In Memory of Rev. J. Spaans

Rev. A.H. Verhoef, St. Catharines, ON

On Thanksgiving Day in Canada, October 12, 2009, it pleased the Lord to bring home His child and servant, Rev. J. Spaans. He had reached the age of seventy-nine years, nearly the age of the very strong. He was enabled to labor as long as it was day, but now it is for him eternal Thanksgiving Day in heaven.

During the Great Depression of the Thirties, a boy was born in a simple farm house on the prairies of South Dakota. It was August 8, 1930. Father and Mother Spaans gave him the name John. The family increased until there were one daughter and twelve sons. Although their poverty was vast, the children had a great privilege, for both parents feared the Lord, and they belonged to a small congregation where there were several clearly exercised children of God. Everything was marked by great plainness and a life separated from the world; the Lord was feared in simplicity, and God’s servants gladly came there. Father Dick Spaans served as elder for many years.

When he was nineteen years old, John left his parental home and went to Grand Rapids. More young people did that in those days, for there was not enough work for everyone in the field and on the farm, but in the city there was. There was a large congregation in Grand Rapids, as well, and perhaps a future wife or husband. Undoubtedly, the prayers of Father and Mother Spaans that John would be kept from sin and this move would be for his eternal salvation would have accompanied him. After all, a servant had been sent by God to Grand Rapids; that was Rev. W.C. Lamain.

What happened? Shortly after the young Spaans had arrived, the Lord stopped him under the ministry of that “dominee” from Holland. An arrow, shot in simplicity, was sharp in the heart of an enemy, and he had to fall under it. It was no wonder that he was so heartily bound to that minister but above all to the truth which God’s servant was privileged to bring. There was but little tarrying in the house; even the Dutch sermons were used for instruction, not only in the language of Canaan but also in the language of the old country. Who could have thought that one of the last things Rev. Lamain was given to do officially was the ordination of John Spaans into the office of shepherd and teacher?

Under the Lord’s direction, John was privileged to receive a wife. Together they were given three girls and two boys. In 1956, he moved back to South Dakota to start farming near Stickney. From 1965 on he was called to serve the congregation of Corsica as elder, the first years with his aging father. Then came the year 1972 when a daughter lost her life in a car accident, which also cost the life of a brother and a daughter of that brother. Heavy was the grief, and deep were the ways in which God led him, but the Lord wanted to instruct him, and it brought him under God in submission. It was touching to hear him tell this.

A few months later I met him for the first time. When we stepped into his house on the farm, the first thing he pointed out to me was a little side room. That was the office of the North American General Mission. This work had the love of his heart, and from 1966 until his death he was a member of what later came to be known as the Mission Board. The last meeting he led, shortly before his death, was for the mission.

The service in God’s church had won him over. God called him to sow the Word, and after much strife, he was accepted in the theological school in 1980. For the second time he moved to Grand Rapids, where, as a fifty-year-old student, he began to follow the lessons from Rev. Lamain. Later, Rev. A. Vergunst came, and when he died, Rev. A.M. den Boer was appointed as teacher. However, Rev. Lamain continued to instruct from time to time, as well. A year later another student joined them, so for three years John Spaans and John den Hoed studied together in the theological school.

In 1984, the Lord pointed John to Norwich with the words: “This is the way, walk ye in it.” In November of that year, Candidate J. Spaans was ordained as minister of the divine Word by his beloved Rev. W.C. Lamain with Matthew 4:17, “From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” The eighty-year-old mother of Rev. Spaans was privileged to witness this event, also. Although she had first hoped that her son would become minister closer by, she was given to believe his going to Ontario was in the Lord’s favor.

In the evening of the next day, Rev. J. Spaans preached his inaugural sermon from 1 Corinthians 1:23&24, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.” Only a few days later, on November 11, Rev. Lamain preached for the last time in his own congregation in Grand Rapids, fell sick, and died shortly thereafter on November 30, 1984. One servant cometh, and another servant goeth.

The congregation and school in Norwich greatly increased in numbers in the years following. Was there also spiritual fruit? God’s people shall testify of this, and eternity shall fully reveal all things. During the years of his ministry, Rev. Spaans was not spared from strife and difficulties, but the Lord helped him. He was blessed with an iron constitution and did not look up against travelling. In many congregations, also in the Netherlands, as well as on journeys for the mission to Nigeria, Haiti, and Bolivia, he has spoken the Word of God. It shall not return void. The husbandman from Corsica had to go out to sow, mostly in Norwich. Nearly twenty-five years he labored there. The date for the service to commemorate this was already set for November 11. However, the Lord determined otherwise. There was a funeral service on October 15.

It was moving to see the sorrowing congregation that had come up in large numbers because their beloved minister would be carried out. Many of the neighboring congregations were with us; yes, some came traveling for hours because of love for the truth and respect for God’s servant. Most of the fellow ministers were able to be present, even two from the Netherlands. Then, there was a deeply grieving family, but it was not a sorrow as those who have no hope. The word of comfort became true, which we were privileged to consider together in the funeral service: “He shall enter into peace, they shall rest on their beds, everyone of them that walk in uprightness.” Rev. J. den Hoed also spoke, as did Elder W Pas, while Mr. J. Spaans, Jr., acknowledged on behalf of the family.

