In Memoriam
We note the passing of a long-time
minister in both the Christian Reformed Church and the United Reformed
Churches, Rev. Jelle Tuininga. Some readers of Christian
Renewal will
remember his writing in these pages.
His articles were blunt, to the point and
helped the churches think through issues that ran the gamut from matters of
theology to politics, to worldview issues, to worship, work, marriage, crime
and punishment, the end times, and a host of other topics that seemed relevant
to our times and in need of comment.
While I was able to sit under his
preaching for one Sunday while on a trip to the West, my wife and I enjoyed the
fellowship of Jelena Henrietta, and we also saw each other at numerous synods
over the years as well. He was a faithful supporter of Christian
Renewal, a great
encouragement to me personally, and gave what he could to help the cause. He
was an avid reader as well. One thing I found out in reflections on his life
was that we shared a pastor – Rev. Harry Van Dyken – him as a young man in
Neerlandia, Alberta and me in my younger years in Woodbridge, Ontario, and his
influence in preaching and teaching made a lasting impression.
A friend of
the Tuiningas, Hermina Dykxhoorn shared some of her thoughts and insights. She wrote
this to me in an email: “Jelle suffered much: more than 20 years of Parkinson’s
disease, periodic depression, decades of leading the struggle for orthodoxy in
the denomination he loved, doctrinal struggles that can be as debilitating, as anyone
involved in similar struggles knows, as physical or emotional illness. But he
was characterized by great love.
The weary and wandering saint had a loving but
firm champion and sympathizer in Rev. Tuininga. He genuinely loved people.” The
ministry is never easy. But it is the Lord’s work, and if one is to be spent,
there is no better way. Read more of J.T.’s life on page 12.
As to other matters to note: Missionaries
in foreign places far from the home church do the kind of work that most of us
wouldn’t even consider doing. Missionary service is truly a special calling of
God that requires self-sacrifice, and Glenda Mathes shares the story of the
Poelmans who served in India for many years. See page 6.
Those who love reading Norm
Bomer’s column in Christian Renewal may be wondering why they haven’t seen his
byline in a couple of issues now. Norm is recovering from surgery to remove a
tumor from his pancreas. All indications look good and the next number of weeks
are for healing and recovery. Please keep Norm in your prayers as we look forward
to having him back to regular writing when he is able enough to do so.
And don’t miss the article on
children as propaganda pawns, nor
the web featured one on something that is killing our churches from the inside out.
John Vandyk, Editor
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