This month, several pastors will reach their 40th anniversary in office. These are the following six ministers: Rev S. Otten, Dr J. Bosch, Rev P.D.J. Buijs, Rev K. Hoefnagel, Dr J. van 't Spijker and Dr G. van 't Spijker.
On 7 June, Rev S. Otten (1954) celebrated 40 years as pastor. He has served in the congregations of Winschoten (1985-1992), Rotterdam-Zuid (1992-2005), Assen (2005-2015) and Papendrecht (2015-2021). He has been emeritus since 2021.
On 14 June D.V., Drs J. Bosch (1959) will have been a pastor for 40 years. He has served in the congregations of Surhuisterveen (1985-1991), Deventer (1991-1996) and Groningen (2009-2016), and has been attached to Bunde-Meerssen since 2016.
On 14 June D.V., Rev P.D.J. Buijs (1961) will have been a pastor for 40 years. He has served in the congregations of Zwaagwesteinde (1985-1991), Veenendaal-Pniël (1991-2003), Harderwijk (2003-2011) and Ede (2011-2017), and has been attached to Nunspeet since 2017. Rev Buijs was also the president of the last General Synod.
On 19 June D.V., Rev K. Hoefnagel (1949) will have been pastor for 40 years. He has served in the congregations of Nieuwpoort (1985-1990), Dundas (of the Free Reformed Churches of North-America, 1990-1997), Katwijk aan Zee (1997-2011) and Meerkerk (2011-2019). He has been emeritus since 2019.
On 21 June D.V., Dr J. van 't Spijker (1960) will have been a pastor for 40 years. He has served in the congregations of Nieuw-Amsterdam (1985-1991), Zwijndrecht (1991-1996) and Hoogeveen (2005-2011). From 1997 to 2005, he was in missionary service in Mozambique. In 2011, he joined TUA fully. In 2021, he received his PhD on his thesis 'To Participate in God's Mission: Looking for an ecclesial structure to be a witnessing church today'.
On 27 June D.V., Rev G. van 't Spijker (1943) will have been a pastor for 40 years. He has served in the congregations of Zutphen (1985-1995) and Rotterdam-Oost/Capelle a/d IJssel (1995-2003). Due to illness, he has been on early retirement since 2003.
We would like to warmly congratulate these pastors on this special milestone, and thank them for their many years of service to the church. We sincerely wish them God's blessing in their lives and continued work.