How moving also was the moment when the coffin was carried out by the grandsons from the side room of the church. There stood the widow, the family, the consistory without their leader, the brothers in the ministry, and along the driveway of the church, alongside the parsonage, stood the members of the congregation, young and old. Slowly, the hearse drove away with the mortal remains of their beloved shepherd and teacher.

On the Tuesday following, October 20, we gathered once more, now in the church of Corsica. There Rev. E. C. Adams led the service, using as his text Revelation 14:13. Rev. Adams had served for many years as an elder with Rev. Spaans in Norwich. This was the first funeral in Corsica’s new church building. The congregation had come up faithfully to be with the family. Many others who had made the journey were also present, as well as the brothers in the ministry. It was good to see that so many of the consistory and congregation of Norwich were able to travel so far to witness the burial of their minister. It was also good to hear that others, who could not come, were still able to follow along by listening to a broadcast of the service. Rev. H. Hofman, Jr., and Elder J. van Brugge spoke at the end of the funeral service.

Many had begun walking to the cemetery so close by, near the edge of the village. The hearse was followed by the ministers and Norwich Consistory, the family was driven there, and then still others walked behind. Rev. P. Bazen spoke at the graveside and read from Job 14:5 and Job 3:17. Then, we laid the body of God’s old servant in the grave near his daughter and his parents, and close to so many of God’s children. There his body may rest until the youngest day (the day of Christ’s second coming when the graves shall be opened), but now what we heard in church already is true: “Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.” Also on that cemetery, in the day of resurrection, many of God’s children shall arise. Oh, what shall that be!

During the lunch afterwards, another son, Mr. D. Spaans, thanked everyone. The God of all grace and consolation remember the mourning widow with the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. The large Spaans family has several empty places; the sister and the remaining brothers and in-laws have become old. May the Lord grant strength unto Mrs. Spaans especially in these days of mourning and also in the future when the empty place shall be sorely felt. He relieveth the widows and the fatherless.

The Lord look down in compassion upon the consistory and congregation who are as sheep without a shepherd. “Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the Word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.” May the Lord also fill the empty place in the midst of the congregations. We may say that sympathy and the carrying of one another’s burdens, also in prayer, have been experienced. Something of the bond of love is still felt. In the midst of all the darkness and sorrow, it is true what Rev. Spaans wrote in the last meditation which he prepared: “Joseph still lives.”

Joseph Is Yet Alive

“And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him b efore I die” (Genesis 45:28).

The life of Jacob was full of trials, afflictions, backslidings, sin, blessings outwardly, and blessings inwardly, strife from within and strife from without. You may say, “My life is also full of troubles and blessings, but I’m afraid that I am still unconverted.”

Let us then look into our text. What was the climax of joy in the life of Jacob? That was to know that Joseph was yet alive. Joseph is the type of Christ. Jacob cannot rejoice without Joseph because his life is wrapped up in the life of Joseph.

What a beautiful picture of the Church of God. They can live only through Christ; they can live only through Him and rejoice in His presence, for in His presence are joys forever more. Israel said, “It is enough,” and so the Church may say in exercise of faith when they may behold Him whom their soul loveth, who learn by the discovering light of the Holy Spirit that they do not deserve to be loved by the Lord.

We may say to that guilty, tired, troubled, and unworthy people that Joseph is yet alive. Oh, what a consolation that He is Governor over all the land in His offices as Prophet, Priest, and King. He instructs His people, He atones for His people, and He provides for and governs His people.

How mysterious are the ways of the greater Joseph in instructing sinners to come unto Him; how Joseph’s brothers were instructed that there was corn in Egypt. How the greater Joseph hides himself and yet deals with sinners; how Joseph veiled himself and yet instructed his brothers about their sin. They could not see that the harsh-speaking governor of Egypt was dealing graciously with them by putting them in prison (chapter 42.)

How the greater Joseph as High Priest atoned for His people while they still lived in darkness and sin; how the greater Joseph traveled the pathway alone in the Garden of Gethsemane and upon the accursed cross. The declaration, “I am Joseph,” is the declaration of life.

Joseph means “life.” What fullness there is in the greater Joseph. He is Wisdom, Righteousness, and Holiness. The Father said, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” The Church may say by moments, “He is my all and in all,” and may testify, “Through Him I shall live and not die.”

What a blessing if we may need the greater Joseph in His kingly office in the way of sanctification and holiness. When we may be given to experience our emptiness, our weakness, our ignorance, our unrighteousness, and our unholiness, may we be drawn by His love and driven by our need with our empty sacks to the storehouse of the greater Joseph. The poorer, the richer—if we may experience something of this we may have a blessed Prayer Day and an unforgettable Thanksgiving Day. May the Lord add His blessing.

Your friend and minister,
Rev. J. Spaans

This is the last piece prepared by Rev. Spaans shortly before he was taken to the hospital and his earthly journey came to an end. May we all be given to take heed to these encouraging words.

Deze tekst is geautomatiseerd gemaakt en kan nog fouten bevatten. Digibron werkt voortdurend aan correctie. Klik voor het origineel door naar de pdf. Voor opmerkingen, vragen, informatie: contact.

Op Digibron -en alle daarin opgenomen content- is het databankrecht van toepassing. Gebruiksvoorwaarden. Data protection law applies to Digibron and the content of this database. Terms of use.

Printen