Fall 2007 Newsletter - Rehoboth Christian School

Vigorously Academic
•
Beautifully Diverse
•
Thoroughly Christian
Rehoboth Sports and Fitness Center Dedication
by Stacey Hollebeek
O
ne year ago, on November 2, 2006, 410 Rehoboth students lined
up on a bare patch of red sandy earth in a section of their school’s
campus that until then had been deep right field for an overgrown
and outdated softball field. Together with Rehoboth staff, volunteers, and
various Rehoboth supporters, they sang, prayed, heard speeches, and turned
over that dusty red earth with gold-painted shovels, together dedicating that
section of God’s world to be the future Rehoboth gym, in what even then
seemed an impossible dream. And after the ground-breaking, life went on as
normal that afternoon: first graders traipsed excitedly a ¼ mile across campus
to the 47-year old “Keith Kuipers Gym” for one of their favorite classes of the
week. After school, both boys’ and girls’ basketball teams waited around school
for the volleyball team to finish their 2-hour practice, before they could share
the short sideways courts with both male and female JV and varsity teams. As
was typical after a late practice and a long drive home across the reservation,
many RCS student athletes would not arrive home until almost 9:00 PM to eat
dinner, complete chores, and finally sit down to homework.
Over the ensuing months, while visiting athletic teams again avoided
RCS’s dingy locker rooms, refusing to shower because there was only ever cold
water, RCS elementary kids rejoiced in the enormous hills of dirt that gathered
while one construction crew after another came through and left their mark on
the new gym’s ever-growing walls. They grew to know and love the Rockford
Construction crew chief, nicknamed “Shaggy” and his beloved dog, Mr.
Bojangles, and waved at him from their buses. They watched mesmerized while
cranes floated steel beams high across New Mexico’s blue sky, landing them 44
feet up, where the new gym’s roof line would soon tower over everything else
Richard & Helen DeVos with Maria Jones ‘08
on campus. They gossiped during recess how the new gym’s auxiliary gym was
rumored to be “their” gym, and they wouldn’t have to share their precious gym
time with the big high school kids.
Meanwhile, those basketball fans fortunate enough to get tickets
to any popular RCS games shoehorned next to each other into the old
gym’s bleachers made for 400, while the NM Activities Association decreed
once again that the RCS gym was too small and unsafe for any post-season
tournament play. Although RCS fans loved the Keith Kuipers Gym and
celebrated it as a place for coming together, to remember and retell the old
accomplishments, they eagerly watched the new gym growing—and growing
more quickly than anyone actually thought it could happen.
Fast forward through nine rapid months of actual construction
time, to November 10, 2007, and once again a large crowd gathers outside
on Rehoboth’s campus, this time to “untie” the ribbon wrapped around the
new gym’s gorgeous all-glass south-facing entrance. Many in the crowd carry
trophies and banners taken just minutes earlier from the old gym’s trophy
cases, to be placed proudly in the new building, reminders of the school’s rich
athletic heritage, to be carried on under a new roof.
A seemingly impossible dream for so long, the new “Rehoboth
Sports and Fitness Center” was made possible through encouragement and
lead gift of $5 million from Rich and Helen DeVos of Amway Corporation.
When they visited RCS and toured the campus two years ago as long-time
. . . Continued on Page 3
Play: The Way It’s Supposed to Be
by Ron Polinder, Executive Director
I
n 1995, a book entitled Not the Way It’s Supposed to Be was published and
won Christianity Today’s Book of the Year. It was written by Cornelius
Plantinga, now President of Calvin Seminary.
The book is about sin; in fact, the subtitle is A Breviary of Sin (meaning
summary or abridgment of sin). The book is thoroughly insightful and
delightful at the same time, even on the subject of sin. In short, it reminds us
again of how sin can enter every cranny of our being and every corner of our
culture. When God created the world, it was “the way it was supposed to be.”
We know the Fall happened and our world is badly broken. Thankfully, Jesus
came to live and die and rise again to show us a better way and help us to clean
up the mess. A major part of the mission of Rehoboth Christian School is to
equip its students to help with the mess.
Messes are abundant in our world and the world of sports is loaded with them.
We could fill up the rest of this newsletter with examples of sports, athletics,
and play gone awry. Often when we follow our favorite teams or athletes, we
are thinking, if not saying, “That is not the way it’s supposed to be--that is not
right.” It may be steroids, or gambling, or fighting—the list is long.
So, what is the task of a Christian in a culture that has gone whacko over
sports? Why in the world is Rehoboth investing so much into a facility that
runs the risk of glorifying that which is wrong, that is messed up?
Because we believe we are called as Christians to get it right—to do sports “the
way it’s supposed to be,” to play the way God intended.
Do you understand that “play” is a fundamental part of the creation? God
wired us to play: children can’t help but play and young people sometimes live
to play. It’s in our bones, and a wonderful gift it is, though some of us have
neglected it, or abused it.
It is altogether fitting, as we enter a new era of sports and fitness at Rehoboth,
that we reflect carefully on “the way it’s supposed to be” in the new Rehoboth
Sports and Fitness Center. This cannot be just idle prattling by the Executive
Director. No, this must penetrate the decisions of our athletic director,
Myron Postma, the leadership of our coaches, the play of our students and the
behavior of our parents. How is it supposed to be?
Well, we have already seen some terrific examples of qualities that we hope will
infiltrate the life of our new facility. Consider the cooperation and teamwork
that it takes to build such a facility. Rockford Construction, several dozen
subcontractors, AMDG Architects, and LAM Builders all worked well together
to get the job done. And, not unlike a good sports team, there was someone
who was the boss, the coach, who called a lot of the shots. It takes authority
and respect for authority, for a team to be successful. Further, successful
teamwork always takes leadership, investment, and inspiration. Consider
what Mr. and Mrs. DeVos have done for us in that regard—investing, leading,
inspiring us to do sports and fitness the way it’s supposed to be along with
numerous other supporters who were right there with them. Surely we are off
2
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
to a good start!
But how quickly things
can go bad—we need
to recognize that a lot
can go wrong, causing
our witness to unravel:
selfish play, disrespect
toward a coach, berating
of officials, hatred
toward the opposing
team, sore-headed
losing, arrogant winning,
envy of another player,
interfering parents,
violation of team or
school rules—and yet,
so much in our culture
condones these patterns.
So at Rehoboth
Christian School, and all
Christian schools, we are
called to a different standard, and we hold it high, and pledge our best to live
up to it. To be sure, we are not perfect, and we will fail. We are reminded that
our students are still kids and they will make mistakes. But better to aim high
and miss the mark, than aim low and hit the mark that the sports culture too
often sets for us.
