The Covell Avenue NRC of Grand Rapids, Michigan (5)

1915-1944: Rev. Jacob C. Wielhouwer (1875-1956)

Rev. Wielhouwer travelled by train on December 8 and 9, 1915 from New Jersey to his new pastoral charge in Grand Rapids. He was installed in the Turner Avenue (now Covell Avenue) congregation by Elder William van Dyke on December 12. Elder Bouwense read a sermon based on Genesis 12:2 b, “be a blessing.” In the afternoon Rev. Wielhouwer preached his inaugural sermon from Ephesians 6:19, “And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel.” In the evening he spoke on 1 Kings 3:7-9.

Since the Turner Avenue flock numbered close to a thousand members, the consistory brought a request to the congregation that Elder van Dyke might serve as a full-time assistant to the pastor. The congregation approved this appointment and Elder van Dyke faithfully assisted Rev. Wielhouwer for more than five years, until he passed away suddenly on a communion Sabbath, September 18, 1921. While speaking at the Lord’s table that morning, Rev. Wielhouwer paused to say to the communicants, “We are here together for the last time; one of us is going home. The Lord has given me this text with power, ‘The Master is come and calleth for thee.’” A few hours later Elder van Dyke was taken above all strife to eternally behold the King in His beauty.

Two years after Rev. Wielhouwer’s arrival, the Turner Avenue congregation (which until that time was an independent Reformed church, known as Nederduitsche Kerk) pursued an official union with the NRC. This was ratified by the NRC Classis East meeting of April 3, 1918, for which Rev. Wielhouwer was deeply grateful.

A few weeks after this joyful event, Rev. Wielhouwer became seriously ill during the flu epidemic that raged across America. After his flu developed into pneumonia, he frequently lay unconscious. On May 17 he underwent a serious operation on his lungs. At first all appeared to have gone well, but a month later his physical condition worsened. He was made submissive to undergo a second operation on June 26 through a divine application of Psalm 34:19, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.” This operation proved to be more successful, but it was not until September 7 that Rev. Wielhouwer was enabled to preach a short sermon again. He spoke on, “He hath done all things well” (Mk. 7:37b).

In 1921 Rev. H. A. Minderman, pastor of the Division Avenue congregation in Grand Rapids since 1911, returned to the Netherlands. In 1923 Rev. C. Van Adrichem of Sheboygan passed away. For some eighteen months Rev. Wielhouwer was the only active minister in the denomination, carrying the load of ten moderator-ships until Rev. A. Van Dyke returned from the Netherlands (1924) and Rev. J. Van Zweden was ordained into the ministry (1925).1

Until the 1920s all services conducted at the Division and Turner Ave nue congregations were held in Dutch. In the meantime, several hundred members with their children had left the NRC for other church affiliations due to a lack of being able to grasp the Dutch language sufficiently and out of frustration in being unable to persuade the Grand Rapids NRC consistories of the necessity of offering English services. Moreover, scores of children were being instructed in Dutch cate chism classes and memorizing Dutch catechism questions which they did not understand. Consequently, in 1923 Rev. Wielhouwer helped organize a third congregation in Grand Rapids — an English-speaking congregation on Ottawa Avenue, N.W. Initial membership included sixty-seven members from the Turner Avenue congregation and forty-seven from the Division Ave nue flock.2 The first officebearers of the Ottawa Avenue congregation were installed by Rev. Wielhouwer as moderator on April 20, 1923: Dick DeBruyn, Teunis Stehouwer, and John Mol, Sr. as elders; Peter Penning, John De Meester, and Peter De Meester as deacons.

Due to the inability of the younger generation to grasp the Dutch language, the Ottawa Avenue congregation naturally grew quite rapidly in the 1920s and 1930s, causing the membership of both the Division Avenue congregation and particularly the Turner Avenue congregation to de crease considerably. In some families, parents attended the Dutch services in the Division Avenue church, while their children listened to an English service two blocks to the west in the Ottawa Avenue church. Eventually, after considerable opposition and delay, both the Turner and Division Avenue congregations began to hold English services as well.3 The Ottawa Avenue congregation, however, never received a minister despite numerous efforts, and ultimately merged with the Division Avenue congregation after Rev. W. C. Lamain’s arrival in order to form what is now called the First NRC of Crescent Street.

In the midst of church troubles, Rev. Wielhouwer could at times become impatient, but strove with all his heart to be a peacemaker. Once when called upon to open a Classis meeting, he told the delegates after he prayed, “Brothers, let us work in peace today. If there are those among us who do not wish to meet peaceably, let me know, for then I will turn the meeting over to another president and excuse myself.”

