The Reverend Gerrit Kooiker
By Jan Drolen
Bethany's first pastor was born on September 9, 1871, in Overisel, Michigan. He graduated from Hope College in 1897 and from Western Theological Seminary in 1900. He then served a church in Britton, Michigan. In 1905, he used his month's vacation time supplying the Bethany Mission founded by Second Reformed Church. After Bethany became an organized church on September 28, 1905, it sent a call to the Reverend Kooiker on November 13, 1905. He accepted the call and became Bethany's first pastor.
Under his leadership, the church grew so rapidly that expansion became necessary. The congregation made plans to build a larger church on the site of the original chapel. In April, 1907, less than two years after the church was organized, a new and larger church, south of Maple Street and on the west side of Burdick Street, was built and dedicated. Bethany at that time had 52 families and 77 communicant members.
In 1910, the Reverend Kooiker accepted a call to Bethel Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, three different farewell receptions were held for Rev. and Mrs. Kooiker in early October. The Young Ladies Mission Band gave Mrs. Kooiker "a beautiful set of silverware." The Christian Endeavor Society presented them with a "handsome carving set." About 150 people attended the church's farewell reception, held in a members home, where "the pastor was presented with a handsome purse." During his five years of service to Bethany, the church had grown to 69 families and 118 communicant members.
For health reasons, the Reverend Kooiker moved to Greybull, Wyoming in 1916 where he served the Congregational Church. He later retired to Penney Farms, Florida, where many Reformed Church in America ministers lived after retirement. In 1955, at the age of 84, the Reverend Kooiker returned to Bethany to preach the sermon officially opening Bethany's 50th anniversary celebration.
After the Reverend Kooiker began serving the Congregational Church, the R.C.A. no longer kept records of his life, so we do not know when he died. We were also unable to locate information about his family other than that he was married.
© 2013 Bethany Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. All rights reserved.
Under his leadership, the church grew so rapidly that expansion became necessary. The congregation made plans to build a larger church on the site of the original chapel. In April, 1907, less than two years after the church was organized, a new and larger church, south of Maple Street and on the west side of Burdick Street, was built and dedicated. Bethany at that time had 52 families and 77 communicant members.
In 1910, the Reverend Kooiker accepted a call to Bethel Reformed Church of Grand Rapids, Michigan. According to the Kalamazoo Gazette, three different farewell receptions were held for Rev. and Mrs. Kooiker in early October. The Young Ladies Mission Band gave Mrs. Kooiker "a beautiful set of silverware." The Christian Endeavor Society presented them with a "handsome carving set." About 150 people attended the church's farewell reception, held in a members home, where "the pastor was presented with a handsome purse." During his five years of service to Bethany, the church had grown to 69 families and 118 communicant members.
For health reasons, the Reverend Kooiker moved to Greybull, Wyoming in 1916 where he served the Congregational Church. He later retired to Penney Farms, Florida, where many Reformed Church in America ministers lived after retirement. In 1955, at the age of 84, the Reverend Kooiker returned to Bethany to preach the sermon officially opening Bethany's 50th anniversary celebration.
After the Reverend Kooiker began serving the Congregational Church, the R.C.A. no longer kept records of his life, so we do not know when he died. We were also unable to locate information about his family other than that he was married.
© 2013 Bethany Reformed Church of Kalamazoo, Michigan. All rights reserved.