One of my favorite verses in this regard, is a vision of the Kingdom coming out
of Zechariah 8:4,5. This is what the Lord Almighty says: “Once again men
and women of ripe old age will sit in the streets of Jerusalem, each of them
with cane in hand because of their age. The city streets will be filled with
boys and girls playing there.”
That is my vision for the Rehoboth Sports and Fitness Center, where parents
and grandparents and fans come, even with canes and wheelchairs, and cheer
on their kids and grandkids while they play. And the adults will hang around
and visit with their neighbors and relatives, and encourage the kids, even kids
on the other team. The coaches are thanked for all they have invested in our
children. They marvel at the athletic gifts that God has given these young
people, amazed at their ability to kick a soccer ball, or swish a 3-pointer, or run
so fast. Together, we celebrate in victory and congratulate in defeat. And, at
the end, we thank the referees for doing their difficult job.
That’s the way it’s supposed to be!
Ron Polinder
Executive Director
Continued from Page 1 . . .
donors who were invited to give the commencement address, they asked RCS
administration what their dreams were for the school’s campus. They were told
a new gym.
“We went home and prayed about this, and wanted to make
this happen,” DeVos said to the more than 600 gathered in the gym for
the dedication. “We’ve got to stop being second class just because we’re
Christians,” he continued. “For so long, our Christian school systems have
always gone cheap. We wanted to build a first class place to the glory of God.”
The 43,000 square foot facility was built to glorify God in a multitude of ways.
The building includes an NBA-sized basketball court 10 feet longer than the
old gym’s court, bleacher seating for 1200, an auxiliary gym with plans for an
indoor climbing wall, a first-class fitness facility, and a generously sized lobby
and concession stand. But it also houses a new acoustically advanced band
room three times larger than the old one, sizeable band storage and director’s
office, and another mixed-use classroom for the high school persistently
outgrowing its current building. After researching a host of other gym facilities,
RCS officials and architects also included generous storage areas for sports
equipment, and—at the request of Mr. DeVos—more toilet stalls for female
sports fans than males.
“This is our window to the world,” DeVos continued, “a new
showcase, a building with a purpose. People will come here just because of this
building, but then will get into the presence of God-fearing people who love
Jesus, so they too might learn the love of the Lord, and the only peace that can
be found in Him.”
Likewise, RCS staff view the new facility as much more than just
beautiful new walls and soaring ceilings, but rather as a bridge for better
serving RCS students, for reaching out to their families and their communities.
Sports—especially basketball—in the greater Gallup region have been able to
break down racial and economic barriers in ways that few other things have.
Furthermore, with a majority population of Native American children who
are 280% more likely than their Anglo counterparts to become diabetic, the
school takes seriously the mission to educate the body as well as the mind and
spirit.
“It’s a facility in which we’re committed to [educating] the way
Christians ought to think and act when it comes to sports and athletics,” Ron
Polinder, Rehoboth’s Executive Director, said. “This facility recognizes the
interest and joy that sports bring to our greater community.”
Myron Postma, Rehoboth’s Athletic Director for 21 years, appreciates the
building as an amazing new tool for teachers and coaches to better disciple
RCS students to be the best possible Christian adults they can. In his speech at
the dedication service, he quoted evangelist Billy Graham, saying “One coach
will have more impact on a team in one season, than a regular person will have
in a whole life time.”
Evidence of that quote stood before the crowd assembled in the person
of Keith Kuipers, former Rehoboth teacher, school administrator, and beloved
coach, for whom the “old gym” was named.
“The history of basketball was only 25 years old when I started,”
he recalled. “I remember the first coffee cans placed all over the fence posts
[when I lived] in Zuni.” Earlier that morning, Kuipers had carried the 1977
boys’ basketball state championship trophy he had won as a Rehoboth
coach, but commented that that victory was not really the highlight of his 81
years. “Anywhere there’s a group, there’s always some of my boys there,” he
continued. “I love to see them at work in the community as elders in church,
teachers, ministers, or doctors in the hospital. My greatest joy has been to see
all that development.”
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
3
Rehoboth Athletic Field Dedication
A Rehoboth Stadium?
That is correct, check the pictures out on this page, it is really true! Drive down I-40, east of
Gallup, and you will see for yourself a stretch of green in the middle of the desert, a marvelous new
athletic field and track. Or best of all, come to the campus to walk on this fabulous field turf that
provides our students and community a safe and splendid place to play. The most natural response to
the scene is “WOWWWWWW!”
On the evening of September 7, after an afternoon of Laps for Learning (see page 11 for
details) and other activities, the Rehoboth community gathered to give thanks for a green space that
we only hardly dared to dream would one day be a reality on our campus. We were quick to call on
the name of the Lord, and dedicate it to his honor and glory. In most ways, this was not our doing. It
results from the work of the Holy Spirit in the hearts of the Christian community around the nation.
So collectively we tried to identify those who participated. Our Director of Finance and Facility, Jason
Zylstra, gave thanks to Rockford Construction, AMDG Architects, URS, Inc. and LAM Corporation.
Brandon “Shaggy” Neahusan, Rockford’s Project Superintendent, spoke of the competence and
cooperation of the volunteers, subcontractors, and Rehoboth Administration. Girls’ Soccer Coach, Bill
Krzymowski, expressed his joy and amazement at being able to coach and practice and play on a world
class facility. Freshman student and soccer player, Michael Oliver, delighted in the opportunity to start
his high school years playing on a new field, spoke to all the future students who would be playing for
the Lynx in a home stadium.
Brandon Neahusan, Ron Polinder, and
Jason Zylstra.
Dedication Declaration
“I am a parent, a former student, a fan! Wow—what a privilege for our kids to play in this setting.
What a blessing to see Rehoboth grow and serve, even better, our community! What an opportunity
to witnesses for Christ as fans and supporters of Rehoboth. Let us all dedicate ourselves to good
conduct, warm enthusiasm, and agreeable rivalry. Welcome neighbors and friends—thanks for coming
and playing with us! And forgive us if we ever misbehave!”
-JoAnn Holyan-Terry, Rehoboth Parent and School Board member
“I am a Rehoboth senior who has the honor of representing my classmates and fellow team members.
I also speak for those younger, even the little ones, who will play here in the future. And for students
from many other schools who will join us in competition on this track and field. We are grateful
Rehoboth students, proud to be the first to use this facility, and determined to represent well our
school, our parents, our community and our Lord.”
-Alexendria Carlisle, RCS Senior Soccer player
Laps for Learning
Dedication
Prayer:
•Father, we believe you have created us to not only work, but to play. Thank you for the playful spirit we see
Dedication Soccer Game
4
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
in children and young people. Teach us to play hard and well and often.
