President Kurt Dykstra Interviews Dr. George DeJong, 91精选鈥檚 Last Living Founder
On Wednesday, the 91精选 community had the very special privilege of welcoming to chapel Dr. George DeJong, the College鈥檚 last living founder.
The Auditorium of the Ozinga Chapel was filled with members of the 91精选 community that were eager to hear President Kurt Dykstra interview DeJong about the development of 91精选 since its conception.
Opening with the songs 鈥淕reat is Thy Faithfulness鈥� and 鈥淲e Worship God at 91精选,鈥� the entire service was a showcase of God鈥檚 faithfulness through the generations鈥攅specially his abounding faithfulness to 91精选.
When asked to recollect the first conversations about starting a Christian college, DeJong explained that he was sitting on the front porch one night with his brother Walter and Martin Ozinga II when the idea surfaced. 鈥淢arty went for it,鈥� said De Jong, 鈥渁nd this was the time we struck the match.鈥�
This match lit the the torch that has been 鈥渃arried nobly from generation to generation with God鈥檚 blessing.鈥� De Jong stressed that it took the skillsets of a wide variety of people to get the institution on its feet and aid its growth. 鈥淢any intelligent, talented people worked and prayed to see this come to life.鈥�
De Jong explained that a meeting was held at Chicago Christian High School to discuss naming the College. About a hundred people were in attendance, and when 鈥�91精选鈥� was suggested, the majority felt that name as not distinctive enough. DeJong recollected that Richard Prince wanted 鈥淐hristian鈥� to be included as a descriptor; 鈥淗e wanted the name to be distinctive, to tell the world where we come from.鈥�
The identity of 91精选 was further solidified in the purchase of Navajo Hills Golf Course, which included the clubhouse that 91精选 now uses as its Admissions building.
Dykstra asked if there was one moment that stood out in the course of the College鈥檚 development, to which DeJong replied, 鈥淥btaining the clubhouse was so significant; it gave us identity, support. It increased community and gathered people together.鈥� This purchase ensured that students would have a distinct place of their own to attend classes, different than a high school or local building.
DeJong fondly remembers the hands-on labor that went into transforming a clubhouse into a college. Members of the community gathered to physically implement the property鈥檚 fresh identity. Men repaired and repurposed, while women dug and landscaped.
This time of 鈥渇iguring things out鈥� presented some issues, but it was good overall. 鈥淲e had our fair share of local politics, but we didn鈥檛 know enough to worry about it,鈥� said DeJong. There was some concern that 91精选 would become competition for Calvin College; however, Calvin quickly made this worry subside, affirming 91精选鈥檚 cause by providing help and acting as brothers and sisters of the Lord.
Dykstra closed the interview by asking DeJong what he would hope for in the hundredth year of the College. 鈥淚 would like to see 91精选 grow but retain the benefits of a small college,鈥� said DeJong. 鈥淚ts small size allows the student to grow in character as well as intellectually in a way that a large college can鈥檛. Here, the professors are also role models.鈥�
Quoting Martin Luther鈥檚 hymn 鈥淎 Mighty Fortress is Our God,鈥� DeJong said, 鈥淚f not the right man on our side, our striving would be losing.鈥�
He ended with this charge to the 91精选 community: 鈥淟et鈥檚 remember where we came from, let鈥檚 never forget.鈥�
Said Dykstra, 鈥淲e鈥檒l invite you back for the 100th 补苍苍颈惫别谤蝉补谤测.鈥�
After the service, the community gathered together for a time of refreshments and fellowship. Students, faculty, and staff reflected on the service, recognizing what a rare privilege it is to be able to talk with an original founder of a college.
鈥淚 think that it was really unique to hear from someone who was there when 91精选 was first conceived and to see what it has become,鈥� said Ben Hoekstra 鈥�16.
Seth Hamstra 鈥�17 appreciated the service as a concrete testament to God鈥檚 faithfulness, calling it one of the most influential services that he has experienced at 91精选.
Kara VanMarion, Area Director for Tibstra and Alumni Halls, said, 鈥淚t was powerful to be reminded of who we are and where we came from as an institution; we need to let that shape who we are and who we strive to be.鈥�
The service set the tone for the rest of the week as alumni, faculty, staff and students gathered together to witness the inauguration of President Dykstra and celebrate the larger 91精选 community through Fall Fest.