CURRICULUM VITAE

 

MY STORY (IN A NUTSHELL)

            Born on January 25, 1951 in the Netherlands, I was raised in a Christian home, nurtured in the context of the Reformed faith, and a professing member of the Gereformeerde Kerk, Nederland (GKN). In 1972 I emigrated to St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada. I worked as a machine operator in a sheet metal factory and as a truck driver for greenhouse operators. During this time in Canada (1972-1974), I went through a period of spiritual renewal and became very involved in the work of the Maranatha Christian Reformed Church in St. Catharines.

 

Sensing a call to evangelistic work, I decided to attend the Reformed Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan for further training. While there for one year, I changed directions and began attending Calvin College to pursue a liberal arts education, majoring in classical Greek, and thus preparing for seminary entrance. In 1978 I graduated from Calvin College and entered Calvin Theological Seminary to prepare for ordained, pastoral ministry in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. In 1981 I graduated with a Master of Divinity degree. Also, in 1977 I married Rosanne Bierma; the Lord has blessed us richly with four children: Jessica, Joy, Elliot, and Eric.

 

After a one-year internship at the Dearborn CRC, I received a call to serve the North Blendon CRC in Hudsonville, MI as an ordained pastor. I served that church from 1982-1988. In the spring of 1988 we moved to Des Moines, Iowa, where I served the Des Moines CRC until 1995. At that time I received and accepted a call from the Providence CRC in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. While working full-time as an ordained pastor, I pursued my doctoral studies in the area of Christian worship. In 1998 I graduated from Northern Baptist Theological Seminary in Chicago, Ill. with a Doctorate of Ministry in Worship. In the fall of 2004, I responded to a call from the Calvary CRC in Edina, MN to be their lead pastor. Thus in January, 2005 I began my task with the Calvary Church to lead people into a growing and committed relationship with Jesus Christ and his church. As part of my calling, I also co-teach a course on the Christian Year at the Institute for Worship Studies. The course is part of a doctoral program enabling students to pursue a doctoral degree in worship studies.

 

EDUCATION--A SHORT OVERVIEW

Formal Education:

            1998 Northern Baptist Theological Seminary:    D.Min (with distinction)

            1982 Calvin Theological Seminary:                               M.Div.

            1978 Calvin College:                                                    AB

 

PASTORAL MINISTRY RELATED EXPERIENCE

2005-Present   Ordained Minister: Calvary CRC, Edina, Minnesota

1995-2004       Ordained Minister: Providence CRC, Ontario, Canada

1988-1995             Ordained Minister: Des Moines CRC, Des Moines, Iowa

1982-1988       Ordained Minister: North Blendon CRC, Hudsonville, Michigan

1981-1982       Internship Dearborn CRC, Dearborn, Michigan

 

 

PROFESSIONAL MINISTRY RELATED SERVICE

2006-present    Church Visitor (Classis Lake Superior)

2006-present    Chuch Visitor (Classis Lake Superior)

2005-present   Synodical Deputy for Classis Lake Superior

2002-2004       Church Visitor (Classis Niagara)

1999-2004       Member/Chair of Student Fund Committee (Classis Niagara)

1999                Delegate to Synod

1998-2004       Member of the Board of Trustees, Dordt College

1998-1999             Member of the Editorial Council of Calvin Institute of Christian

Worship at Calvin College

1997-1999             Member of the Editorial Council of Reformed Worship journal

1995-1997             CRC Home Missions Committee (Classis Niagara)

1992-1994       CRC Home Missions Church Growth Consulting (Midwest USA)

1992-1994       Church Visitor (Classis Pella)

1990                Delegate to Synod

1989-1994             CRC Home Missions Committee (Classis Pella)

1985-1987       CRC Home Missions Committee (Classis Zeeland)

 

FORMAL TEACHING EXPERIENCE

1999-present    Formally on staff as an adjunct professor teaching The Church Year at Dr.

