Archives: News Stories

Attending a liberal arts college changed the life of Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra, who was the first in his family to attend college. And that is why he works to do the same for Trinity’s students, Dykstra shared as a part of a wide-ranging conversation on the recent podcast, “Rebuilding the American Dream.”

“My college years were so incredibly impactful on my life,” said Dykstra. “Obviously, I met my wife in those years, so that is first and foremost. But it was such an amazing experience where I discovered the world of ideas, and it was very much a pivot point in my own life. So that is probably the underlying and undergirding point of why I do this job–to give our students those kinds of opportunities, because I know what my life was like pre-college and post-college. And those were very different things.”

Speaking with podcast host Seth Gummere, vice president at Degree Insurance, Dykstra also talked about his fairly unconventional path to becoming a college president. Before joining Trinity in July 2015, he served as mayor of the City of Holland, Mich., and as senior vice president and community president of Mercantile Bank of Michigan. Dykstra also was a part-time faculty member at Hope College and served on the board of Northwestern College (Orange City, Iowa), his alma mater. He is a former judicial law clerk for the Honorable Ann Walsh Bradley of the Wisconsin Supreme Court and practiced law for 15 years at two National Law Journal 250 firms.

He also spoke about Trinity’s vision for educating students. “We try to nurture and shape the totality of the human person that then impacts the totality of the places in which they live,” he said. As just one example, Dykstra talked about the recent reworking of the College’s core curriculum Foundations courses. “We’ve tried to align in a more interdisciplinary focus and way that allows those courses to have actual connections into major and minor areas of study that students are interested in.”

He also shared his vision of leadership, quoting Max De Pree, best-selling author and chairman and CEO of furniture maker Herman Miller, Inc. “The first job of a leader is to define reality, the last is to say thank you. And in the middle, a leader is to be a servant. I’ve tried to embody those principles.”

In keeping with the theme of the podcast, Dykstra also talked about his vision of the American dream. “The American dream is about freedom. It’s about opportunity. And it’s about the ability to seize life and see where life takes you,” he said. “The beauty of this country is that if you born in a spot, you are not destined to remain there if you don’t want to be. And yes, it takes a lot of work; yes, good fortune gets involved; yes opportunity is so incredibly vital.”

He also shared the advice he gives young people, even as he admitted that his advice can seem contradictory. “First of all, essentially play the odds. Is it absolutely guaranteed that if you go to college and get a four-year degree, you will have earning capacity in excess of multiple hundreds to a million dollars that you did not? No, we can all think of counterexamples to that. But the stats are there for a reason,” he said. “And yet while doing that, be attentive to those important moments that in some ways might defy the odds. Be open to that strange opportunity that doesn’t seem like it should be the path that would normally be taken, but something is there. And those hinge or pivot points can be catalysts for incredible opportunities, incredible things that happen later in life.”

“Rebuilding the American Dream” podcast introduces thought leaders who are shaping the lives of the next generation, to discuss the challenges and innovations shaping higher education and how it can adapt to give students a strong foundation for their futures.

You can listen to the entire episode here.

Every year, the world unites for a celebration of generosity on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving. And the Trinity community joyfully responded to this year’s Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30, through gifts that directly support our students to continue living out their dreams on Trinity’s campus. In 24 hours, more than 100 donors came together to raise more than $17,000!

Their donations help students like Trinity seniors Jessica and Ryan, who shared their stories about what brought them to the College and what they love most about this place throughout Giving Tuesday.

“Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Giving Tuesday campaign,” said Marissa Kunkel, Trinity’s annual giving officer. “We are deeply grateful for all the alumni, friends, parents, faculty, staff, and students who answered the call to give.”

—Patricia Yang ’25

Flashing lights. Eerie music. Thrilling swordplay. Moving trees. Bloody daggers. Bubbling cauldron. Chanting. Prophecy. Murder. It was magical, malevolent, and magnificent—it was “Macbeth,” one Shakespeare’s dark and terrifying tragedies, and Trinity’s Theatre Department’s Fall Mainstage performance.

The skin-tingling and electrifying play was a 90-minute version of “Macbeth,” directed by Professor Kim Darling. She had worked on the original script over the summer, carefully scrutinizing each line, making sure that all the key parts were still included, but still made sense. “This was the first time performing Shakespeare for most of the actors, so I wanted to keep the script manageable for only nine weeks of rehearsal,” said Darling. “I also wanted to provide a reasonable run time for an audience who hasn’t been to live theatre in nearly two years.”

