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Collection Overview
Abstract
Minister of the Christian Reformed Church. The collection includes sermons and reminiscences entitled "Our Impressions of the Netherlands," describing post-war aspects of the Netherlands.
Biographical Note
The Yearbook of the Christian Reformed Church lists only one church under the name of Ralph Bronkema. In 1929 he accepted the call of First Orange City, Iowa, and served that congregation until 1952. Our collection of sermons makes references to churches where he preached some of his sermons after his retirement. Although he retired early because of diabetic disabilities, he was able to serve for brief periods in Los Angeles, California; Edmonton, Alberta; Dresden, Ontario; Salt Lake City, Utah; Eau Galle, Florida, and British Columbia; Tyler, Minnesota; and Neerlandia, Alberta.
Ralph Bronkema was born, June 10, 1893, of immigrant parents, members of the Coldbrook CRC, Grand Rapids, Michigan. As a young man he contributed to the family finances by working at various jobs while continuing his education. After two years at the seminary he accepted a teaching position at the newly founded Christian high school in Grand Rapids. After teaching Bible for five years he continued his theological instruction at the Free University of Amsterdam. His doctoral dissertation was entitled The Essence of Puritanism. Bronkema married Ella Hofstra of Grand Rapids. Together they had 4 children–Betty, Lois, Ralph (Don) and Rosalie.
While in the Netherlands he established good relationships with many people. He preached for forty weeks in the Bergen church. After WWII he organized a relief program using his friends in the Netherlands as contact person for the distribution of tons of food, clothing, and medicine from Northwest Iowa. For this work the Dutch government knighted him. In the collection there is a vivid mimeographed account of his visit to the Netherlands after the war.
Ralph Bronkema passed away on May 4, 1973. Although he served only one congregation during his active ministry, his activities reached people beyond the immediate area of the congregational membership. His line of communication crossed the Atlantic Ocean.
Subject/Index Terms
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Addresses, Papers, 1929-1954],
[
Series 2: Heidelberg Catechism Sermons, 1929-1938],
[
Series 3: Sermons for Special Days, 1929-1945],
[
Series 4: Sermons: Genesis to Luke, 1932-1944],
[
Series 5: Sermons: John to Revelation, 1932-1944],
[All]
- Series 1: Addresses, Papers --- 1929-1954
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Addresses - Ministers' Conference and other occasions
- Folder 2: Articles and reports
- Folder 3: Conversations with Mormons while in Salt Lake City as associate pastor
- Folder 4: Christian Reformed Church in Iowa. Manuscript not published --- 1943
- Folder 5: Letter of acceptance to Orange City, Iowa, CRC --- August 3, 1929
- Folder 6: Memorial message
- Folder 7: Our Impressions of the Netherlands, bound mimeographed copies (2). Impressions of post-war Netherlands --- 1946
- Folder 8: Outlined sermons on small cards. (Incomplete) Reduced sermons on cards for preaching
- Folder 9: Paper: The "tongues" in Acts compared with the "tongues" in Corinthians --- February 1, 1924
- Folder 10: Promotie Dinner in Amsterdam, menu --- April 1, 1929
- Folder 11: Twelve articles based on book "The Essence of Puritanism" --- 1954
- Series 2: Heidelberg Catechism Sermons --- 1929-1938
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Lord's Day 45 - Lord's Day 52 --- October 1929-May 1930
- Folder 2: Lord's Day 1 - Lord's Day 11 --- July 1930-November 1931
- Folder 3: Lord's Day 12 - Lord's Day 52 --- December 1931-May 1934
- Folder 4: Lord's Day 1 - Lord's Day 52 --- July 1934-January 1938
- Series 3: Sermons for Special Days --- 1929-1945
- Box 3
- Folder 1: Sermons: Advent --- 1929-1932
- Folder 2: Sermons: Ascension Day --- 1934-1939
- Folder 3: Sermons: Communion (Preparatory, Communion, Post-Communion) --- 1933-1945
- Folder 4: Sermons: Easter --- 1930-1935
- Folder 5: Sermons: First and Second Samuel --- 1932
- Folder 6: Sermons: First year of ministry
- Folder 7: Sermons: Good Friday --- -1930
- Folder 8: Sermons: New Year's Day --- 1931-1935
- Folder 9: Sermons: Old Year's Eve --- 1931-1939
- Folder 10: Sermons: on parables
- Folder 11: Sermons: Pentecost
- Folder 12: Sermons: Prayer Day --- 1931-1941
- Folder 13: Sermons: Preparatory --- 1931-1940
- Folder 14: Sermons: Post Easter --- 1931-1935
- Series 4: Sermons: Genesis to Luke --- 1932-1944
- Box 4
- Folder 1: Sermons: Special days, General
- Folder 2: Sermons: Genesis to Joshua
- Folder 3: Sermons: I Samuel to Esther
- Folder 4: Sermons: Job to Malachi
- Folder 5: Sermons: Matthew to Mark
- Folder 6: Sermons: Luke
- Series 5: Sermons: John to Revelation --- 1932-1944
- Box 5
- Folder 1: Sermons: John to Acts
- Folder 2: Sermons: Romans to II Timothy
- Folder 3: Sermons: Hebrews to Revelation
- Folder 4: Sermons: "To the Saints," written for comfort, encouragement, instruction
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Addresses, Papers, 1929-1954],
[
Series 2: Heidelberg Catechism Sermons, 1929-1938],
[
Series 3: Sermons for Special Days, 1929-1945],
[
Series 4: Sermons: Genesis to Luke, 1932-1944],
[
Series 5: Sermons: John to Revelation, 1932-1944],
[All]