Rev. Wielhouwer was used for many souls throughout his nearly thirty-year ministry at Turner Avenue, notwithstanding considerable opposition from without and within. Though his trials were many, he was often given grace to rise above them. Family members and friends who lived closest to him testify of his godly walk and earnest prayer life — also in the midst of personal affliction and church troubles. Happily, affliction matured his preaching which regularly carried an experiential, Christ-centered flavor. He always sought to bring the preaching of Christ out of his text. His sermons, however, were severely opposed by some. But God’s Word did not return void — also not among the youth. He reached out to the young people in catechism class, often giving them a variety of assignments to assist them in searching the Scriptures. Some grandchildren and friends still recall with fondness today how he would also tell Bible stories in the parsonage after the church service on Sunday evenings to a group of children gathered around him. There are those alive today who trace back the divine commencement of saving grace in their life to youthful days when they sat under Rev. Wielhouwer’s preaching and teaching. Eternity alone shall reveal the fruits upon this brother’s labors.

In the spring of 1931 Rev. Wielhouwer became ill with influenza. His condition worsened until April 28 when he suffered a severe hemorrhage. Fearing the end was near, he admonished his family to remain with the truth. Once again, however, the Lord was pleased to grant gradual recovery. Six months later he was able to undertake some work for the church, but was strongly advised by his doctor to spend some time in northern Michigan each year during hay fever season in order to find relief from his asthmatic condition. After being in Petoskey, Michigan4 for a few weeks, the oldest son of the Wielhouwers, Leonard, who was not a stranger of grace, be came very ill with a throat ailment. Ultimately he died from a heart attack in March, 1932 at the age of twenty-two. At the same time, Mrs. Wielhouwer and two additional children, Henry and Marie, were very sick. Though they recovered, Rev. Wielhouwer later testified that if the Lord had not upheld him at that trying time, he would have perished.

From the 1930s until his death in 1956, Rev. Wielhouwer had several severe illnesses but testified that he experienced much of God’s blessed presence and love towards him at such times. His body grew weaker through many bouts of asthma. In 1934 he suffered inflammation and much pain in his right eye and finally lost all sight in it. This eye was then removed and replaced with a glass eye in hopes of sparing the other. These hopes were not to be realized, however. By 1943 he was physically weak, blind, and unable to do much work, though he persevered in doing what he could, laboring seven days a week when his health permitted. On occasion he would preach with a high fever.

To such trials was added the sudden loss of his dear wife on May 17, 1943. Even under this severe affliction, however, God granted his servant to confess the day after her death, “The Lord who took my dear wife away is my Comforter.... The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Rev. Van Zweden spoke at the funeral from Psalm 90:10 and Elder John Nordyke spoke on Job 19:25.

On June 8, 1944, Rev. Wielhouwer received his emeritus status from the Synod of the NRC. Though for a few more years he continued to preach on occasion to his former flock which still numbered more than five hundred, the Lord spared him as an emeritus minister for an additional twelve years. During these years he continued to experience that it is only through tribulation that the kingdom of heaven shall be entered. Due to tensions which were developing among the Grand Rapids congregations, Rev. Wielhouwer was obliged in 1948 to change his membership to the Crescent Street congregation in order to continue to receive emeritus benefits. To his great sorrow, these tensions eventually led to the termination of the Turner Avenue congregation from the NRC in 1950.5 Moreover, in 1952 Rev. Wielhouwer lost a precious three-year-old grandson, Calvin.6 In 1955 his 43-year-old daughter Nellie, passed away suddenly in her sleep, leaving behind a husband and four children.7 Notwithstanding these trials, however, Rev. Wielhouwer experienced: “God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Cor. 10:13).

Rev. Wielhouwer’s health continued to decline, but his spirit remained bright. The accuser of the brethren allowed him no rest, however, even until the end. His daughter and son-in-law, Cornelius and Katie Lambregtse, who lovingly cared for him for many years testify that his knees were calloused from a lifetime of prayer. On the day before he died he distressingly confessed to his daughter, “I have been a preacher all my adult life and now the devil keeps telling me that I have been a hypocrite all these years. I have shown many others the way to heaven, and now he says that I am going to hell myself.”

