2014 Candidates for Ministry

On the following pages you will find photos and information about those approved by Synod 2014 as candidates for Ministry of the Word. These are the persons who will join elders, deacons, song leaders, worship directors, church school teachers, and a host of others to lead our churches and ministries in the coming years.

In his letter to Timothy, Paul encouraged Timothy to “entrust” the things he learned from Paul to “reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others” (2 Tim. 2:2). Pastors are persons entrusted by the church for pastoral leadership and service. They play a vital spiritual role in our lives in order that we can play a role in the lives of others.

Paul went on in the next verse to encourage Timothy to join with him in “suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” The image of a soldier of Christ Jesus may not resonate as much for us as it did in Paul’s day, but we all know that discipleship and ministry are difficult. We need teachers, encouragers, spiritual guides, and even persons who will protect us with ministries of prayer and accountability.

The persons on the following pages have been well schooled in biblical, theological, and practical pastoral matters. They have been shaped intellectually, spiritually, and professionally by those who have been entrusted with the task of preparing candidates for ministry. They will continue to be shaped as they serve alongside us in positions of ministry. And, by God’s grace, they will shape us, and the next generation of the church, into the image of Christ.

Review these pages with a prayer of thanks and with a heart that is ready to partner with these men and women in ministry. Thank God for our seminary and its faculty, and thank God for the hard work these candidates have completed in preparation for candidacy. May it be, by the grace of God, that the church will transform the world as it presents the Christ who has called and appointed us. And may each of these persons find their place in ministry as they become candidates.

For more detailed information on any of these candidates, visit the Candidacy Committee website at crcna.org.

“The things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. Join with me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”
—2 Timothy 2:2-3

Brad Bierma
 

Richard C. Boomsma
 

Richard Braaksma*
 

Dan De Graff
 

Adrian de Lange
 

Nevada DeLapp
Languages: English, reading proficiency in French and German
 

Jonathan DeRuiter
 

Paul DeWeerd
 

Woodrow P. Dixon
 

Jun Kyoung Eo
Languages: Korean, Nepali, and English
 

Joseph Groenveld
 

Robert Grussing
 

Patrick N. Guarracino
 

Byung Soo (Paul) Han
Languages: Korean and English
 

Gareth Harker*
 

Ryan Hoogerbrugge
 

Erik William Kamp
 

Thomas Brent Kladder
 

Joel Klingenberg*
 

Michelle Joy Kool
Languages: English and French (not fluent)
 

Jeremy Kreuze
 

Victor Laarman*
 

Mark Langenbach
 

C. Gregg Lawson
 

Dae Jong Lee*
 

Ezra Lee
 

Samuel Lee*
 

Timothy Leferink*
 

John C. Medendorp
 

Dena Meyerink
 

Cornelius Muasa*
Languages: English, Kikamba, and Swahili
 

Brady Mulder
 

Michael Nanninga
 

Brent Pollema
 

David Reynolds
 

Kyle Sanford
 

Kurt C. Schaefer
Languages: English, German, and Hungarian
 

Sarah Schreiber
 

Paula Seales*
 

Eunchong (David) Shin*
Languages: Korean, Japanese, and English
 

Evan Steensma*
 

Jay Stringer*
 

Lesli van Milligen
Languages: English and Spanish
 

Cory Van Sloten*
 

Dayna Joy Vreeken
 

Albert Wu
Languages: English and Cantonese
 

Luke Wynja*
 

Leo Yoon*
Languages: Korean and English
 

Andrew David Zylstra
Languages: English and some Spanish
 

*Asterisks indicate candidates who are not eligible for call until they have completed all requirements.

Editor's note: When first published this article included contact information for the candidates, which has since been removed. To get the current Candidacy booklet with contact information, visit crcna.org/candidacy/candidates.