Jan Van Lonkhuyzen (1873–1942)
A translation of Van Lonkhuyzen’s biography written to celebrate his twenty-fifth year of ministry (1899-1924):
I was born on June 15, 1873, in Kesteren, in the Betuwe region of Gelderland, where my father owned a tobacco plantation. Both my parents feared the Lord, and as there was no Christian school in our town, they sent me to Heteren, near Arnhem, to live with my grandparents when I was nine. I stayed there for three years. Later, my parents also moved there for the Christian education of the other children. From Heteren, I attended the Christian gymnasium in Zetten for five years. Afterwards, I took the entrance exam for the Free University in Amsterdam when I was seventeen.
Although I initially aspired to study for the military or become a doctor, the ecclesiastical separation (Doleantie) that coincided with a renewed spiritual fervour in our community sparked in me the desire to become a minister. Under my father’s guidance, our home became a place for preaching the Gospel, leading to the establishment of the Reformed Church in Heteren, where my father served as an elder for many years. I studied at the Free University for six years, passing the candidate exam at the age of 23, with Kuyper and Rutgers as my beloved mentors. I continued studying for nearly two more years for my doctoral exam.
My first congregation was in Wilnis, Utrecht, where on April 23, 1899, I was ordained into the ministry by Rev. Van Binsbergen (my brother-in-law), Rev. Gispen, the consulent, and several other ministers. I served there for three years, forming deep bonds with the congregation. Later, I accepted a call to Aarlanderveen, where I spent six years, particularly blessed in the initial years.
Subsequently, being unmarried, I was delegated by the Deputies of the Reformed Churches to Buenos Aires, Argentina, to assist the weak church there and gather the Dutch community in churches and schools. I departed on January 6, 1908, and established some church and school foundations. I returned to the Netherlands in late August 1908, shortly after my dear mother’s passing. Several pastors and schoolmasters were sent to Argentina. Upon my return, I wrote a book about Argentina and its conditions. I then became a minister in Rijswijk near The Hague.
After two years in Rijswijk, I visited North America to seek support for South America through correspondence with the deputies. During my visit, I received a call from Alpine Ave., Grand Rapids, Michigan. After much internal struggle, I accepted the call. Thus, God led me to Grand Rapids at the end of October 1911, where I served as a minister until September 14, 1918, when I was attached to the First Congregation of Chicago. On June 2, 1914, I entered into wedlock with Miss Kate Alberdina Dijkstra. We travelled together to the Netherlands and saw my elderly father still alive. The Lord blessed us with five sons and a daughter. Reflecting on these twenty-five years, I exclaim: SOLI DEO GLORIA.
On Van Lonkhuyzen
Steve Bishop. Jan van Lonkhuyzen: International Ambassador for Neo-Calvinism. Calvin Theological Journal 59(1) (2014): 295–322.
By Van Lonkhuyzen (a select bibliography)
Hermann Friedrich Kohlbrügge en zijn prediking (Wageningen: VU Amsterdam, 1905).
Nederlandsch Onderwijs in Argentinië,” Neerlandia 13 (1909): 105–108. Available: https://www.dbnl.org/tekst/_nee003190901_01/_nee003190901_01_0238.php
Argentinië, een belangrijk land, ook voor Nederlanders (Wageningen: NV Drukkerij “Vada”, 1909).
Jan Van Lonkhuijzen, Billy Sunday: een beeld uit het tegenwoordige Amerikaansche godsdienstige leven (Grand-Rapids: Eerdmans-Sevensma Co, 1916)
“Abraham Kuyper – a Modern Calvinist,” The Princeton Theological Review 19(1) (1921): 131–147.
“Co-operation of Calvinists,” in The Love of God: Manifested in Grace The Reformed Faith. Being papers read at 15th Annual SGU Conference, Grove Chapel, Camberwell, May 1929 (London: SGU, n.d.).
“William Jennings Bryan (Amerikaansch Christen-Staatsman, de Vader van de Volkenbonds-Gedachte, de Man van het: Niet door Geweld, maar door Overleg),” ARS, 12 (1938), 440–477.
De Blijvende Schriftuurlijke Grondgedachte van Art. 36 Onzer Nederlandsche Geloofsbelijdenis (Franeker: Wever 1939).
“Calvinism in the Netherlands,” in The Word of God and the Reformed Faith. Addresses delivered at the Second American Calvinistic Conference held at Calvin College and Seminary, Grand Rapids, June 3, 4, and 5, 1942. (Grand Rapids: Baker’s Book Store, 1943), 208-212
Family images —courtesy Bernie Van Lonkhuyzen, Jan’s grandson
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