Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., recognized 60 years of post-secondary Christian education this fall. Marking the diamond anniversary Sept. 27, the school welcomed supporters, students, current and past faculty, and alumni to a gala at the Chicago Hilton Oak Brook Hills Resort: 650 people came to celebrate.
Along with the gala, Trinity Christian College hosted events allowing alumni and friends to “come home” for a weekend of campus festivities. Marc Nelesen, a Trinity graduate in 1991 and current pastor of congregational life at Georgetown Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Mich., preached at a special worship service Sunday.
“It was a wonderful weekend filled with great enthusiasm and a sincere gratefulness to Almighty God for the wonderful ways in which he has led and guided us throughout our first 60 years,” Trinity Christian College president Kurt Dykstra told The Banner.
Dykstra shared some details of the beginnings of the school. “Oct. 1 marked when, in 1959, Trinity opened its doors, with an opening Convocation led by the Rev. Dr. Art DeKruyter (Trinity’s first Chair of the Board), followed by the first class—Latin—taught by Dr. Derke Bergsma.”
Many of Trinity’s current students joined the gala celebration, said Doug Van Wyngarden, director of marketing at Trinity Christian College. He told The Banner their presence was one of the high points of the evening for alumni, parents, and other attendees. Wyngarden said the weekend was a reminder of what has made Trinity a strong, diverse, and vibrant institution, while looking to the future.
“Trinity graduates translate Christian character into achievement—all for God’s glory and for the good of the world,” said president Dykstra.
About the Author
Eliza Anderson is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. A former educator, she lives in Paris, Michigan.