Robert Webber’s Institute for Worship Studies (Florida Campus)

(Doctoral program: D.W.S or Doctor of Worship Studies)

  • Taught one week intensives in Jacksonville, Fla. mentoring doctoral students for 4 months by way of internet.
  • June 10-18, 2008
  • January 2-10, 2008
  • June 12-20, 2007
  • January 3-10, 2007
  • June 13-21, 2006
  • January 3-11, 2006
  • June 8-16, 2005
  • January 4-12, 2005
  • June 8-16, 2004
  • January 6-14, 2004
  • June 10-18, 2003
  • January 6-14, 2003
  • June 11-19, 2002
  • January 8-16, 2002
  • June 13-20, 2001
  • January 17-24, 2001
  • June 7-14, 2000
  • Taught one-week intensive at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, July 14-18, 2003 “Services of the Year”  (WORS 0604)
  • Taught one month intensive from July 30-August 30, 2001 [independent study: “Services of the Year” (WORS 0604)] to 4 M.Div. students at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto. “Services of the Year” (WORS 0604). Done primarily by mentoring over the internet.
  • Taught one week intensive from November 6-10, 2000 at Briercrest Biblical Seminary (Caronport, Saskatchewan).
  • Taught one-week intensive at Tyndale Seminary in Toronto, August 2-6, 1999 “Services of the Year”  (WORS 0604)

1982-present    Catechetical/church school/Adult church classes related instruction

1979-1981       Calvin College: assistant professor (part time) Dutch language

 

DOCTORAL THESIS/PROJECT SUPERVISION

June, 2008                   Brenda G. Spargo: “The Development of a Worship Planning

                                    Team for Contemporary Worship at University United Methodist

                                    Church, Las Vegas, Neveda.”

June, 2008                   Gaylord Bruce Makowski: “A Curriculum to Enhance an

                                    Understanding of the Eucharist in Spiritual Formation for

                                    Pastoral Ministry Students at Canby Bible College, Canby,

                                    Oregon.”

June, 2008                   Timothy M. Harrison:    “Developing a Family Worship Program for

                                    the Clinton Presbyterian Church, Clinton, New Jersey.”

June, 2008                   John P. Harmeling: “Enhancing the Understanding of the

                                    Christian Year through a Focus on Advent at Southside Baptist

                                    Church, Jacksonville, Florida.”

June, 2008                   Larry D. Ellis: “Living Out Our Baptismal Covenant at St. Gabriel

                                    the Archangel Episcopal Church, Cherry Hills Village, Colorado.”

June, 2008                   Christian Diffenderfer: “Building a Foundation in a New Anglican

                                    Congregation in Falcon, Colorado.”

June, 2008                   Timothy W. Borchert:   “Utilizing Multimedia in the Celebration of

                                    the Lord’s Supper at First Baptist Church of Oak Ridge,

                                    Tennessee.”

June, 2008                   Don W. Barrick: “Building Authentic Christian Community at

                                    First Baptist Church of the Woodlands, Texas through the Use of

                                    the Ancient Agape Feast.”

June, 2007                   James W. Walraven: “A Table Celebration Study for Home Group

                                    Use at Community of Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church in

                                    Wilsonville, Oregon.”

June, 2007                   James E. Smith: “Enhancing the Worship of God through Under-

                                    standing and Hallowing the Lord’s Day at Bethel Missionary

                                    Church in Goshen, Indiana.”

June, 2007                   David R. Pannabecker: “A Baptismal Curriculum for Senior High

                                    Youth and Adults Toward Making Disciples at Trinity Evangelical

                                    Free Church, South Bend, Indiana.”

June, 2007                   Jean Allyn Gothold: “Developing a Theology of Worship for St.

                                    Peter’s By the Sea Presbyterian Church in Rancho Palos Verdes,

                                    CA.”

June, 2007                   Robert James George, Jr.: “A Method to Address the Worship

                                    Expectations of Those Attending the United Methodist Church

                                    of Smethport, PA.”

June, 2007                   Norman Garcia: “Enriching Worship Through a Training Program

                                    For Salvation Army Cadets in the USA Eastern Territory.”

June, 2007                   Perry Kwan Sin Chow: “A Worship Training Course for Can-

                                    tonnese-Speaking Worship Leaders at the Boston Chinese

                                    Evangelical Church, Morristown, Tennessee.”

