Sussex Christian Reformed Church

Our Church History

  

The Early Years…

On December 8, 1949, a meeting was held in the Sussex Borough Hall for those desiring to have services in Sussex for the organization of a new congregation. Rev. B. Spalink, Pastor of the Preakness Christian Reformed Church, was the chairman.

The committee of Classis presented a resolution that those present endorse a plan proposed by the Newton Consistory and approved by the Classical Committee, namely, Rev. Spalink, Rev E. Dekker, and Elder P. Damsma, that separate services be held in Sussex.

Those signing as charter members were: 

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Abma

Mr. & Mrs. Arthur Aukema and 2 children

Mr. & Mrs. Gerben Aukema and 6 children

Mr. & Mrs. John Aukema and 9 children

Mr. & Mrs. Owen Aukema and 5 children

Mr. & Mrs. Charles Bakker and 1 child

Mr. & Mrs. George Boersma and 1 child

Mr. & Mrs. Gerald Boersma and 2 children

Mr. Ted Boersma

Mr. & Mrs. Peter Bosma and 3 children

Mr. Henry Byma

Mr. & Mrs. Ben De Boer and 6 children

Mr. Arthur De Boer

Mr. & Mrs. Herman DeGroot

Mr. & Mrs. Jack DeGroot and 1 child

Mr. & Mrs. Dirk De Vries and 6 children

Mr. William Elgersma

Mr. & Mrs. Garry Elzinga and 2 children

Mr. Garry Elzinga , Jr.

Mr. & Mrs. Harman Jaarsma and 2 children

Mr. & Mrs. Jelle Kuperus and 5 children

Mr. & Mrs. Owen Speulstra and 5 children

Mr. & Mrs. Albert Timmer and 1 child

Mr. & Mrs. Samuel Vander Goot and 6 children

Mr. & Mrs. Henry Vander Wey and 4 children

Mr. Raymond Vander Wey

A supervisory committee was instructed to make an immediate effort to secure a meeting place. Services were held in Sussex Borough Hall starting the following January.

February 9, 1950, the first Young People’s meeting was held and officers were elected. Meetings were both opened and closed with a time of prayer and singing.

April 17, 1950, the Sussex Christian Reformed Church was organized at a meeting in the Presbyterian Church in Sussex. Those taking part in this service were Rev. B. Spalink, Rev. H. Dekker, Rev. J. J. Holwerda, and Rev. W. Heynen. Rev. W. Heynen brought the message taken from Acts 2:44-47.

Rev. Spalink, the chairman, then proceeded with the election of officers: Elders were Owen Aukema, Albert Timmer, and Samuel Vander Goot. Deacons were Gerald Boersma and Peter Bosma.

At a congregational meeting on May 15, 1950, it was decided to purchase the Davenport property at a price of $3,000 as the site of our church.

Mr. Henry Guikema was our student pastor in the summer of 1950, and our services were held in the Sussex Presbyterian Church. We also worshipped from time to time in the Methodist and Baptist Churches in Sussex.

At a congregational meeting held September 18, 1950, it was decided to purchase a house on Bank Street for our parsonage. Weekly meetings were then held there.

In February of 1951, our present church and school property was purchased and donated to the church by Mr. and Mrs. Owen Aukema.

In February 28, 1950, the congregation voted to sell the house on Bank Street because of its poor location and to buy a house on Clove Avenue. This house was then used as our weekly meeting place.

In August of 1951, Mrs. Jennie Timmer was appointed to be our first Sunday School superintendent.

After having three pastors decline our call to be our pastor, in February of 1952, Rev. B. H. Spalink of Preakness, N.J. accepted our call to be our first pastor.

The consistory voted at a meeting on March 5, 1952, to conduct a one o'clock service the last Sunday of each month in the Holland language.

Plans to erect a church building were made in November, 1951. Calvin Rome was the builder. Much of the work was done by members of the congregation. In the spring of 1952, we started to worship in our basement church. We worshipped here for four years. Our budget was $3.52 per week.

At a congregational meeting April 7, 1954, plans were made to add a super-structure to our present building provided the cost not exceed $60,000. The following committee was appointed: Representing the consistory: John Prins, Ben De Boer, Charles Kuperus, and Sam Vander Goot. The architect was Robert Clotheir and Howard Strait was the contractor. Finally in March of 1955, at a congregational meeting, the building committee was instructed to carry out the plans which were made to build a super-structure.

In order to have a seating capacity of 350 people, the basement of our present building had to be extended twenty feet. It was decided to get financial help from the Church Help Committee. With the help of the Farmers National Bank, we secured a loan from the Sussex and Merchants National Bank of Newton.

In August of 1955 there was a hurricane, and we had several feet of water in our basement church. The organ, books and chairs were destroyed. The Sussex Fire Department pumped the water out. One hundred new books and chairs and also a piano had to be purchased. Several churches of our classis helped with donations. Steps were taken to prevent this happening in the future. For two weeks the Baptist congregation offered us the use of their church for our Sunday services.

