First Pastor Speaks for Church's 50th Anniversary
Princeton CRC members at worship
Princeton CRC
Rev. Henry Vanden Heuvel was installed as the first pastor of Princeton Christian Reformed Church in Kentwood, Mich. in December 1965.
Five years after that, he left Princeton to serve a church in Sioux Center, Iowa.
But on Sunday, Sept. 22, Vanden Heuvel was at Princeton again, this time giving a sermon on Psalm 145 as part of the Grand Rapids-area church’s 50th anniversary celebration.
Vanden Heuvel currently leads a Monday evening men's Bible study, occasionally preaches, and serves as pastor of visitation at Graafschap CRC in Holland, Mich. During his sermon at the 5 p.m. service at Princeton, Vanden Heuvel spoke about his time at the church and of the challenges and excitement during those early days.
Organized in 1963, the church began marking its 50th anniversary during its services on September 15. Former Princeton pastors Rev. Bert Van Antwerpen and Rev. John C. Mendendorp preached.
"As we look back over the past 50 years of ministry in Kentwood and beyond, we remember many things," says Rev. David Poolman, the current pastor, in the church’s anniversary booklet.
The anniversary celebration gave the church an opportunity to hear sermons from former pastors and to recall, says Poolman, the "wonderful people who have served faithfully.”
It was also a time to consider "lives that have been changed, marriages and families that have been strengthened, needs that have been met... and prayers that have been lifted up."
Over the years, Princeton has been involved in many ministries, and continues to do. Among other things, it has been active in its community, reached out with ministry to young people, became the first church in its classis to approve women in office, and has been a haven for the homeless.
The church, which currently has 362 members on its rolls, also took time during the anniversary celebration to look to the future.
"We have a lot of work to do in the years ahead—we know that. There are conversations that need to take place, priorities that need to be evaluated, programs that need to be shuffled, and needs in our community and church that need to be addressed,"
says Poolman.
