Marvin C. Baarman Collection, 1949-1972 | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

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Collection Overview

Title: Marvin C. Baarman Collection, 1949-1972

ID: COLL/003

Primary Creator: Baarman, Marvin C. (1919-1991)

Extent: 9.0 Boxes. More info below.

Arrangement: Folder level description

Subjects: Christian Reformed Church - Missions, Christian Reformed Church. Board of Home Missions, Church schools, Home missions

Abstract

Documents the ministerial career of Marvin C. Baarman (1919-1991), in the Christian Reformed Church in North America. The material focuses primarily on the administrative dimensions of his career in the parish ministry and later as he worked for the denomination’s Home Missions Board. Among other topics, it details the denomination’s evangelism during the 1960s and 1970s, as well as the denomination’s commission on race formed in 1968.

Biographical Note

Marvin C. Baarman (19 Jan 1919 – 21 Feb 1991) enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor and he served honorably in North Africa, Italy, and in the South Pacific. After the war, Baarman enrolled in Calvin College and graduated in 1946 with an AB. He taught for two years at Oakdale Christian School in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He then prepared for the ministry attending Calvin Theological Seminary from which he graduated in 1951 with a ThB. He then spent a year at Princeton, 1951-1952. From Princeton, he began his active ministry in Lodi, New Jersey, where he served from 1952-1956. In 1956, he moved to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving a church that was organized during his service there. He was appointed by Synod 1960 to serve as Executive Secretary of the Christian Reformed Board of Home Missions.

For fourteen years, until 1974, Baarman was energetically involved in the Home Missions programs of the denomination. The collection we have reveals the variety of activities he carried out in fulfillment of his task. He suffered from heart problems that led to an early retirement in 1974.

Baarman was predeceased by his wife Ophelia and son, Chris. He is survived by his wife, Phyllis; his daughters, Nori and Russell Bykerk; Margaret and Hank Kearney, along with 3 step-daughters and 7 grandchildren.

Subject/Index Terms

Christian Reformed Church - Missions
Christian Reformed Church. Board of Home Missions
Church schools
Home missions

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Initial Period of Ministry, 1949 -1960],
[Series 2: Home Missions Period - Administration to Committees, 1864-1971],
[Series 3: Home Missions Period - Committees Inter-Agency Meetings, 1964-1971],
[Series 4: Home Missions Period - Manuals to Miscellaneous Papers, 1959-1972],
[Series 5: Home Missions Period - Organization Management, Race Issue, 1962-1971],
[Series 6: Home Missions Period - Reports, 1962-1972],
[Series 7: Home Missions Period - Reports - Speaking Engagements, 1961-1972],
[Series 8: Home Missions Period - Staff Agenda, Youth Evangelism, 1964-1970],
[All]

Series 1: Initial Period of Ministry --- 1949 -1960

Box 1

Folder 1: Michigan Student Christian Convocation --- 1949

Folder 2: Summer work in Centerville, Maryland --- 1950

Folder 3: Lodi period, Eastern Elders' Conference: When should special services be held in the home for baptism and communion?

Folder 4: Fort Lauderdale period, Communication --- 1955-1960

Folder 5

Item 1: Fort Lauderdale period, Eastern Christian School Association --- 1956
Item 2: Fort Lauderdale period, Ministers' Conference material --- 1956

Folder 6: Fort Lauderdale period, Evaluation of Servicemen's Homes --- 1958

Folder 7: Fort Lauderdale period, Executive Committee for Home Missions, correspondence --- 1957, 1958

Folder 8: Fort Lauderdale period, Executive Committee for Home Missions, correspondence --- 1959

Folder 9: Fort Lauderdale period, Florida Conference, Home Missions Committee --- 1959

Folder 10: Fort Lauderdale period, Home Missions Manual --- 1959

Folder 11: Fort Lauderdale period, Petition for Organization of Fort Lauderdale --- Jan. 1958

Folder 12: Fort Lauderdale period, Reports on Harlem, New York --- 1954-1959

Folder 13: Fort Lauderdale period, Seamen's Church Ministry --- 1961

Folder 14-15: Fort Lauderdale period, Tour for Home Missions --- 1957-1958

Folder 16: Fort Lauderdale period, Work Programs for Home Missions --- 1959

Folder 17: Fort Lauderdale period, Visits to various Classes --- 1960