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Collection Overview
Abstract
Medical doctor. The collection includes biographical files, addresses, sermons and outlines, chapel talks, papers, press clippings on medicine and theology, and articles on the women in office issue. [See also the Campus Titles Database.]
Biographical Note
Occasionally a graduate from the Calvin Theological Seminary continues his education in a field other than theology. Lawrence Den Besten, as did Lee S. Huizenga before him, turned to medicine. In 1956, he received his MD from the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa.
Lawrence Den Besten was born in New Holland, South Dakota, on October 4, 1935. After graduating from the University of Iowa, he became a medical director at the Takum Christian Hospital in Nigeria, 1957-1960. The Nigerians often referred to him as "the laughing doctor"; he radiated his Christian faith wherever he served.
When Lawrence returned to the United Sates, he served as professor of surgery at the University Hospital of the University of Iowa, 1964-1977; staff surgeon at the Veteran’s Administration Hospital in Sepulveda, California, 1977-1980; and as professor and chief surgeon at the University of California in Los Angeles, 1977-1985. Two years before his death in 1987, Den Besten became provost and professor of medicine and missiology at the Fuller Theological Seminary.
A cursory check of his biographical information at Fuller reveals that the doctor published over two hundred articles and brochures for medical journals. He was always available to speak for churches at retreats and conferences. He received the Distinguished Alumni Award from Calvin College.
Dr. Den Besten died of cancer on June 30, 1987, at the age of sixty-two. He left behind his wife, Shirley (Langleand), and their two children. The archives received some of his papers from Shirley Den Besten. His papers include biographical material, addresses, sermonic notes, and a few paper clippings covering his activities.
Subject/Index Terms
Administrative Information
Repository:
Heritage Hall, Hekman Library
Alternate Extent Statement:
1.0 cubic ft.
Acquisition Source:
Gift of L. Den Besten
Box and Folder Listing
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Biographical Information, Activities, 1949-1988],
[
Series 2: Sermonic Material, Sermons and Outlines],
[All]
- Series 1: Biographical Information, Activities --- 1949-1988
- Box 1
- Folder 1: Biographical information from Fuller Theological Seminary --- 1986
- Folder 2: Biographical diary of Harold Padding on preaching and clinic tour, Baissa, Africa --- 1957
- Folder 3: Diplomas from Calvin College --- 1949, 1952
- Folder 4: Eulogy and remembrance --- 1988
- Folder 5: Fuller Theological Seminary, "Bulletin" featuring Den Besten --- Summer 1986
- Folder 6: Fuller Theological Seminary Provost, Press release --- October 7, 1985
- Folder 7: Medical Missionary
- Folder 8: Medical Report in AORN Journal by Den Besten
- Folder 9: Medicine and religion - collected articles and press clippings
- Folder 10: Mission Conference speaker, program --- 1969
- Folder 11: Mission field reports to sponsoring church --- 1957, 1959
- Folder 12: Mission report on Takum Christian Hospital, letter
- Folder 13: Retreat notes of speech by H. Jellema --- May 1954
- Folder 14: Seminary notes on TT Introduction --- Summer 1952
- Folder 15
- Item 1: Address: Funeral. Homily in memory of W. M. Morton
- Item 2: Address: Funeral sermon for Betsie Reinders
- Folder 16
- Item 1: Address: Christian Service
- Item 2: Address: Differing challenges of private and public education
- Item 3: Address: The edge of adventure
- Item 4: Address: The edge of adventure revisited
- Item 5: Address: First impression
- Item 6: Address: I dare you --- October 1, 1955
- Item 7: Address: Marriage (outline)
- Item 8: Address: Our challenges are our embarrassment (outline)
- Item 9: Address: Studies in the dying experience --- January 1977
- Item 10: Address: Tension
- Folder 17: The Bananer, one copy --- April 11, 1970
- Folder 18: Chapel talks and wedding address
- Folder 19: Correspondence --- 1967-1968
- Folder 20: Ecumenical movement by Rev. L. Hodgson, brochure --- 1950
- Folder 21: Paper, The fundamental principle of Calvinism
- Folder 22: Poems collected
- Folder 23: Press clippings on medicine and theology
- Folder 24: Women in office issue articles
- Series 2: Sermonic Material, Sermons and Outlines
- Box 2
- Folder 1: Abraham
- Folder 2: Abraham
- Folder 3: Cause of Christ
- Folder 4: Christ with us, Matthew 28:20b, June 23 --- 1984
- Folder 5: The earth our spaceship, Genesis 1:28
- Folder 6: First impressions, I Corinthians 1:18
- Folder 7: Fourfold petition, Psalm 139:23,24
- Folder 8: God or gods, Joshua 24:16-18
- Folder 9: God
- Folder 10: Go forward, Exodus 14:15
- Folder 11: Good works, Ephesians 2:10
- Folder 12: Guilty silence, John 1:5c
- Folder 13: Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37
- Folder 14: Helping Hand or hound of heaven, Psalm 119:7-10
- Folder 15: Israel
- Folder 16: John
- Folder 17: Little Faith, Acts 12:1-23
- Folder 18: Ninth Commandment, Exodus 20
- Folder 19: One question, three answers, Matthew 27:22,24,54
- Folder 20: Other sheep, John 10:1-19
- Folder 21: Paul
- Folder 22: Paul
- Folder 23: Peter
- Folder 24: Problem of time, Proverbs 16:9. Reactions --- September 17, 1972
- Folder 25: Prodigal Son, Luke 22:1-14
- Folder 26: Radical Surgery, Matthew 5:30
- Folder 27: Redemption of creation, Romans 8:10-22
- Folder 28: Revelation and inspiration, II Peter 1:21
- Folder 29: Source of power, I Samuel 1:9-10
- Folder 30: Three courts (The Temple of the Soul) I Corinthians 4:3,4
- Folder 31: We are not our own, Roman 14:8
- Folder 32: Worthy worship, Psalm 95:6,7
Browse by Series:
[
Series 1: Biographical Information, Activities, 1949-1988],
[
Series 2: Sermonic Material, Sermons and Outlines],
[All]