•Father, we also realize that play can go wrong, with anger and jealousy and resentment. Our culture is full of
stories where play has been affected by sin, where rivalries even become violent.
•Father, would you help us to play right on this field and track? May it be said always at Rehoboth Christian
School, “that was a good game, a wonderful meet, high school sports at its best” And we say that, not for our
glory, but for yours, dear Father—the giver of good gifts, who gave our community this good, green space.
We pray that we will flourish here together.
•And now we turn our attention to a soccer game. Thank you for our friends from St. Michaels. Will you
bless their school, now in its 106th year? May this contest be one of many that we have with each other. Keep
the players free from injury, bless the referees tonight, and help us together to model good sportsmanship and
live out our testimony as Christians.
In Jesus Name,
Ron Polinder, RCS Executive Director
Red Mesa Visit
By Peter Borgdorff, Heritage Tours
W
hat a privilege it was for 36 of us to visit the Red Mesa region
September 21-24, 2007. The Heritage Tour is associated with the
150th Anniversary of the CRC and it is combined with visiting
historical and national sites along the way. Our time in Red Mesa was special
because of the people we met, the sites we saw, the fellowship we experienced.
The opportunity to visit Window Rock, Canyon De Chelly, Tohatchi, Zuni
and Rehoboth gave us a sense of the diversity of the region and we were awed
by what we saw.
Certainly one of the highlights of the trip was the groups’ visit to
Tohatchi CRC, to worship with the congregation there, to fellowship over
lunch, and to share our stories of life and love was meaningful and inspiring.
That experience was followed by a visit with the Rehoboth congregation and
the Zuni Mission the following day. The commitment of the people whom the
Lord has placed there, the challenges they face, and the blessings of service to
which they testified inspired every member of our group. Nothing more can be
said than to say that we were blessed and encouraged.
In addition to all of the above, we enjoyed our visit to the Rehoboth
Campus. We were hosted by Ron and Colleen Polinder all weekend. It was
especially gratifying to hear them (and others) when we visited and toured the
campus. What a marvelous set of facilities! But, more important by far is the
mission that Rehoboth promotes and represents. Just to think that for more
than a hundred years people have lived, worked and served to advance the
cause of Christ in New Mexico and Arizona. To be sure, that service was not
limited to the Rehoboth campus but it does symbolize a stability of service
that has equipped many to serve the Lord in many walks of life. The value of
Christian education in the history of the CRC Mission in New Mexico and
Arizona is astounding and cause for thanksgiving.
While returning to our homes we asked the tour participants to write
down their observations and impressions. Again and again it was mentioned
that this visit to Red Mesa was the highlight of all we saw and heard in two
weeks of traveling around the southwest. And so, we greet all who read this
account of our impressions. May the Lord of the Church richly bless the efforts
of his people in Red Mesa both now and in years to come.
Teamwork in progress.
Red Mesa Heritage Tour at Window Rock, AZ.
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
5
Alumni Updates
Anita (Dykstra) Bos ‘91
Anita is living in Wyoming, MI, and working for Herman Miller
in Finance. She is celebrating eight years of marriage to Tom and
has two children, baby Reuben and Joseph, age four. She fondly
remembers the State Volleyball Tournament in Roswell, NM, and fun
times with all her teammates.
Anthony Seciwa ‘83
Anthony reports: After a series of unfortunate events, I managed
to survive. I have a beautiful wife, Wilma, one year old daughter,
Cheyenne, fifteen year old step-son, Jerrell, and nine year old
step-daughter, Sara. My children from my first marriage are doing
well: Michelle is in Phoenix attending college, Joshua is living in
Las Cruces, and Alicia is living in Zuni attending Zuni Christian
Mission School. I’m still working as a police officer at the Gallup
Police Department, assigned as a Detective with the Violent Crimes
Division. I have learned from my job that sometimes things happen
beyond our control and there is loss but, if you keep faith, the
blessings will return even more.
Bradley Cook ‘83
Bradley is living in Glendale, AZ, working as a Marketing and Sales
Leader at Honeywell Aerospace after graduating from Arizona State
University with a BS in Engineering and the University of Phoenix
with a MBA. When Bradley looks back on Rehoboth, it is the
community, with its size, diversity, and perspective, sports and band
and choir trips that stick out. Among the great teachers, too many to
name, he especially remembers Mike De Young, “because he became
more than a teacher, he was a friend and mentor as he applied what he
was teaching to life and living a life that glorified Christ.”
Jennifer Hickman ‘89
Jennifer is a Soil Scientist with the U.S. Forest Service in Las Cruces,
NM, after graduating with a BS in Soil Science from New Mexico
State University. She has been married for eleven years to Norbert
Hill and is blessed with two beautiful children Matthew, 10, and
Makaila, 3. She and her husband are co-leaders of a family life group
at Calvary Chapel in Las Cruces, NM.
Jon O. Swartz ‘71
Jon writes: Over all, my wife Deb and I are doing wonderfully but
we are going through a very trying time right now. One of our three
children, Jon Oren Swartz II, was killed in a motorcycle accident on
August 20th of this year, and our hearts are empty as we miss him
so very much. He was a real character, with character, was loved by
many, and will be missed by all. He was a joy to our lives for almost
21 years and he will be forever in our hearts.
My Dad, Marv, met Jesus on thanksgiving of 1990. He died of heart
failure. Mom, Harriet, took her position next to Dad and listened
to the angels sing in 2000. She put up the good fight against cancer
but finally lost the battle. Pam ’61 is well, living with her husband
Robert Baldus in Phoenix, AZ, and flies for American West Airlines.
Our older brother Robert Swartz, (was only at Rehoboth for one and
a half years but graduated there, 1966) is a retired Michigan State
Police officer and resides with his wife, Nancy, in Holland, MI. Both
Pam and Rob have two children each, a boy and a girl, along with a
couple of grandchildren who are a real joy as most grandchildren are.
God bless the work that is going on at Rehoboth and the continuing
effort by so many.
Lori Tapahonso-Ortiz ‘89
Dan Heard ‘86
Dan is busy raising three teenagers and one grandchild, who
hopefully will be home from the hospital soon, having been a
widower since 2004. He’ll never forget Friday night basketball
games at Rehoboth, as he says, “screaming myself silly” and friends,
Allen, Liz, Diane, Renaye, Brian, Howie, Shelly, to name a few. Dan
is currently a loan officer at loan company in Albuquerque, NM,
and in his spare time is very active in the Potters House Christian
Fellowship where he helps lead a Bible Study, on the drama team,
and is an usher. (Acts 6:3)
6
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
Lori is a resident of Lawrence, KS, where she is the Assistant to
the President and Public Information Officer for Haskell Indian
Nations University. She graduated from Haskell with an Associate of
Arts degree in Liberal Arts and then continued on at the University
of Kansas where she earned her BA in Communication Studies.