Nevertheless, there remains a rest for the people of God (Heb. 4). The strife was of short duration. A few hours later, Rev. Wielhouwer’s anguish was taken away. He called his daughter again to his side and this time declared with joy, “God has removed my bonds. He has made all things well.” He then began singing Dutch Psalms, such as “Maar de Heer zal uitkomst geven” (“But the Lord will send salvation”); “’s Heeren goedheid kent geen palen” (“All the pathways of Jehovah speak of truth and mercies pure”); “Maar’t vrome volk in U verheugd zal huppelen van zielevreugd” (“Their joy shall then unbounded be, who see God’s face eternally”), etc. The following morning, December 13, 1956, God quietly called His servant home with a glow of expectation on his face at the ripe age of eighty-one.

But let the righteous, blessed of yore,
Joy in their God as ne’er before,
Faith’s victory achieving.
Their joy shall then unbounded be
Who see God’s face eternally,
Their heart’s desire receiving.

— Psalter 420:2a

Surviving at Rev. Wielhouwer’s death were three sons, five daughters,8 thirty-nine grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

Rev. C. Hegeman opened the funeral service with prayer. Rev. W. C. Lamain read Psalm 90 and spoke from Genesis 25:8, “Then Abraham gave up the ghost, and died in a good old age, an old man, and full of years; and was gathered to his people.” After Psalter 120:4 was sung, Rev. A. Vergunst spoke from Luke 13:24, “Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.” Elder Nordyke spoke from Psalm 34:20 and closed with prayer. At the graveside, Rev. La-main stressed the difference between the godly and the ungodly, not only in life and death, but also on the Judgment Day. Rev. H. Wielhouwer, the youngest son of the Wielhouwers, thanked everyone present for the respects shown to his father and closed with prayer.

Thus Rev. Wielhouwer was buried together with any sins and shortcomings he might have had, all of which are covered by the blood of the Lamb. His remains await the great day of resurrection when he shall enter into the joy of his Lord. For Christ’s sake, “Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace” (Ps. 37:37).

1Rev. Van Zweden and Rev. Wielhouwer retained a close friendship during the nearly twenty years (1925-1944) they colabored for the cause of God’s kingdom In the NRC.

2For further detail, cf. Banner of Truth 57 (1991):8.

3Rev. Wielhouwer was often called the “Dutch” Wielhouwer to distinguish him from his distant cousin, Exhorter James Wielhouwer, who was nicknamed the “English” Wielhouwer (cf. Banner of Truth 57 [1991 ]:210); nevertheless, he did make a serious attempt to preach in English. Considering his age and physical condition, this in itself was quite remarkable even though English naturally remained a foreign tongue for him.

4For many years, the Wielhouwers made an annual trip of several weeks to Petoskey during hay fever season.

5This sad history will be briefly related in next month’s article, the Lord willing.

6Calvin John Lambregtse was born on May 15, 1949 and died on December 22, 1952. The blow of his death was somewhat softened for Rev. Wielhouwer as this young child gave several evidences of the Lord’s gracious work prior to his early death. Rev. Lamain conducted the funeral from Psalm 69:36, “The seed also of His servants shall inherit it: and they that love His Name shall dwell therein.”

7She was married to John Mol, Jr.

8The Wielhouwers had eleven children in all. As we have seen, Len, Nellie, and their first Jennie preceded the minister in death. The children who survived the passing of their father include the following:

Rachel, a secretary, was the oldest. She married James De Korne who farmed in the Grand Rapids area. They and their nine children, of which one died shortly after birth, remained with the Covell Avenue congregation. She passed away at the age of seventy-two.

Jacob was a wheel-aligner by trade. He married Delia Van Dyke of Baptist persuasion. Jacob also became a Baptist. Together they had four children. He died of leukemia at the age of fifty-four.

The next daughter was again named Jennie, who also was a secretary. She married Cornelius Vander Sloot. They had four children. She passed away from a cardiac arrest at the age of sixty-two.

John became a teacher and later a principal. He married Virginia Hollemans. They had three children and attended a Reformed church. He died at the age of sixty-four from cancer.

Katie, formerly a nurse, is still a member of the Covell Avenue church today. She married Cornelius Lambregste. They had three daughters and the little Calvin mentioned above who passed away.

Pauline, who worked in the Kent County treasurer’s office, married a Baptist minister, Rev. Clyde Afman. They live in Michigan’s upper peninsula and have six children.

The youngest son, Henry, became a fundamental Baptist minister and hospital chaplain. He married Doris Ray and they have three children.

Marie, the youngest child, is also a Baptist. She has six children and is married to Charles Soentgen.

As of this writing, the four youngest — Katie, Pauline, Henry, and Marie — are the only surviving children.

He called his daughter again to his side and this time declared with joy, “God has removed my bonds. He has made all things well.”

Dr. J.R. Beeke and Rev. J. den Hoed are continuing a series of articles on the histories of individual Netherlands Reformed Congregations.

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