Einink, Bernard H. (1865-1949) | Heritage Hall, Hekman Library

Bernard H. Einink was one of the few early Christian Reformed ministers born in America. His parents came from Gelderland, the Netherlands, and lived in Clymer, New York. Bernard was born in Clymer on September 18, 1865.

The Eininks joined the Dutch Reformed Church. However, when the lodge question became an acute issue a small group of twenty families, including the Eininks, organized a Christian Reformed Church. Although this small congregation did not have a long history, it did have one son enter the ministry.

When Bernard made profession of faith, at the age of eighteen, he expressed a desire to become a minister. In 1886, the Curatorium of the Theological School in Grand Rapids accepted him and H. Walkotten. In 1893, he graduated and, on September 17, was ordained as pastor of the congregation in Jenison, Michigan.

The Lafayette, Indiana, Christian Reformed Church called him 1894. This congregation of United Presbyterian origin enjoyed peace and progress during the Einink ministry that ended in 1902. From Lafayette, Rev. Einink moved to Roseland (see two letters) and later to First Muskegon in 1909. The second largest congregation of the denomination of that time was Central Avenue, Holland, Michigan, which called him in 1915. His last church was in Ellsworth, Michigan, where he served energetically and faithfully from 1924 until 1934. The final years of his life (until 1949) were marked with illness and losses—a fractured hip in 1937 incapacitated him, a severe stroke came in 1940, the loss of a son, and the loss of his wife (see Nellie Spyken) in 1946.

Rev. Einink wholeheartedly served not only his congregation but also the denomination. He was stated clerk of a classis and curator of the school. He was active in the Christian school movement.

Bernard H. Einink passed away March 21, 1949.