“I have a deep love and appreciation for Shakespeare and “Macbeth” has many scenes and lines that are part of our present-day culture,” said Darling. She loved the fact that the play, despite being over 400 years old, still held great relevance to people’s lives today. “We see images of violence and death almost daily, and we wonder why? Who is to blame? Shakespeare’s most direct and action-packed play speaks eloquently to the cause and consequence of sin, the importance of a higher purpose, and the choices we all face.”

The inspiration of this Macbeth interpretation came from the Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Darling’s vision incorporated several of the Globe-inspired elements to provide a similar experience for this audience. “These elements included a thrust stage configuration, a two-story set modeled after Shakespeare’s Globe, live sound and music, direct interaction between the actors and audience, and a jig at the end of the play,” said Darling. She added, “In my vision, the true horror in the play is not that Macbeth kills the king but the recognition of our own humanity in Macbeth’s actions.”

Darling was grateful to work with the designers for the various parts of the performance, as well as all the cast and crew members of the theatre department. “We felt such powerful electricity onstage, and we were grateful to do this work from within our faith lives,” she expressed. “I feel privileged to have worked with such a talented and dedicated cast and crew.”

Her favorite part was working within the Christian context, where she and everyone else worked to incorporate and integrate their faith into the art of theatre. “I believe the stage holds a powerful opportunity to embody truth as we explore the struggles of being human and the even greater storyline of humanity: a story of brokenness, love, rescue, and lasting victory,” said Darling.

The theme for the theatre department this year is “Resilience and Rebirth.” “Macbeth” is dark, bloody, and foreboding—yet at the end there is a light of hope. “In the final battle,” explained Darling, “Macduff casts out evil with one fell swoop of his sword, restoring order to Scotland and declaring the time to be free. How do we emerge from the chaos of the world around us? How do we cling to hope through despair? How do we shift our focus from our finitude and frailty to God’s enduring mercy and grace? I was captivated by many of Shakespeare’s insights in “Macbeth,” and I hope our audience also finds this to be true as they reflect on our production and theme this year.”

As the play ended, Macbeth’s crown gleamed in the light as it was held high by MacDuff. The tyrant of Scotland was slain, and now the country could rest. The lights fade away as Malcolm, the new king of Scotland, looked on with a fire in his eyes. The crown, resting upon his head, gave one last glimmer—a glimmer of hope.

—Patricia Yang ’25

Christmastide, a long-standing Trinity tradition, is quickly coming up on Dec. 4! For more than 20 years, the whole of the Music Department, including choirs and instrumental ensembles, join together to perform a grand music concert for all. This year will also include a faculty-staff music ensemble, which is a fairly new addition to Christmastide.

All participating ensembles:

Concert Choir
Gospel Choir
Honors Ensemble
Wind Ensemble
Jazz Ensemble
Chamber Music
Brass Ensemble
Faculty-Staff Music Ensemble

In addition to each ensemble, all three choirs will combine to sing a song together, alongside faculty, staff, and alumni of Trinity. The Brass Ensemble will play some Christmas carols with Professor Minkyoo Shin, Ph.D., on the organ.

Dr. Mark Peters, professor of music, expressed his excitement of performing live and in-person again. “We are very glad to be back in-person for our concerts this year,” he said. Last year, Christmastide was performed entirely online through a series of student recordings focused on the theme of “hope.”

This year’s theme for Christmastide is “Let Heaven and Nature Sing.” “For that theme,” said Peters, “we are entering into that joy of being back together, so we’re exploring the ways that we as people, but also the whole creation, praise God.”

Come watch the Christmastide event on December 4 and reserve tickets here. More information on Christmastide 2021 can be found here.

The Lincoln Laureate Student Awards honor Illinois college seniors for their leadership and service in bettering humanity and for their excellence in their academic and extracurricular work. And this year, Trinity is pleased to announce that Evie Dykhouse ’22 has been named the College’s Lincoln Laureate. 

For Dykhouse, who is double majoring in theology and communication arts with a concentration in media studies, the award came as a surprise. “I was honored to be selected,” said Dykhouse, a native of Byron Center, Mich.  

While Lincoln Laureates are typically recognized in a ceremony in Springfield, that tradition has been altered because of COVID. So, the Trinity community applauded Dykhouse during halftime of the men’s basketball game against University of St. Francis (Ind.) during Fall Fest. 

Along with maintaining excellent grades, Dykhouse is deeply involved on campus. She serves as a representative for the Student Government Association, as a tutor at the Writing Center, and as a prayer team leader. She is also, in her words, “incredibly involved” with Trinity’s Theatre program, working in the box office and as president of Theatre Club. Along with directing a one-act play earlier this semester, Dykhouse is part of the Fall Mainstage Production “Macbeth,” acting in the role of one of the witches and handling hair and makeup.  

