Jack Kooyman
I was born in 1953 as the third and final child of John and Elizabeth Kooyman in Grand Rapids, Michigan. My parents were Dutch immigrants who came to the U.S. shortly after World War II. I grew up in Grand Rapids attending both public and Christian schools--graduating from Grand Rapids (East) Christian High School in 1972. I began working full-time for Zondervan Publishing soon after graduating from high school--I had no interest in or plans to attend college at the time. I was laid off from this job early in 1973. After being unable to find "gainful" employment, I decided to attend Kuyper College (fka Reformed Bible College) and ended up graduating with a bachelor's degree in religous education (B.R.E.).
After college, my wife Debbie (Groeneveld)--whom I married during my Junior year of college--and I moved to Denver to live and work with adolescent boys who had been removed from their homes by the court. While in Denver, I began attending Denver Seminary—fka Conservative Baptist Theological Seminary. After two years in Denver, we moved back to the Grand Rapids area where I served a local RCA Congregation as the Minister of Youth and Education for about two years. I then continued my seminary education as a part-time student at Calvin Theological Seminary (CTS) for the next few years. While attending CTS, I began serving as the Executive Director of Degage Ministries (a ministry with the homeless community in Grand Rapids, Michigan).
While at CTS and working at Degage, I eventually realized I was not called to ministry within the local church and suspended my seminary education. Among other things, I realized that my gifts were more in the areas of administration and organizational leadership as well as development. As a result, I began graduate studies in management at Aquinas College in GR and then transferred to Western Michigan University where I completed a M.A. in Educaltional Leadership.
From 1987 - 1994 I served as an administrator at a small college (Jordan College) which closed its doors in 1995.
After leaving the college, I was hired to serve as the first full-time Executive Director of Camp Tall Turf (aka Tall Turf Ministries), a Christian urban youth ministry with a mission focussed on racial reconciliation and youth leadership development. I served in this position from 1994 - 2013.
I presently serve as Executive Director for The Holland Deacons' Conference.
Posted in: What Books Are You Reading in 2020?
Presently reading the following books:
Poverty of Spirit by Johann Baptist Metz
To Alter Your World: Partnering with God to Rebirth Our Communities by Michel Frost and Christiana Rice
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall
Posted in: Where Do You Live? Say Hi Below!
Greetings! I live in Grand Rapids and work in Holland, MI.
Posted in: Prayer: Why Bother
Thanks, Corey. I look forward to it and will share this with a few others who might be interested as well.
Posted in: A Fresh Old Understanding of Evangelism and Witnessing
This is the most recent version of this slide presentation. I also included a link to the Google docs version.
Posted in: Prayer: Why Bother
Wow! Talk about leaving us hanging! Did you intend for this to be a teaser? It certainly felt that way to me. Not to mention that I am fairly certain that some people, especially those searching for some answers, will be disappointed and perhaps even somewhat resentful or frustrated. To be completely honest, those were some of my feelings with it. That being said, everything you mentioned in your post are very familiar questions , doubts, and concerns that many Christians have when it comes to the subject and practice of prayer...especially among Christians in the U.S. For many of us--even those of us who grew up attending churches in the Reformed tradition--have had a view of God as vending machine or as a type of Santa Clause that gives us what we ask for if we do it the right way, have enough faith, ask or beg long enough, etc.
While I know and believe that there is a place for supplication in prayer, i.e., making requests of God, I also know that is not the sole or primary purpose of prayer...and our requests should not be simply about getting what I want or think I need, deserve, or believe God should do.
I have read many good--and not so good--books on and about prayer over the years. Perhaps one of the best or at least most helpful was Philip Yancey's book, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?
In closing, I think it would be helpful and considerate to let those of us who read your post to know if this is part of a series and when we can expect to read the next one. I hope you will let us know.
Grace and Peace,
Jack
Posted in: It’s Time to Stop Talking About Justice
Thank you, Shannon, for this important reminder that justice is something we do and pursue, not merely talk about. Your post made me think of Isaiah 58 where God seems to make pretty clear that doing and pursuing justice is what we are supposed to be about as God's children in God's world. And that's because our God had and has a vision for all of creation and injustice has no place in it. It's just like Jesus taught us to pray: "Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done. On earth as it is in heaven." Again, thanks for the reminder!
Posted in: Recent Racism in Our Country
Perhaps as troubling, if not even more so, are the excuses and explanations made by so many supporters of this president for not only his language, but also many if his views on and about immigrants and refugees in general. It's past time for Christians to stand up and speak out against such matters that are contrary to God's desire for justice that reflects and advances God's Kingdom.
Posted in: Diversity and Discernment
Thank you, Danielle, for providing some helpful background and perspective on the Synod discussion about articles on Do Justice. Thanks too for encouraging us to listen, dialog with, and learn from a diversity of Christian voices from backgrounds and with experiences that differ from our own. I learned many years ago during my studies at Reformed Bible College (now Kuyper College) that all truth is God's truth no matter the source. Therefore, I can learn from, be blessed by, and grow closer in my relationship with God by listening to and getting to know people from cultures, backgrounds, experiences, nationalities, and even religions that differ from mine. That being said, I am deeply grateful for the good and very important work done by the Centre for Public Dialogue and OSJ!
Posted in: From Scripture to Elders and Deacons Today
Thank you for sharing your perspectives and insights with us regarding the recommendations from the Task Force to Study the Offices of Elder and Deacon. I also appreciate that you took time to respond to Overture 12. I hope and pray that this year's delegates to Synod will take the time to carefully read the full report (pp. 380 - 401) in this year's Agenda. (The full agenda is available to download here.)
Posted in: Grace or Disgrace
Thanks for sharing this with our readers Bernita! I especially appreciate that you acknowledge that we are all equally broken and need to extend Christ's mercy to others just as Christ has shown and continues to show us mercy. I believe that this is an important perspective and posture that can help keep us from seeing and treating "those in need" as less than or more broken and in greater need than ourselves.
Posted in: Diakonia Redux: Will Deacons Get a Voice?
Jeff,
I think you--and others--might appreciate and benefit by reading a letter written in 1939 by deacon Hendrik Schoonekamp about the need for and importance of deacon inclusion and representation. You can read it on The Network's page for Deacons here.
Posted in: Diakonia Redux: Will Deacons Get a Voice?
To those who might have missed it, there is a post on The Network's site for Deacons entitled, "What's Up With Deacons Going To Synod?." The post itself is a letter written to CRC Deacons by The Task Force to Study the Offices of Elder and Deacon. Given the interest sparked by this particular post, I think anyone wanting to better understand this issue might find it helpful. You can get directly to the post by going here. You might also be interested in reading a letter written in 1939 by a deacon that addresses the matter of deacon inclusion/representation also posted on the page for deacons here.