed church (frc) organized on may 6, 1871 in order serve dutch settlers began arriving in orange city in 1870. result of population growth , rising cost of land, large group of hollanders moved 300 miles northwest pella, ia. people of deep , abiding religious faith, establishment of christian church 1 of community s first priorities. initial services led literate lay people (mostly farmers), read bible, pray, sing psalms, , possibly read book of sermons. community of dutch settlers continued grow, need ordained minister became readily apparent – there no 1 available perform baptisms or administer eucharist. after church officially organized, extended call reverend seine bolks of zeeland, michigan, became church s first minister in april 1872.

the first few years exceedingly hard new settlers. “prairie fires, hordes of grasshoppers stripped fields bare, hail-storms, droughts , severe blizzards commonplace during first decade of church’s existence”. church forced close few weeks in 1882 result of smallpox epidemic. however, people persevered, in part because of constant reassurance of dominee bolks. through immigration, birth, , mission, church continued grow steadily 20th century.

dominee bolks - 1872-1878

reverend seine bolks still known among people dominee bolks - title of respect , dutch equivalent of reverend bolks . when call first extended him in fall of 1871, declined, later accepted after call extended him second time. arrived in orange city , began pastorate in april 1872.

as young man, bolks had shown promise , hand-picked , trained rev. albertus van raalte (dutch immigrant , founder of holland, mi). bolks followed van raalte michigan in 1848 became first pastor of overisel reformed church. served churches in wisconsin , illinois before coming northwest iowa.

he preached twice each sunday in orange city , community grew , spread, journey 3 4 times week outlying schoolhouse preach lived far church. later, when churches organized in sioux center , alton, preached these congregations until received own ministers.

in addition being minister, bolks called upon care sick , injured. in absence of medical doctor, bolks used limited medical training perform amputations , assist midwives. once trained doctor arrived @ colony, bolks refused make more calls.

due failing health, bolks handed on responsibilities rev. buursma, though remained active in community until death on june 16, 1894.

rev. ale buursma - 1879-1889

rev. ale burrsma frisian-born civil war veteran , member of first graduating classes of hope college , western theological seminary. called 3 times before decided leave church in south holland, il come orange city. first pastor @ frc able preach in english, though did so. growing american population led formation of english-language american reformed church in 1885.

buursma cared christian education , given three-month leave of absence in 1883 fill vacancy @ new northwestern classical academy. buursma acted principal year @ school. served decade @ frc , left in 1889 pastor of fifth reformed church in grand rapids, mi.

rev. harm vander ploeg - 1890-1893

after rev. buursma left, frc without minister on year, calling harmen vander ploeg. pastorate shortened ill health, valued strong morals , theology concern missions. served church until death in 1893, little more two-and-a-half years after beginning @ frc.

rev. matthew kolyn - 1893-1898

rev. matthew kolyn first american born pastor @ first reformed. wisconsin native, graduated new brunswick theological seminary in new jersey. pastorate showed beginnings of americanization movement within church first reformed established branch of christian endeavor - evangelical, interdenominational youth organization exposed youth, in english, non-reformed theology , hymnody. @ same time, consistory insisted sunday school continue use dutch material.

kolyn periodically suffered ill health , after 5 years in orange city, became professor @ western theological seminary.

rev. n. m. steffens - 1898-1901

reverend nicholas martinus steffens born in germany, educated in netherlands, , missionary jewish population in istanbul. served congregations on dutch-german border , in united states, taught @ western theological seminary , dubuque theological seminary , friend , ally of theologian-politician abraham kuyper. surprising many man of stature accepted call church in developing , isolated area, may have been influenced fact daughter taught @ northwestern classical academy. pastorate short lived , after 2 years accepted call again teach @ dubuque seminary.

rev. e. w. stapelkamp - 1901-1907

like kolyn, rev. evert stapelkamp born in wisconsin , graduated hope college , new brunswick seminary. during time @ first reformed church, renting of pews abolished. introduced electric lighting sanctuary , added concrete sidewalks. church choir, american innovation, introduced , singers instructed sing beside organ. had health problems led him resign.

rev. john engelsman - 1908-1925

rev. engelsman had longest pastorate @ first reformed church time. preferred preach in dutch, able preach in accented english. caused considerable tension during world war (his lawn set on fire being dutch ), when state policy called english-only services (the sioux county board of defense allowed service repeated in dutch after english service). rev. engelsman took group palestine in 1914, after presented lectures on trip throughout town.

rev. dr. henry colenbrander - 1925-1960

colenbrander pastor of first reformed church thirty-five years through myriad of transitions - in particular transition worshipping in dutch worshipping in english. served president of board of trustees @ northwestern classical academy thirty-four years , oversaw expansion junior college in 1928 and, before death, 4 year college. men s residence hall on campus named in honor.

rev. raymond van heukelom - 1961-1979

under rev. van heukelom, frc recognized need expand ministry , began increase staff , services. associate pastor hired education in newly expanded education wing. second morning service introduced deal growing congregation. however, 2 services led feeling of there being 2 congregations , problem solved tearing down of old sanctuary , building current sanctuary in 1979 entire congregation worship together. church s ministry continued expand retired rca pastors began assist part-time in frc s ministry.

rev. cecil martens - 1981-1988

as culture shifted entering 1980s, rev. cecil martens asked provide faithful leadership , lend outward focus church s ministry. realization 1 no longer went church helped shift mission emphasis of church purely international missions include local efforts well. rev. martens took great strides in reaching out college community , making frc place local students want attend.

rev. steve vander molen - 1989-2005

rev. vander molen served church 15 years before taking calls @ christ memorial church in holland, mi. in 1996, contributed church s recent history book @ 125th anniversary. in 2000, oversaw expansion of office space in order better accommodate growing staff. author kevin deyoung served associate pastor under pastor vander molen.

rev. perry de groot, rev. edward suffern, rev. james daniels - 2005-2010

at time, church moved tri-part staff structure. rev. perry de groot shepherding pastor (2006–2010). rev. edward suffern preaching/teaching pastor (2007–2009). rev. james daniels equipping pastor (2005–2008).

rev. timothy breen - 2010-present

in august 2010, first reformed church extended call rev. timothy breen. rev. breen continues serve lead pastor , lives in orange city wife , 2 children.

in may 2011, consistory called rev. mark haverdink - native son of frc - pastor of congregational life.