Dykhouse also sets herself apart by how she serves, according to Trinity’s Lincoln Laureate Committee. “Evie is an empathetic, kind, and thoughtful leader who is committed to the betterment of others. She demonstrates a generosity of spirit that is marked by humility and worthy of admiration. Her peers respect her deeply and Trinity’s campus is a better place for her having been a student in this community,” the committee noted. 

When she came to campus as a freshman, Dykhouse wasn’t planning to major in either communication arts or theology. Instead, she was considering pursuing a psychology degree. “But I fell in love with communications,” she said. In the summer of 2020, in the midst of COVID, she decided to add a second major in theology. “I’ve gone to Christian schools my entire life,” she said. “I wanted to inform my morals going to work in the media world, which is known for being more secular. The theology degree has allowed me to think in different ways. It’s the best decision I ever made.” 

When Dykhouse graduates in May, she plans to pursue a job in the broadcast field.  

The annual Lincoln Academy Student Laureate Ceremony recognizes excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities by seniors from each of the state’s four-year, degree-granting colleges and universities, and one student from the community colleges in Illinois. 

Trinity Christian College Lincoln Laureates  

2020—Ross Barz
2019—Indira Escalante 
2018 – Mallory Boyce 
2017 – R. Josiah Rosario 
2016 – Courtney Kalous 
2015 – Hallie Wisse 
2014 – David (Woody) Lucas 
2013 – Megan Anderson 
2012 – Adam Perez 
2011 – Alberto LaRosa 
2010 – Joseph Wydra 
2009 – Jon Vander Woude 
2008 – Caitlin Fillmore 
2007 – Elizabeth VanderSpek 
2006 – Allison Backous 
2005 – Erin Marshalek 
2004 – Rachel Van Oort 
2003 – Yvana Hansen 
2002 – Evan VanderZee 
2001 – Nate Bosch 
2000 – Laurie Johnson 
1999 – Hanna Vancer Zee 
1998 – Kristen Devine 
1997 – Heidi Boeck 
1996 – Julie Tinklenberg 
1995 – Keri Dyksterhouse 
1994 – Mark Mulder 
1993 – Kristen Hart 
1992 – Sarah Ver Velde 
1991 – Aron Reppmann 
1990 – Nathan Van Der Male 
1989 – Drew Sweetman 
1988 – Erik Hoekstra 
1987 – Kimberly Dykema 
1986 – Edward Wiener, Jr.  

—By Patricia Yang ’25

It had been a very long time since Trinity’s theatre department has performed live, in-person, in the Black Box of the ArCC (Arts and Communication Center), in front of an eager audience. But this year was a step back to that: the 16th Annual Student-Directed One-Acts brought life into the Black Box on October 22 and 23!

Three unique plays were scrutinized, selected, carefully rehearsed and brought to life for this year’s One-Acts: “Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz,” by Steve and Kathy Hotchner; “Visitor from Forest Hills,” by Neil Simon; and “One Lane Bridge,” by Stephen Gregg. With each having its own fascinating and personal style, these selections gave everyone their own set of challenges, fun, and memories. All three plays also tied back to the Theatre Department’s theme for the 2021-2022 season: “Resilience and Rebirth,” a phrase loaded with the hope of returning to normalcy, determination to move forward, and finding new ways to perform on-stage.

Professor Emma Schneider ‘19, theatre’s program coordinator since September 2020, was beyond thrilled to have this experience come around after the trying times of COVID. She, along with the directors and some actors of the One-Acts, joyfully relayed their experience.

How does it feel having performance in-person again?
“Oh, it feels so good. It’s been since November 2019 that we had an in-person performance… So being able to be back in person feels like a return to normalcy in some ways. Even though the pandemic is still here and we’re still making accommodations, it felt really meaningful to get back to a place where we could see live theatre, in person, indoors again.” —Schneider

“It is amazing to be back indoors for theater performances. In the past year we’ve come up with creative alternatives to indoor in person theater which were still pleasant experiences; however, there’s nothing quite like being back in the black box.” — Matthew Huizenga ‘24, actor, “Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz” and “Visitor from Forest Hills”

“It felt amazing to perform in person again. I was blessed enough to perform in person for my last musical during my senior year of high school, but we had to do it in masks and that was a lot. But it was fun to perform in this show without masks in front of a big audience. It brought me a lot of joy to see people so interested in the arts again after being away for so long.” — Michael Moore ‘25, actor, “One Lane Bridge”

