I’ve always been a history buff. I can’t say for sure when or how that interest was “sparked,” but I suspect, in part, I know why. I was blessed to grow up attending East Saugatuck CRC with much of my extended family. After church, we often gathered at my grandparents’ house for coffee. 

I loved listening to the adults talk about current happenings and hearing tales of the past. History, for me, is not so much about longing for “days of old”—those days were not always simple, and our ancestors faced tough challenges.

One element of the past I find so intriguing is understanding how big and sometimes little decisions shaped the world we inherited. More importantly, what can we learn from the past to help guide us into the future?

While sitting in the parsonage of Graafschap CRC in 1865, did Rev. Douwe Vander Werp ever dream his pastoral training of Harm Lucas would lead to the creation of a world-renowned Christian university? As he walked up the stairs of the Williams Street school in Grand Rapids in 1876, did Rev. Geert Boer imagine his small group of students would blossom into nearly 66,000 living alumni 150 years later?

This spring I picked up John J. Timmerman’s ����app Centennial tome, Promises to Keep. Once I began, I could not put it down. I was intrigued with similarities between the past and present. From its beginning, ����app wrestled with how to train students to serve the world yet not get caught up in worldliness. The college navigated tensions and blessings within the church and engaged vigorous debates regarding appropriate curriculum and positive learning outcomes. Through it all, God’s faithful hand guided and blessed ����app.

So here we are, at the beginning of a celebration year—the sesquicentennial year. This is a time to reflect on and celebrate 150 years of God’s faithfulness to ����app. It’s also a moment to dream and prayerfully ask for God’s continued guidance for ����app’s future.

What a year it will be! Much thought and planning has gone into providing opportunities for alumni and friends to celebrate this milestone anniversary. We invite you to come back to campus during any of our three Celebration Weeks packed with special events, concerts, and athletic competitions.

We’ll also be taking the party to you with ����app on the Road. Follow us on social media and visit our exclusive 150th Anniversary website for details on how you can participate at one of our 30 stops.

Thinking back again to my childhood, I recall my grandparents regularly welcoming church visitors to their home after Sunday morning service in an act of hospitality and friendship. In that same spirit, I invite you to come “home” to celebrate God’s faithfulness to ����app for the past 150 years and to pray for his blessings for 150 more.