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Collection Overview
Abstract
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church and president of the Reformed Bible Institute in Grand Rapids, Michigan (1943-1966). Papers consisting of sermon outlines, chapel talks, radio messages, addresses, 'Daily Manna' meditations, class notes, course notes and outlines, correspondence, pamphlets, Reformed Bible Institute minutes from 10/7/1948 - 12/31/1956, travel accounts, photo albums of the Seminary Quartet trips, a WFUR Radio program in memory of D.H. Walters, and reel-to-reel tapes from the RBI Bible School of the Air.
Biographical Note
For an entire generation the name of Dick Walters was associated with the Reformed Bible Institute (later known as the Reformed Bible College). Rev. Dick H. Walters served as president during the crucial formative years when the Institute grew from a small struggling school meeting in an empty store on Wealthy Street to the established and recognized educational center on a beautiful campus on Robinson Road.
Dick Walters made the Institute a viable school when he promoted it as the place to prepare mission workers for the many mission chapels established in the neighborhood of Christian Reformed Churches. And unordained workers, graduates from the Bible Institute, were also used in home and world mission stations. The Institute became an important unit in the educational program of the Church and received moral and financial support.
After serving the Reformed Bible Institute for twenty-three years it became necessary to restrict his activities because of failing health. He continued to serve as president-emeritus for another year and a half. On his sixtieth birthday, as he left his home to work at the Institute, he was suddenly stricken with a heart attack and passed away.
Dick Walters was born in the vicinity of Borculo, MI, December 11, 1907. He began his studies at Calvin College with the intention of becoming a teacher, but an inner urge to enter the ministry prompted him to continue in theological studies and he graduated from the Seminary in 1933. All through his ministry he revealed himself to be an effective preacher and teacher.
After serving a congregation in Prairie City, Iowa (1933-1938), he went to Central Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Holland, MI, then one of the largest congregations. Five years later, in 1943, he became president of the Reformed Bible Institute in Grand Rapids.
During his ministry he wrote a number of catechism books which were used extensively in Reformed and Christian Reformed Churches. He was one of the founders of the Christian Reformed Conference Grounds located on the shores of Lake Michigan near Grand Haven. His radio ministry included prayer time and preaching on local stations as well as being an occasional speaker in the early days of the Back-to-God Hour radio ministry of the Christian Reformed Church.
Rev. and Mrs. D.H. Walters were the parents of three children. Mrs. Walters (Susan De Groot) passed away January 1967.
Our collection includes many of Dick Walters sermon outlines. It will be observed that he seldom wrote his sermons. This was also true of his many addresses. The Reformed Bible Institute has many of his messages on tape.
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Papers],
[
Series 2: Sermon Outlines],
[
Series 3: Reel-to-Reel Tapes],
[
Series 4: Miscellaneous],
[
Series 5: Photographs],
[
All]
- Series 1: General Papers
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Seminary Quartette memorabilia --- 1931-32
- Folder 2: Call letters and correspondence
- Folder 3: Classical Sermon --- 1933
- Folder 4: Inauguration address, R.B.I. --- 1943
- Folder 5: History of our Holland Christian Schools on 40th Anniversary --- 1942
- Folder 6: Minutes of Prayer on WOOD --- 1944-1957
- Folder 7: Preaching record books --- 1931-1938; 1943-1968
- Folder 8: Press clippings, on D.H.W. and R.B.I.
- Folder 9: Propagation of Calvinism. Association for, correspondence and address
- Folder 10: Proof for infant baptism: L. Berkhof and J.R. Weener. Other material
- Folder 11: Questions on the Scripture: Language, translations, inspirations, etc.
- Folder 12: Programs of mission rallies and conventions, etc.
- Folder 13: R.B.I. dormitory rules
- Folder 14: Travel accounts
- Folder 15: Verses written by Mrs. H. De Ridder when DHW was her pastor at Central Ave. --- 1940
- Folder 16: Weddings notes and messages
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Archaeological notes mimeographed
- Folder 2: Bible Introduction notes. Mimeographed material
- Folder 3: Bible: Questions and answers about the Bible. R.B.I. bd. Ms. Mimeo
- Folder 4
- Item 1: Books of the Bible, O.T. mimeographed notes (incomplete)
- Item 2: Poetical Books, mimeographed copy
- Item 3: Historical Books, mimeographed copy
- Folder 5: Books of the Bible, N.T. mimeographed notes (incomplete)
- Folder 6: Christian Doctrine course. Mimeographed material (incomplete)
- Folder 7: Christian leadership course. Incomplete outlines
- Folder 8: Christian Psychology course. Mimeographed notes
- Folder 9
- Item 1: Christian Self Study. Bd. mimeographed copy
- Item 2: Evangelism, mimeographed copy
- Folder 10: Gospel portraits of Christ. Mimeographed material
- Folder 11: Homiletics course. Mimeographed notes
- Folder 12: "In These steps," published book for young people. Zondervan --- 1961
- Folder 13
- Item 1: Introduction to and contents of the Bible. Class notes
- Item 2: Orientation and Bible Survey, mimeographed copy
- Folder 14: Premarriage counseling. Mimeographed Ed material
- Folder 15: Revelation: Notes on Revelation. Bd. Mimeographed copy
- Folder 16: Revelation: Material on Book of Revelation. Some written by DHW
- Folder 17: Revelation: Class notes, outlines
- Folder 18: Sunday School lessons (incomplete) --- 1944-1964
- Folder 19: Concept Studies on the Pentateuch, RBI
- Folder 20: Bible book by book, RBI Bible course
- Box 3
- Folder 1: "Daily Manna" Meditations printed copies
- Folder 2: "Daily Manna" Meditations mss. I
- Folder 3: "Daily Manna" Meditations mss. II
- Folder 4: "Daily Manna" Meditations mss. III
- Folder 5: "Daily Manna" Meditations mss. IV
- Folder 6: Anniversary addresses. Outlines
- Folder 7: Chapel Talks. Outlines
- Folder 8: Education addresses. Outlined notes
- Folder 9: Farewell addresses. Central Ave, Holland --- March, 1943
- Folder 10: Graduation talks. Outlines
- Folder 11: Mimeographed material on various subjects
- Folder 12: Mission messages, outlines, notes
- Folder 13: Radio messages, notes
- Folder 14: Special messages, outlines, notes
Browse by Series:
[Series 1: General Papers],
[
Series 2: Sermon Outlines],
[
Series 3: Reel-to-Reel Tapes],
[
Series 4: Miscellaneous],
[
Series 5: Photographs],
[
All]