The building of our super-structure was started on August 26, 1955. The final cost was $57,496.

The dedication of our new super-structure was held March, 13, 1956. Rev. D. Van Halsema accepted the invitation to preach the dedication sermon.

Our budget now was $5.00 per family per week, but an offering was taken each month for the Building Fund.

The dedication of our new Baldwin Organ was held March 15, 1956. This was conducted by the Baldwin Piano Co. The balance of the debt of the organ was paid by the Young People's Society.

The following month our pastor, Rev. Spalink, on the advice of his doctor, retired from the ministry.

The following winter, with no one living in the parsonage, much damage was done due to freezing. On March 5, 1957, we decided to sell the parsonage on Clove Avenue. In May of 1957 we purchased the Bailey House on Unionville Avenue.

Rev. Louis Bouma, from Inwood, Iowa, was installed as our second pastor on September 5, 1957.

The first Daily Vacation Bible School was held in the summer of 1958. Pearl DeGroot was the first director and served in that capacity for the next nine years.

In September of 1958, the Sussex Christian School was officially opened with 59 students. Classes were held in the church basement until October 22, 1958, when the new school building was ready for occupation.

The 60’s...

A few days after Thanksgiving Day 1961, our church was burglarized. The thieves drilled open the safe and took the money from our Thanksgiving Day offering as well as two Sunday offerings that was in the safe. Approximately $3,000 was taken. Our insurance covered $1,000. Since then, the deacons count the offering after each service and deposit it in the bank.

Rev. Bouma remained our pastor until October 1965, when he decided to accept a call to Dispatch, Kansas.

Rev. John Koopmans from Brockville, Ontario, Canada became our pastor in June of 1966.

At a congregational meeting on September 15, 1968, the consistory was given authority to investigate the possibility of expanding the church building. Forty to fifty people sat in the basement on Sunday morning and watched the service on television. Names were printed in the bulletin so that each family could take turns. A balcony or enlarging the building was proposed, but rejected at a later meeting.

The 70’s...

Rev. John Koopmans preached his farewell sermon on January 21, 1973, when he decided to take a call to Rehoboth, Bellflower, California.

Rev. John Kruis, from Niekerk Christian Reformed Church, Holland, Michigan, was installed on August 5, 1973. He first lived in our parsonage on Unionville Avenue, and then, in December 1974, moved to our new parsonage on the corner of Debbie and Jane Drive at Simmons Lake.

The 80’s…

The part of the parking lot closest to the church was paved in August 1980.

At a congregational meeting held October 11, 1982, the consistory proposed that the congregation purchase nine acres of land adjacent to our church parking lot and the Sussex Christian School for the price of $35,000. Two and one-half acres of this land is to belong to the Christian School. This proposal was adopted.

Pastor Kruis took a leave of absence beginning November 11, 1982, to study and work toward becoming a Counselor. This leave of absence terminated November 30, 1983. It was later extended for one year. Meanwhile, the consistory appointed a search committee to call a minister.

During the summer of 1983 Seminarian Robert Heerema was our student pastor.

On December 12, 1983, a duo consisting of Rev. John Keizer and Rev. Henry Lamsma was presented to the congregation. At this meeting, after a tie in the voting, the name of Rev. John Keizer was drawn out of a collection plate.

On May 21, 1984, a proposal was approved to purchase a right of way from Route 284 to the nine acres of property purchased in 1982. The cost of this access was $5,000.

In the fall of 1984 the Cadet and Calvinette (GEMS) programs became part of our church's ministry to children both inside and outside our church family. Ken Prol was head counselor of the Cadets. His wife Diane was head counselor of the Calvinettes.

In 1985 a new Allen Organ became part of the music ministry of our congregation. The technological advances incorporated into this instrument add a variety of ranges and instrument accompaniments to the music with which we worship the Lord.

In 1985, the Hardin property just north of the church was purchased for the purpose of providing housing for Senior Citizens from our congregation and the community. A 2/3 majority vote was required for approval, but when the vote was taken, the positive response was unanimous. At the request of the Sussex Retirement Associates Inc., the group responsible for giving direction to this project, the church agreed to co-sign a note to provide interim financing for this project.

On December 21, 1986, the Sunday School, assisted by the many young adults, presented the program "Sunshine and Snowflakes" at our evening service featuring music with a faster than usual tempo and a more lively and contemporary Christian beat.

In 1987, Al and Trina DeRoo, who had been doing volunteer work with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee since 1984, continued this work as members of our congregation. Their rebuilding and clean up efforts for victims of storms and floods throughout the United States has continued on a regular basis. Al presently serves as CRWRC's area manager.

In 1988, Rev. Andrew Vanden Akker became the first son of the congregation to be ordained into the ministry of the Christian Reformed Church. Since his ordination, he has served churches in Muskegon, Michigan and Artesia, California.

At the evening service of December 18, 1988, the Sunday School Christmas program featured a rainbow of helium filled balloons over-arching the front of the church.