Besides working at Haskell, Lori is a professional storyteller and
also participates in the local theatre scene. She is the mother of two
teenage daughters, Chamisa and Briana. She would like to invite any
alumni traveling through the Lawrence, KS, area to stop at Haskell
and say, “hi”.
Noah Kruis ‘99
Noah is proud to announce the birth of his and his wife, Megan’s first
baby, Jonah Richard, born in March of this year. They are serving
as mentors at Calvin College’s newest Project Neighborhood house,
dubbed The Nizhoni House. Noah reports, “In this role, we help
connect Calvin students to the Creston neighborhood where we live
and encourage intentional Christian community.” Noah was also
recently promoted to Assistant Director of Admissions at the college,
supervising the Admissions Counseling staff and coordinating alumni
volunteer programs.
Raymond Holtsoi ‘68
Ray comes from a huge family; eight of his
siblings are alumni of Rehoboth (Mission)
Christian School. The family has played in
many sports and besides Raymond, three
of his brothers have been coaches. Ray
has coached softball for Ft. Wingate High
School and the women’s family team, the
Warhawks. The team consists of sisters,
nieces, sisters in law and close family friends. He was honored,
along with his brother Darryl, to coach Team New Mexico at the
Indigenous Games in Denver last year. He was also asked to coach a
regional All-Indian high school girls team at the Indigenous Games in
Manitoba, Canada. To say the least, he is a dedicated coach, a good
teacher and has a love for the game. Ray has taught mathematics at
Ft. Wingate High School now for 28 years.
He was inducted into the National Indian Sports Association (NISA)
Hall of Fame on October 1, 2007. The committee wrote, “We have
recognized Raymond before as his team, Diné Warhawks, have
won three NISA Championships (at the Native American World
Series), and placed almost every year since 1996, which is the first
year we had the women’s program. The Warhawks were always the
team everyone wanted to beat, but couldn’t. For years, they went
around winning every championship. The team has been together
for two generations and although they are killers on the ball field,
they are also the kindest (team).” We congratulate Ray on this
accomplishment.
Andrew Newman ‘52
Andrew Newman has passed on. His funeral services were held on
October 13th at Rollie Mortuary Chapel in Gallup, NM. Newman
was born Sept. 29, 1931 in Rehoboth into the Zuni People Clan
for the Black Streak of Forest People Clan. He graduated and was
valedictorian at Rehoboth Mission School in 1952, attended Calvin
College, retired from Bureau of Indian Affairs, was a physical
scientist. He served in the U.S. Army SP4. He was known to fish,
read, and study history in his free time.
Homecoming
2008
January 25 & 26
•January 25, 2008
-RCS boys basketball game vs. Ramah...
C, JV, V...4 pm
-Coronation
•January 26, 2008
-Pancake breakfast
-RCS girls basketball game vs. Ramah
C,JV,V...1 pm
-Additional activities planned
For the future:
• Open Men’s Basketball Tournament.
-Watch for dates at www.rcsnm.org.
• Navajo Taco or Navajo Burger sales.
-Watch for dates at www.rcsnm.org.
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
7
New Staff
Becca Donkersloot ‘00
Becca had an exciting journey, leaving
Rehoboth as a student, and now she is
back to teach English at the high school.
She grew up mostly in Ethiopia and
Kenya and landed at Rehoboth for her
sophomore year. Since then, she has
graduated from Calvin College with a
BA in English Secondary Education with
minors in Writing and Communication.
Becca married Nick Donkersloot ‘03 and
after two years of teaching and finishing school in Albuquerque,
NM, they are back at Rehoboth. Becca is excited to be back. Fitting
nicely into a teacher’s schedule, one of Becca’s passions is traveling.
She has taught in China and Ethiopia and toured Europe, writing
about it all along the way.
Janet Weeda
Janet is not a newcomer to Rehoboth campus, having lived there
for over ten years with her husband, high school social studies
teacher, Steve Weeda ‘86. She is taking on a new role though, as
school nurse. Janet is also working at Rehoboth McKinley Christian
Hospital in Gallup in the Women’s Health Unit. And, if that doesn’t
sound like enough children in her life, she has three more great ones
at home, Eric, Neil, and Hope.
Jen Dahlin
Jen has come from Redlands, CA, and is
teaching 6th grade at Rehoboth Christian
Middle School. She has visited a few
times previously through SERVE projects
and knew she would enjoy the area and
community. After graduating with a
Liberal Studies degree with an emphasis
in Psychology from California State
University in San Bernardino, she went
on to earn her teaching license and MA in
Teaching from Chapman University. Jen is enjoying the Christian
atmosphere and great outdoors around Rehoboth.
Jeff Engbers
Jeff is originally from Whitinsville, MA,
but has slowly been making his way
southwest. He graduated from Calvin
College with a BA in Physical Education
and went on to earn his MA at Western
Michigan University in Physical Education
as well. Jeff and his wife Noell moved to
Gallup and he is now teaching Physical
Education at Rehoboth High School along
with a middle school Exploratory class. He never stops moving, as
he also coaches Cross Country and JV Girls’ Basketball. In all his
free time, Jeff is also working toward a PhD in Sports Administration
from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM.
Zach Evans
Zach grew up in St. Louis, Memphis,
Toronto, and Hong Kong. He received
a BA in Education from Calvin College,
an MA in Educational Technology from
Michigan State University, and now
teaches science at Rehoboth Christian
High School. We can thank his wife,
Laura (Johnson) Evans ’97 and the
Calvin College student teaching program
for bringing him to Rehoboth. He is obviously no stranger to a
diverse population, having also spent the last five years teaching at
an international school in South Korea. Zach also coaches girls’
volleyball. Zach and Laura have a daughter, Zoe.
Profiles
Dee Logterman
While Dee is originally from
Delavan, WI, and most recently
from Logan, UT, she has also lived
in Colorado, Spain, and California.
She is now Rehoboth Christian High
School Principal after 35 years of
teaching experience in Christian
schools. Dee explains, “I retired
and after two years I began to feel
the need to do something meaningful with my life. After I
was invited to apply at Rehoboth, I really began to feel the
Lord was leading me to this place. Every day I wake up
feeling it was the right decision.” Dee has worked and studied
extensively in Spain with a stint in Switzerland as well. She
is greatly enjoying the gorgeous New Mexico landscape after
spending many years in the concrete big city of Los Angeles.
