Sneak Peek: August “News from Hope” Column
History has an amazing ability to both humble and inspire. This year marks the 200th Anniversary of the birth of Albertus C. Van Raalte, founder of both Holland, Michigan and The Pioneer School that predates the existence of our alma mater.
In reading up on my 19th Century history I discovered that Van Raalte was only 25 years old when, in 1836, he became a leader in the newly formed Separatist Church and he was just over 35 when, in February of 1847, he founded what is now Hope’s hometown. As I am now past the age of his first church leadership and approaching the age when he founded Holland, this is humbling history indeed!
While reading more about this era, I also discovered that one of the disagreements the Separatists had with the status quo of the time was the idea of the gathered church. The concept of individuals gathering on their own freewill and in groups of their choosing was at odds with the territorial basis of parish assignments commonplace in Europe at the time.
Today, it is inspiring that we can gather in freedom to worship how we choose. It is also inspiring that the visionary leadership of a few 19th Century Separatists has led to a legacy that includes Hope College, where alumni from 50 states here in the US and 78 countries from around the world are free to gather together each fall at events like Homecoming.
This fall, as we look back at hundreds of years of history, we hope you choose to freely join others on campus as we also look forward to the next 200 years, envisioning a greater Hope for generations yet to come.