On Palm Sunday, March 3, 1989, the community Easter cantata "The Power and the Glory" directed by Melissa Bogerman was presented as part of our evening service.

At a congregational meeting in 1989, a proposal was approved to allow all professing members of the congregation to vote.

The Last Decade...

In 1990, we became a supporting church for the ministry of Christian Reformed World Missionaries David, Joyce, and Clara Campbell in Guinea.

In 1990, Sam and Dottie Valkema began to volunteer with the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee. They have also spent time in Rehoboth, New Mexico baking and helping out in the ministry to the Navajo at Rehobth Christian School.

In 1992, after seven years of persistent planning, paying, and praying, final plans for the Senior Citizens housing project were presented for consideration by the Federal Housing Authority. In January 1993, building of the Sussex Retirement Associates apartments began.

In 1993, we became a supporting church for the work of Christian Reformed World Missionaries Howard and Ruth Van Dam in Haiti.

In the summer of 1994, a performance of the Dutch Voices, a singing group from the Netherlands, was hosted jointly by the Goshen and Sussex Christian Reformed Churches.

In August of 1994, Pam Smid was hired as part-time Director of Youth and Education. One of the highlights of her 11 month ministry was a Missions Trip to Camp Penuel in Pennsylvania which was experienced by several members of our Youth Group in the summer of 1995.

On November 9, 1995, three units of the Senior Citizens Housing project were occupied with the remaining units being filled during the following few months.

November, 1995 also marked the beginning of the first invitation of Senior Citizens to a soup and salad supper sponsored by our deacons and their wives. Twenty-five attended and everyone had a very enjoyable time. During that same fall, deacons also began to visit Senior Citizens to present them with fruit baskets, which is a practice that continues faithfully to the present day.

In February of 1996, an anonymous gift of $40,000 was received through the Barnabas Foundation. This gift was specifically designated for the purpose of providing access into our church building for those who might not otherwise be able to attend. As a result of this gift, we now have an elevator and a handicapped accessible bathroom. Use of this elevator began in the spring of 1997.

In July, 1996, Daily Vacation Bible School was held in the early evening. Jennifer Vander Groef and a host of helpers transformed the Christian School parking lot and pavilion into a 1st century Jewish market place visited by children and adults from our congregation and community. Shopkeepers and artisans in authentic costumes helped all who came experience something of Jesus and the salvation that He came to bring in the midst of the Jewish life and culture of His day.

In June of 1997, a bid was accepted from Jack Snook for the complete resurfacing of the entire church parking lot. The beginning of this construction project was the result of long and often frustrating years of planning and effort by building committee members and many others. Difficulties encountered involved the need to find solutions for drainage problems, parking space, landscaping, and general re-decoration. The completion of this project has given our church property a new driveway that we jointly share with the Sussex Retirement Associates Inc. and the Sussex Christian School. It has also given it somewhat of a "new" look that has been favorably noted by many in the community.

As a result of the parking lot paving project, there was no Vacation Bible School in the summer of 1997.

On Sunday November 2, 1997, a dedication service for the new parking lot and handicapped access was observed with thanksgiving to God.

In April 1998, Council approval was given to the Mr. & Mrs. Society to purchase new Celebration Hymnals for use in worship as a supplement to the PsAltar Hymnal. More and bigger books resulted in the need to enlarge the racks and make additions to our church pews.

In July 1999, Roy Thiessen was commissioned for service as a missionary to the Avadi people of Nigeria. His initial commitment is for one year of service as a builder and supervisor of a variety of building projects. Along with these duties, Roy also serves a encourager of spiritual growth on the part of new Christians.

In March, 2000, Rev. Greg Martin's ministry in Costa Rica was added to our list of those receiving Christians Reformed World Missions support. 

Final Thoughts... 

These are just some of the highlights from the past 50 years of the history of the Sussex Christian Reformed Church--the kind that can be gleaned from council meeting and congregational meeting minutes. They give us some of the names, dates, and decisions that are part of our congregation’s chronological history. They may or may not correspond to the history that many of us also still hold in our memories.

For there is also another history--a history that is harder to record--a history that it would be impossible to write down as briefly or with as much accuracy as the history on these pages. That history would involve a report of our congregation's ministry during the past 50 years to those who were and still are members of the Sussex Christian Reformed Church, or those whose lives have been touched by our lives as Christians while living in this community.

To what extent that history is a record of success or failure, of joy or sorrow would, no doubt, depend upon who was writing it. The accounts might vary greatly.

How has the ministry of the Sussex Christian Reformed Church affected you and your family? How has God blessed you through it? How has he enabled you to develop and grow in your life of service to Christ? How has the ministry of our congregation helped to build God's Kingdom.

As you take some time to reflect both individually and with family members and friends on the ministry of the Sussex Christian Reformed Church during the past 50 years, be sure to thank God for his presence and grace that has been the source of our congregation’s every success and for His mercy and forgiveness that has sustained us through every failure, sorrow, and trouble. Be sure to also pray for God's continued blessing and direction as we move forward in our Savior's service into the future.