Gary Nederveld
Gary Nederveld is very excited about
God’s leading to a return to Rehoboth
some thirty-five years after serving in
the early 1970’s as Elementary School
Principal and, with his wife Pat,
as dorm parents to the high school
students. As a friend recently wrote,
“I remember when you left Rehoboth
years ago, it was your heart’s desire
to return. Now’s the moment.” As a friend-maker and
fund-raiser, Gary Nederveld has developed partnerships and
collaborations that brought resources to aspiring communities
around the world. This summer Gary began responsibilities as
Director of Annual Giving. Gary and his wife Patricia Lynn
Nederveld live in Grand Rapids, MI. They cherish their six
children (three by marriage) and seven grandchildren. They are
members of Grace Christian Reformed Church.
2007-08
Rehoboth Christian School
Board of Directors
Karen Schell, Chairperson
Ann Miller, Vice-Chairperson
Lynelle Benallie, Secretary
Jerome Alford
George Ang
Perry Benally
Norman Chee
Jerry Cronin
JoAnn Holyan-Terry
Allan Landavazo
Gloria Lee
Charlotte Lorenzo
Sarah Wolf
Visit us online at the all new
Rehoboth Christian School Website:
www.rcsnm.org
Rehoboth Christian
School Mission
Statement:
Rehoboth Christian School challenges
its students to know the Triune God
and equips them to love, serve and
transform the world in His name.
Mid School Updates
Washington D.C. Experience Ends in Hawaii for Middle School Teacher
By Aleke Morris (7th & 8th Communications Teacher)
Last summer in Washington,
D.C., I had the opportunity to attend
a summer workshop about teaching
the Holocaust. The seminars,
activities, and individual stories
impacted me as a teacher and avid
historian. The Belfer Conference
caters to secondary teachers in social
studies, language arts, and science
fields with the desire to learn to teach
the Holocaust effectively. When I
completed the three day workshop,
I came away not only with a better
understanding of the Holocaust; but
as I sat and listened, I came away with
a clear historical connection to my
own Navajo history and culture.
Connection to Native
American history and the Holocaust
allowed me to look at the literature
curriculum here in the middle school.
When I returned from Washington,
D.C., I quickly got to work planning
and designing a literature program to
fit the needs of my diverse students.
In October, I received news that the
director of the Belfer Conference,
Peter Fredlake, wanted me to assist
him in recruiting for next summer’s
Belfer Conference. What an amazing
Broken
Arrow
Bible
Ranch
Sleeping bags, water bottles, sunscreen, and hats are not the usual
items to bring for a regular sixth grade day, but they were certainly evident
on the morning of September 6 as the sixth graders excitedly arrived, eager to
leave for our field trip to Broken Arrow Bible Ranch. This trip has become a
part of our fall schedule. The sixth grade typically adds many new students
each year and students are divided into two classes for a major part of the day.
This means that even those who have attended Rehoboth for a number of years
may not see some of their “old” friends nearly as much and they are seeing
many new faces. In order for all the students to get to know each other, foster
new friendships, and build community in our classrooms, RCMS schedules
two days of various activities at Broken Arrow Bible Ranch.
Part of the time is spent on activities which have the students
interacting in “get to know you” activities such as interviewing each other
and playing name games. Another important focus is non-competitive group
building games. Then there are small group activities and with different group
members each day. Most of the time is spent outside if the weather is nice.
It’s very rewarding to see students get to know each other and be able
to enjoy working together and entertain each other within such a short period
of time. Our Broken Arrow trip is always a time of fun and growth.
10
Rehoboth Christian Fall 2007
opportunity! I jumped on as fast as
I could because I believe in what the
Belfer Conference is encouraging
teachers to do in the classroom.
At the NIEA conference in
Hawaii, I explained my experience at
the Belfer Conference last summer
in Washington, D.C., and the
abundance of resources available
to any teacher willing to teach
the Holocaust . In addition to
these comments, I explained how
I connected the Native American
experience to the Holocaust of
WWII. I couldn’t believe my eyes
and ears when I saw and heard such
positive responses. Teachers, board
members, and tribal leaders asked
questions about the Holocaust and
the genocide of the American Indian.
Many Native teachers showed true
enthusiasm about the program; and
I look forward to networking with
them throughout this year. Besides
the nice weather, beach front hotel,
and the exotic foods, the NIEA
conference in Hawaii gave some great
insight to teachers seeking a way
to connect the Holocaust to their
curriculum.
Middle School Honor Choir
During the first six-week middle school set of exploratory
classes, while other RCMS students were taking survival courses or
learning to type, or even practicing soccer, a group of 17 students
were preparing music for a very special event. These students joined
together as a choir to learn music that was pre-selected by the directors
of the Northwest New Mexico Music Educators Association. The
songs, in themselves, were great fun to learn and included an African
folk song, a Negro spiritual, a Spanish song, an Israeli prayer for peace
and the students’ favorite entitled, “The Wind”.
On October 23, 14 students, along with their directors,
Gail De Young and Bob Ippel traveled to Farmington, NM, to stand
side-by-side with approximately 200 other mid-school students from
Northwest New Mexico and rehearse the songs they had come to love.
An outstanding director from Grand Junction, CO, kept these 200
students singing, moving, and participating for eight hours. It was
amazing to watch the focus and enthusiasm that captured students’
minds and bodies throughout the day. The RCMS directors were
grateful that even though the day was long, not a single student
complained and not only that, they loved being part of a wonderful,
big choir. Seventh grader, Taylor Begay, comments that the day was,
“Fun and scary at the same time; there were lots of people there and I
made new friends.”
Elementary Updates
Laps for Learning
Rehoboth Christian Elementary students got a taste of the new soccer field,
at the end of last year, during Field Day in the unfinished stadium, but this
fall they were closely involved with its dedication ceremony and future.
Kindergarten through eighth grade students solicited pledges per lap around
the new field on September 7th, the day of the dedication. They ran for forty
minutes, raising money for field and facility expenses.
The day was full of fun and active celebration of the new track and field. The
afternoon included many other games like relays, soccer, and orbit ball which
high school students helped run. Students even received commemorative
water bottles. There was much excitement as students of all ages enjoyed and
took ownership of the facilities.
Elementary T.E.A.M.
Quench Your Thirst
Receiving the Dedication’s commemorative water bottles wasn’t the first time elementary students were
thinking about water. This school year’s theme is based on John 7:27, “On the last and greatest day of the
Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ‘If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink’” and John
4:13-14, “Jesus answered, ‘Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the
water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling
up to eternal life’” (NIV). Monthly chapels focus on this theme, reflecting on the many different aspects
of water. Each student sports a t-shirt with this theme and verses on Fridays, with different colors for each
mult-grade T.E.A.M. of students.
Recycle Project
One of the T.E.A.M. projects, Together Everyone Achieves More, this year, is focused on collecting and processing
recycled materials. Each T.E.A.M. of multi-grade students spends one Friday a month collecting recyclables from
containers around campus and sorting and storing them in several garages. Eventually, the recyclables will be brought
to a recycling center. The money raised will help pay for the t-shirts but, more importantly than the money, students
are learning about stewardship and responsibility.
