Interim Pastor February 2023

 Henk grew up in an immigrant family in Bowmanville, ON, Canada, and though he felt called to the ministry already as a child, he also loves history and practical
work with his hands. After graduating from Trinity Christian College and Westminster Seminary he met Ruth in Grand Rapids, MI while studying for one year at Calvin Seminary. She was working as a copy editor at the CRC Board of Publications when we met in 1982. We have two children and four grandchildren between the ages of 9 and 2. 

We first served the congregation of Holland Marsh CRC (ON), where many members were vegetable farmers. We also served in Chatham and Woodbridge, also in Ontario. The last 13 years of Henk's full time ministry were at Heritage CRC (Brampton, ON), a congregation existing entirely within a senior citizens complex of 1,100 people that included two long term care facilities. With two colleagues he served as pastor to the congregation and chaplain to other residents who were not members of the church. 

After retiring in 2021 we moved to Rockford, MI, because our children and grandchildren live in this area, as do friends. We worship at Trinity CRC (Sparta). It will be a privilege to serve among you.