HDC exists to equip deacons, church members, and partners to participate in God’s work of transforming lives and communities.

Core Values

PARTNERSHIP

We are committed to encouraging diaconates, local congregations, and community partners to work together combining resources and efforts to more effectively address and support shared diaconal concerns and projects (Acts 4: 32-35).

JUSTICE

God calls us to restore and reconcile broken relationships (2 Corinthians 5:16-19) through the pursuit of justice (Micah 6:8).

COMPASSION

We are motivated by and committed to demonstrating Christ’s compassion for the vulnerable, poor, and suffering in our communities and in the world (1 John 3:16-19).

Goals

ENGAGING COMMUNITY

HDC will encourage each diaconate and church to join in God’s transforming work in their communities.

EQUIPPING DEACONS

HDC will serve as a link to available teaching, training, encouragement, and partnerships for deacons and diaconal ministries from congregations and communities within Classis Holland.

DOING JUSTICE

HDC will equip and encourage deacons and congregations to act on justice issues affecting vulnerable, poor, and suffering people in their communities.

History

The Holland Deacons’ Conference has been quietly serving the Holland community since the 1940s.

It became legally incorporated as its own charitable entity in 1980. HDC exists to encourage, support, and equip deacons, church members, and partners to collaborate in Christ-like acts of mercy, justice, and compassion that transform lives and communities. To that end, HDC has been at the forefront of helping to meet significant human needs in Ottawa County and beyond. Some examples of our work include:

• Concerned about the increasing incidence of domestic violence, HDC helped establish the Hospitality House in 1979, a domestic violence shelter that served hundreds of women and children each year. Several years ago, HDC decided to sell the Hospitality House due to the availability of other community resources and other changes.

• Seeing a need to provide a supportive and nurturing Christian living environment for adults with developmental disabilities, HDC launched its adult foster care ministry. Five licensed adult foster care homes now comprise the heart of this ministry. Trained and compassionate Christians provide residents with needed supports and opportunities to live meaningful, active, and productive lives.

• Responding to an urgent need in the community for quality and affordable Christian preschool and childcare, HDC helped establish Lakeshore Little People’s Place (LLPP) in 1996. LLPP consists of a network of four licensed centers that serves hundreds of children and area families. A separate scholarship fund supported by HDC helps families facing economic hardship to afford tuition.

• In 2001, HDC helped establish the Holland Free Health Clinic. This separate nonprofit provides access to health services for those in need with a mission to express the healing ministry of Jesus Christ.

• HDC became one of the founders of Buen Pastor Ministries (BPM) in 1989. BPM has been ministering to migrant families for over 25 years with a focus on early childhood programs in an atmosphere that embodies Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd. HDC also supports World Renew, an organization that serves the United States and the world as the development, disaster response, and justice arm of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.

• Through these efforts and others, the Holland Deacons’ Conference is committed to demonstrating Christ’s compassion for the vulnerable, poor, and suffering in our communities and the world (1 John 3:16–19).

Jim started with HDC in September 2023 after a career of over 33 years in education.  He taught math and physics in Christian schools near Los Angeles and Chicago before becoming a teacher and administrator in two Michigan public school districts.  Raised on a dairy farm in Montana, Jim graduated from Manhattan Christian School and earned a B.A. from Calvin College.  He later earned an M.S. in Teaching degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership from Grand Valley State University.  Throughout his career, Jim has been an advocate for students with disabilities seeking to help them reach their highest potential.  His broad experience is valuable preparation for the work with Brothers and Sisters Homes.

Jim and his wife, Mary, have three daughters, Heather, Rachel, and Ashley.  Jim and Mary are members of Saugatuck CRC where Jim has served as Elder and Mary as Deacon.  They have a home in the country near Fennville where Jim enjoys cooking on his kamado grill.

Fun fact:  Jim is a licensed school bus driver.  He completed his first CDL test many years ago in the parking lot of the Rose Bowl.