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
11
High School Updates
Navajo Government Class Visits Navajo Nation Capitol
Rehoboth High School’s Navajo
Government class, taught by Mr. Harrison Henry,
recently paid a visit to The Navajo Nation Capitol
at Window Rock, AZ, where they spent a morning
observing the tribal Council in session and touring
the historical building in which they meet. After
meeting with the building curator who explained
to them the history of the building and how the
historical site was being restored and renovated,
the students were allowed to enter the Council
Chamber itself. The first things they all noticed
were the special chair for the tribal president and
the U.S., New Mexico, and tribal flags all on
display together.
While in the chamber, Mr. Henry and
his students observed the Council in action. The
first thing they saw was the process of revising the
day’s agenda. Senior, Byron Begay, commented
on how surprised he was that the revision took so
long. They also observed the debate on the issue
of allowing the first ever casino to be built by the
Navajo Nation. They were impressed at how the
delegates came to a consensus on the matter, rather
than making such a decision based on a majority
vote.
Besides observing the process of resolving
issues, the students were intrigued by how many
of the tribal delegates were moving around
the chamber, working at their computers, and
chatting with each other while matters were up
for discussion. They had expected everyone to be
seated and actively listening to the proceedings.
The students guessed that some of the delegates
must have already made up their minds and didn’t
need to participate in the debate.
A highlight of the visit was the opportunity
to speak with Tribal President Joe Shirley and to
see him in his role in the meeting. The students
also were able to speak with some of the delegates
and were pleased to find out they knew a lot about
Rehoboth Christian School.
Upon their return to campus the class
reported that their field trip had been very
interesting and worthwhile, that it was great to
experience what they had been studying. Senior,
Nicole Johnny, noted, “It was very encouraging to
see the Navajo Government in action.”
Juniors and Seniors
Prepping for the ACT
Carnival Time
at RCS
Taking an ACT test can be an intimidating experience; a case of nerves can keep
a student from performing to his capabilities. To help students feel more confident going
through the process, Rehoboth Christian teachers are making a special effort to help our
juniors and seniors prepare for taking the test. Class advisors have been discussing testtaking strategies with their students and providing opportunities to practice different types
of questions at sites online. Some of the teachers also hosted ACT practice sessions during
the after school program and one evening a week. Junior and senior teachers also included
“ACT type” questions on their regular test to provide opportunities to practice the kinds of
material students will be facing on the ACT.
After all this prepping, it was decided that the students should have an
opportunity to experience the “real thing”. To accomplish that, RCS recently put on an
ACT simulation so the juniors and seniors could get acquainted with how such tests are
administered and what to expect when they arrive at an official ACT testing site. The
students entered the mock test site with a mock ACT ticket and their ID. Then they spent
the morning completing an actual copy of an ACT test that was administered a few years
ago. After finishing, students were given time to correct their own test and to calculate
their unofficial score. Some students were surprised by their results, others were not so
pleased. However, all agreed that the experience gave them new confidence to do the real
thing. So, bring on the test, they’re ready!
Come one, come all! Food, fun and
games await you! You haven’t lived until you’ve
experienced the annual RCS Band and Choir
Carnival fundraiser. Excitement and enthusiasm
ran high on Friday, October 26, as choir and
band students, parents and teachers hustled to
set up for the big event. There was plenty of fun
for everyone with a Navajo Taco dinner in the
Fellowship Hall and games for the whole family
in the gym. There were clowns creating balloon
animals; yummy cakes and sugary confections to
take home; a dunking tank with teachers tumbling
into chilly water, all kinds of things to buy and
noise and laughter everywhere. When it was
finally time to leave, contented kids, moms, and
dads headed home with grab bag prizes, bags of
swimming goldfish, and smiling, painted faces. A
good time was indeed had by all!
12
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
Sponsorship Program
R
ehoboth’s Sponsorship Program brings sponsors into personal involvement
with a Rehoboth student or students and sometimes with their family.
This participation, through tuition assistance of $500, $750, or $1,000, also
makes a big difference in our students’ lives by making it possible for them to
receive a Christian education they otherwise could not afford.
As a sponsor, you will receive a student profile and a photo. This
will help you in shaping your prayers for the student. You will receive at least
two updates during the school year. Often teachers will provide extra updates
during the year as well.
Sponsorship Program Profiles:
2006 Graduate of Rehoboth:
My journey with Rehoboth began when I was admitted into the
6th grade. My mom had always told me she wanted the absolute best for
me. Now, I realize what she meant. One cannot get very far, at all, without a
quality education, and at Rehoboth I was extremely fortunate to receive an
education rooted in a solid foundation in Jesus Christ and His guidance.
When I began, Rehoboth life was not the best. My parents had begun
their divorce and school was something I resorted to in order to keep my
mind occupied. Looking back, I can see God’s hand upon me in everything
throughout my time at Rehoboth.
There are so many things about Rehoboth I love still today: the
faculty, the classroom life, and in general, all the opportunities Rehoboth
opened for me. One of the things I truly valued, was the zest for life and
“oneness” in Christ that everyone shared. Never was I afraid to approach a
staff member and share what was on my mind or in my heart, never. The fact
Rehoboth was such a small and intimate community meant a great deal to me.
How has Rehoboth contributed to who I am today? Rehoboth has taught
me MANY things, but three things are at the top: 1. Unity, 2. Faith, and 3.
Integrity.
Without the quality education of Rehoboth, I would not be where
I am today: a Vocal Performance and Psychology double major at Colorado
Christian University, attending school with the Gates Millennium Scholarship,
rooted in Christianity, connected in my social skills, and making an impact on
the world. Thanks for your time and God bless!!!
Current Rehoboth Student:
Nichole LeeAnn Vandever is a happy and
talkative 8th grade Navajo student at Rehoboth
Christian School. She lives in Gallup,
about a three mile drive to school, with her
parents, a younger sister, brother and a dog
named, Princess. The family is expecting a
new baby in February. Mom, Alfreda, is an
accounts payable manager and Dad, Milroy,
is a shop manager. The Vandever family
attends Haystack Gospel Lighthouse on the
reservation.
Nichole’s favorite foods are spare ribs and
fried rice and she also enjoys baking. Nichole
describes herself as happy, outgoing and
talkative. Nichole’s favorite activities include beading, basketball, volleyball,
fishing, baseball, rollerblading swimming, skateboarding and bike riding. Her
favorite teams are Team USA (softball) and the 49ers (NFL).