June, 2007                   Charles Lawrence Betters: “A Guide to Help Families Discover

                                    Their Unique Missional Calling Through Family Worship at

                                    Glascow Reformed Presbyterian Church, Bear, DE.”

June, 2006                   Calvin Lam: “A Training Manual for Purpose Driven Worship

                                    Leaders at Richmond Hill Chinese Community Church, Toronto,

                                    Canada.”

June, 2006                   Gerzinus Hoekstra: “A Resource Guide of Seasons and Symbols

                                    for St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Choir, Niagara-on-the-Lake,

                                    Ontario, Canada.”

June, 2006                   Sharon Kivell: “Fostering Harmony Through Healing Workshops

                                    at St. Ninian’s Anglican Church, Scarborough, Ontario, Canada.”

June, 2006                   Glen Gray: “A Paradigm for Renewal: Seven Pilot Studies for

                                    Interculturated Holy Communion at the American College,

                                    Phoenix, Arizona.”

June, 2005                   Chris Monroe: “The Stations of the Cross: A Worship Course for

                                    the Disciples Class of Vinton Baptist Church, Vinton, Virginia.”

June, 2005                   Mark Mahaffie: “A Worship Study Course and Services for

                                    Advent and Christmas Designed to Enhance the Spiritual Growth

                                    for Sequoia Heights Baptist Church, Manteca, California.”

June, 2005                   Edna Grenz: “Enriching the Journey with Jesus for the People of

                                    First Baptist Church in Vancouver. BC Through a Workshop

                                    Overview of the Christian Year, and Particularly Through a Series

                                    Aimed at Enhancing the Advent Season.”

June, 2005                   Lyndell Vaught: “A Daily Worship Guide Book to Promote

                                    Personal Christian Worship During Holy Week Among Senior

                                    Adults, Ages 65-85 at the Silver Serenaders Choir, Dallas, Texas.”

June, 2004                   Robin Ziegenfuss: “A Strategic Worship Transition Plan to Assist

                                    First Christian Church of Council Bluffs, Iowa, in Moving From a

                                    450 to a 1000 Seat Worship Space”

June, 2003                   Rebecca Whited: “A New Discipleship Curriculum to Enhance

                                    Worship at Tallmadge Lutheran Church”

June, 2003                   Tracy Ainsworth: A Sourcebook for the Christian Year for Use by

                                    Churches in the Advent Christian Denomination”

June, 2003                   Julie Gibson: “A Worship Curriculum for Commissioned Lay

                                    Pastor Candidates, Boise Presbytery, PCUSA”

June, 2002                   Ryan Forbes: “A Study Course to Equip the Lay Worship Leaders of North Broad Baptist Church in Rome, Georgia”

June, 2002                   David Ellison: “A Worship Guide for the Season of Advent For the Adult Choir of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, South Dakota.”

 

PUBLISHING: BOOK REVIEWS, ARTICLES, ETC.

1999                                 “Bending God’s Ear.” Reformed Worship, June 1999, number 52. Grand Rapids: CRC Publications.

1998                Privately published: (Doct. Thesis) The Significance of Baptism as Taught

Specifically in the Providence Christian Reformed Church and Generally in the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

 

CONFERENCES AND WORKSHOPS

January, 2006 Calvin Institute of Christian Worship: Symposium on Worship. Presented                                    two workshops: On “Remember Your (Infant) Baptism” and on “The

                        Presence of the Ascended Christ in the Eucharist”

July 11-22, 2005 Seminars in Christian Scholarship:  Participant in “How to Teach

                        Worship in Congregations and Schools.” Dr. John Witvliet.

January 24, 2004 “Reflections on Worship” (Workshop at Rehoboth CRC, Niagara Falls)

March 29, 2003 “Feasts, Festivals, and the Arts” (Worship and the Arts, Niagara,

sponsored by Jubilee CRC, St. Catharines)

 

PERSONAL MISSION STATEMENT

The core of my calling is: 

            To help people encounter the Lord Jesus Christ by providing leadership in

            worshiping the triune God, by preaching the gospel, and by teaching the

            Scriptures in the context of pastoral ministry.