Nichole is attending RCS because her parents want her to be at a
challenging school with a good Christian foundation. She enjoys math, science
(anatomy) and earth science. Mr. Chuck Johnson is her favorite teacher
because he makes science fun and he always has words of encouragement.
Nichole wants to become a pediatrician. Nichole participates in City of
Gallup basketball league in the fall and softball leagues in the spring/summer.
Nichole has fond memories of playing softball with her uncle and ‘greatest fan’,
cheering her on. Her uncle survives a fight with stomach cancer, sits in the
stands cheering her on at every game. She knows that God has been with her
family during the difficult time.
For more information about the Rehoboth Student Sponsorship
Program, contact Sue Eddy: [email protected] (505) 726-9684.
Honor a loved one. Support Rehoboth.
Memorial gifts are a thoughtful way to honor or memorialize a loved
one while supporting Rehoboth. Benefactors often choose to memorialize or
honor a special person by making a gift in their name.
To make a memorial gift, please mail your check payable to:
Rehoboth Christian School at PO Box 41, Rehoboth, NM 87322. Please
include with your contribution the honoree’s name and address, so Rehoboth
may notify that person of your thoughtfulness. In the case of a deceased
honoree, please also include the name(s) and address of the family member(s)
to whom you would like an acknowledgement sent, as well as their
relationship to the deceased.
Typically, an acknowledgement letter will be sent to the donor,
including IRS language, and then a letter will then be sent to the honoree or
honoree’s family. That letter will include the donor’s name and address, but
not the gift amount.
With a memorial gift, you pay a lasting tribute to someone whose
life has had special importance to you and you help ensure Rehoboth’s ability
to provide a Christ-centered education for low-income, Native American
students.
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
13
Volunteer News
What are volunteers doing? There is constant movement, whether for current
projects or the ongoing needs. Here are a couple of pictures of volunteers
taken over the past 4 months who are filling needs all over campus.
Marcia VanEe was helpful all over the elementary and
middle school as she worked with Sharon Jim at the front
desk. She made copies for teachers, prepared mailings to
parents, took messages to the students…the list is endless
and no two days were the same!
Audrey Berkenpas from Ivanrest CRC, making a second
batch of her peanut butter cookies, as the first batch
disappeared very quickly! This is between serving
breakfast and the noon rush.
Char Dykema wags her finger at me, as I catch her hard
at work filing for Esther Voss. She dids one-on-one work
with the kids, paper work for teachers and filled in where
needed as a substitute.
PROJECTS
1. Athletic Complex
We’re working to wrap up the new athletic complex which, if you’ve followed
at all, you know all the volunteer work that has gone into it! Here are some
facts:
Gifts In Memory Of:
In memory of William Burrola and William Pickett
Mr. Anthony Burrola and Mrs. Elizabeth HardinBurrola
In memory of Lester and Mildred Dams
Mr. and Mrs. David and Mary Baas
In memory of Nick DeRuiter
First CRC
In memory of Thelma Flanders
Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Melonae Day
Ms. Phyllis K. Wier
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur and Verona Vanderven
In memory of Nancy A. Hilbelink
Ms. Gretchen Baugh
In memory of Alice Honcoop
Mrs. Cornelia VanGorkum
Ms. Severn Dole
14
In memory of Christopher Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. John and JoAnne Van’tLand
Mr. and Mrs. Ross and Mary Post
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis and Ruth VanAndel
Dr. and Mrs. Bryan and Linda Kamps
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas and Carolyn Weeda
Mr. and Mrs. Eddie and Violet Henry
Borgerding Metal Works
Mr. and Mrs. Richard and Lynn Jefferys
Mr. and Mrs. George and Shirley Vink
Dr. and Mrs. Bruce and Audrey Schuurmann
Dr. and Mrs. Philip and Betty Kamps
Mrs. Bernice Piersma
Ray’s Pawn and Jewelry
Mr. and Mrs. Frank and Bernice Deppe
Mr.AnthonyBurrolaandMrs.ElizabethHardin-Burrola
Mr. and Mrs. Roland and Ruth Kamps
Ellis Tanner Trading Co.
Mr. and Mrs. John and Darlene Cherney
Mr. and Mrs. Laurance and Karen Linford
Mr. and Mrs. Russell and Beverly Crowe
Mr. John Pena and Ms. Sharon Hunt
Mr. and Mrs. Jerry and Linda Ross
Mr. and Mrs. Daniel and Rhonda Berg
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
*The “dirt work” phase took place in November of 2006. We had volunteers
from all over the US, most of who were professional heavy equipment drivers.
Under the direct supervision of Ron Wiersma from Lynden, WA, they did a
fantastic job!
*The cabinetry in the gym was installed by the VanHofwagen crew in one
week!
*Carpet and tile was donated and installed due to substantial work by Steve
Donselar, owner of Donselar Flooring in Spring Lake, MI. Steve went above
and beyond by recruiting Bonanza Flooring, who ended up donating $20,000
worth of tile for one of the locker rooms. He then came down with his
brother Joel, Roger Hordyk, and Barry DeYoung to install what they could in
one week.
*Moving to the outside, John Versluys, owner of Twin Lakes Nursery in Grand
Rapids, MI, has been our landscaping designer and most recently planned the
design around the new gym and field. This is tedious, as there is much water
and erosion control to be done.
*Since John Versluys can’t be here to implement his planning, Bob Beute
came from Hillcrest CRC to be the landscaping supervisor. Bob started out
by cleaning up the current landscaping and then, as volunteers flooded in, he
put them to work moving rock, installing drip irrigation, planting drought
resistant trees and plants and tilling straw and seed into the clay. That has
proved to be back-breaking work!
The Ivanrest CRC group worked very hard all week to
spread straw and seed, plant trees and install drip lines.
These ladies are sowing the seeds on top of the hay that
was spread. The tractor will drive the crimper through so
Ms. Helen M. Zongolowicz
Dr. and Mrs. Robert and Esther Koops
Mrs. Jeanette DenBleyker
Mr. and Mrs. Bert and Marilyn Gjeltema
Mr. and Mrs. Bart and Barbara Stanley
Gallup Vision Source
Gallup Printing and Office Supply, Inc
Mr. and Mrs. Carl and Barbara Piersma
Mr. and Mrs. James and Barbara Brouwer
Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Sian Zylstra
Mr. and Mrs. Ron and Colleen Polinder
Mr. and Mrs. Alan and Kim Pearson
VanPopering & Assoc. P.L.C
Mr. and Mrs. Michael and Debra Door
Mr. and Mrs. Eric and Janette Bruins
In memory of Lois Kobes-Jasperse
Dr. and Mrs. Kenneth and Karen Kobes
In memory of Jeanne Koops
Mr. Bernard Koops
In memory of Mr. and Mrs. E Meelker
Miss Grace Meelker
In memory of Ed Oppenhuizen
Mr. and Mrs. Roger and Lois Oppenhuizen
In memory of Sandra R. VanKooten
Mr. and Mrs. Stuart and Rhonda VanKooten
In memory of Jean Woolley
Mr. and Mrs. Jason and Sian Zylstra
Gifts In Honor Of:
In honor of the wedding of Pat Klaaser & Rev.
Michael DeVries
Mr. and Mrs. Dennis and Karen Diekema
In honor of 50th Anniversary of Scot & Darlene
Konings
Mr. and Mrs. Gordon and Rachel Hofman
that the straw and seed are mixed into the ground. The straw is to help the
moisture stay and to keep the top soil hard so it won’t blow away.
Gary VanEe and Stan Brouwer are working together
to install the drip irrigation system by the new
landscaping that was planted by the Kanten family.
CHECK US OUT ONLINE!
Please check out the volunteering section of the new website!
It is located at www.rcsnm.org under the title “About RCS”.
It contains up to date information about current projects and volunteers,
along with current pictures.
2. Housing Project
The first house is completed, sold and being lived in! Yes that’s right, pigs can
fly! Just kidding.
Zach and Laura Evans in their new home. (Zoe is in
bed…)
Owen Aukeman has been the volunteer construction supervisor. He and
his crew have been working to finish the second house, which will serve as
the model home. Also nearing completion is the four-plex, which Rodger is
working on below.
Rodger Bradell is working to frame a driveway for
the new four-plex.
In Memory of RCS Volunteer
Thelma Edith Vander Ven Flanders, a member of First
Presbyterian Church of Alice, TX, an Alice Food Pantry worker, and a
former missionary worker with the Rehoboth Christian School died Aug.
7, 2007 in a Corpus Christi TX hospital. She was 69.
Alice was involved in religious education at several military bases
across the country in addition to her educational work at Rehoboth.
Survivors include her husband, Larry; two sons, Timothy and
Phillip Flanders, both of Alice; five sisters, Jeanne Pereboom of Lowell,
MI, Molly Ter Harr of Kentwood, MI, Marion Adamy of Alto, MI,
Pat Vander Weide of Jenison, MI. and Betty Powers of Seattle; and two
brothers, Mike Houlihan of Belding, MI. and Art Vander Ven of Grand
Rapids, MI.
Services were held August 10 at First Presbyterian Church, Alice, TX.
Thank You Volunteers
Year Round/Long Term
Fred and Harriet Witteveen – Rehoboth, NM
Ben Vanderwerff – Gallup, NM
Keith and Arlene Kuipers – Gallup, NM
Roland and Ruth Kamps – Gallup, NM
Andrew Swetz – Rehoboth, NM
Dan VanDeRiet – Gallup, NM
John Klein – Gallup, NM
Paul Marotti – Rehoboth, NM
Kara VanGroningen – Holland, MI
Work Groups, July 2007-October 2007
SERVE – Youth from all over!
Peter Baldwin Family – Grand Rapids, MI
Ivanrest CRC – Grandville, MI
Individuals, July 2007-October 2007
Jim Veldheer – Grand Rapids, MI
Don Veldheer – Grand Rapids, MI
Paul McCarthy – Keene, NH
Ed Smith – Arvada, CO
Steve Donselar – Spring Lake, MI
Joel Donselar – Spring Lake, MI
Roger Hordyk – Grand Haven, MI
Barry DeYoung – Grand Haven, MI
Dave and Mary VanderHill – Holland, MI
Phil and Lois Persenaire – Holland, MI
Eric VanHofwagen – Lynden, WA
Jason and Mandy VanHofwegen – Lynden, WA
Bob VanHofwegen – Lynden, WA
Terry Reimink – Lynden, WA
Ken Verhulst – Grand Rapids, MI
Wayne and Barb VanWylen – Grand Rapids, MI
Scott and Michelle Lubbers – Hudsonville, MI
Matt Lubbers – Hudsonville, MI
Jim and Trudy DeGroot – New Brighton, MN
Tony and Gloria Houtsma – Wyoming, MI
John VerSluis – Grand Rapids, MI
Will Hilbrands – Ada, MI
Richard and Sherri Kanten – Hudsonville, MI
Chris Kanten – Hudsonville, MI
Seth Kanten – Hudsonville, MI
Chelsea Kanten – Hudsonville, MI
Bob and Joyce Beute – Hudsonville, MI
Stan and Harriet Brouwer – Schererville, IN
Gary and Marcia VanEe – Williamston, MI
Ben and Char Dykema – Lowell, MI
Roger Bradell – Hudsonville, MI
Larry and Linda VandeHoef – Lynden, WA
Jay and Marlene DeGroot – Lynden, WA
Bob and Sheryll Poel – Grand Rapids, MI
Ken and Judy Fletcher – Kalamazoo, MI
Rehoboth Christian School Fall 2007
15
Dear Rehoboth Community and Friends of Rehoboth from Across the Nation:
We want to thank you from our heart for the wonderful Christian love that you have shown us and our family during the
days and weeks since our beloved son, Christopher Johnson, died while piloting a helicopter in Iraq on August 14.
When we arrived in the funeral cortege with Chris onto the Rehoboth campus, the entire campus was lined up to pay
respects, waving flags, holding flowers, crossing their hearts and grieving with us. When Chris’ wife, Vivian Johnson, who is a new
Christian, witnessed it, she asked through her tears, “What is this, Mom?” I told her “This is Christian love, Vivian”. The scene will
be remembered forever. That is only a part of the wonderful outpouring of love, gifts, cards, flowers, food, and, most of all, support
that we received those long weeks before we buried Chris in Rehoboth Cemetery. God has used all of you to uphold us.
The many gifts that are still coming in for the Chris Johnson Memorial Scholarship are truly a tribute and are gifts that will
keep on giving for a long time to deserving students of Rehoboth School.
Thank you,
Chuck and Mary Johnson,
wife, Vivian Johnson and children Victoria, Jonathan and Dylan
sister and brother-in-law, Laura and Zach Evans,
sister and brother-in-law, Dawn and Dan Vink
www.rcsnm.org
Gifts in memory of Christopher Charles Johnson may be sent
to the Rehoboth Christian School,
PO Box 41,
Rehoboth, NM 87322.
Vigorously Academic
•
Non-Profit Org.
US Postage Paid
Greenville MI
Permit #338
PO Box 41
Rehoboth, NM 87322
Address Service Requested
Beautifully Diverse
•
Thoroughly Christian
Fall 2007
Field Dedication pg. 4
New Staff pg. 8
Elementary News Pg. 11
Vigorously Academic
•
Beautifully Diverse
•
Thoroughly Christian