“I am unbelievably grateful to have indoor, in-person performances again. While there were interesting challenges to working outdoors, there is nothing quite like having people in the intimate Black Box space to watch a story together. The energy is so much more electric when acting close to the audience; I was glad to have my actors—particularly in a comedic play—act in this space.” — Alexandria Eggert ‘22, director, “Visitor from Forest Hills”

“My favorite part was the first day where we got to know one another and learn who our characters are. We read the script and made some inside jokes that I will never forget!” — Mariel Martin ‘23, actress, “Visitor from Forest Hills”

What were some memorable or favorite parts of the process?
“My favorite part of directing was meeting new people and seeing everyone grow in their skills. I really enjoyed being the introduction that many of these students had to Trinity Theatre as well. I had so much fun with the cast and crew of my production, and it was an honor and a joy to see them lean into their roles and produce an amazing show. We made a lot of friendships in a very short amount of time.” — Evie Dykhouse ’22, director, “Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz”

“My favorite part of this whole process was working with my fellow cast members. Since the cast was small we got to all know each other fairly quickly! There were a couple of times we would get done early with rehearsal and just have tea times or talk about our lives. By the end of the production, I felt like I’d gained a new family. And I am extremely grateful for the experience.” — Moore

“The most memorable part of my directing experience would be getting to know the actors in my cast and being able to also act alongside them. My cast had a lot of people who were new to Trinity Theatre, and it was great to get to know them and introduce them to our traditions.” — Ryan VanGilst ‘22, director, “One Lane Bridge”

“My favorite part was probably sitting in on each of the rehearsals. I get to see these plays at lots of different steps of their processes. I really loved going to each of the plays when they were in the middle of their work. It feels really special, because it’s like watching something grow up, in a way. It’s really cool to see how their ideas on paper were coming to fruition.” — Schneider

“The experience felt memorable being the first time I’ve directed a play before. As an actor first, being on the other side of the process has given me a more rounded understanding of theatre. I would even say that it’s more nerve wracking as a director than an actor. I remember walking out of the green room being more scared than I ever have before, realizing that stepping out of that room I had done everything I could. It was all out of my hands, what happened on the stage that night was now in the hands of my actors. I shouldn’t have been that nervous, though. My actors made me so incredibly proud to have my name attached to that production. After so much dedicated work, they performed better than I could have hoped for.” — Eggert

“I really enjoyed playing the role of the Tin Man in the “Wizard of Oz” – it was really fun to just randomly burst out in tears on stage and hear the audience roar in laughter.” — Huizenga

 What were some challenges you faced?
“Something that was challenging for me and this production was learning how to balance theater with my other responsibilities as well as personal life. They are all things that require a lot of my time, so it was at times difficult to make them work together.” — Huizenga

“On the COVID side, it posed some issues in terms of the big question: ‘Can we perform unmasked or not?’ We were really glad though that in the end we were able to! We’re also all having to relearn, revamp our understanding of what it means to do in-person theatre with all the different production elements, with lights, sound, costumes, and the indoor space.” — Schneider

“The most challenging part for me was during performances when I would hear the audience laugh but I could not see the hilarious actions on stage. I just wish there was a way for me to see it!” — Martin

“There were a few challenges that came with this production, some more physical ones in trying to figure out how to fit an actor out of a window, create a door that could withstand quite a beating, and set a blank space as one of the most expensive hotels in New York City. There were also some more soft challenges in making the cast feel cohesive even though Mimsey and Borden are only on stage for a brief moment.” — Eggert

“One Lane Bridge did get off to a slow start because of some casting challenges. The actor pool was smaller than planned this semester which made it hard to cast every role in each show. It took a while to look for someone to act in the missing role. Because of this situation, I had to step into that role in the cast. This presented the new challenge of directing the one act while also acting in it.” — VanGilst

How was your experience with the cast?
“I have never met a group of people who have clicked together so quickly to have a ton of natural chemistry and to have lots of fun together. It was a joy to watch them grow closer together and to grow in their acting abilities. Many of my cast members had not previously done any theatre before, so it was my honor to guide them through rehearsal and performance processes and to get to know all of my cast members as the wonderful people that they are.” — Dykhouse

“Casting was interesting! There were many roles to cast and so many great actors that could fill them. The most particular challenge for me was trying to get a sense of the comedic timing and range of different actors in so little time. I only had the space for about five minutes per actor, so it was very condensed. I was very grateful for advice to come in with a plan for note-taking, because the whole process moves at such an incredibly fast pace.” — Eggert

“My experience was amazing because my cast is so talented, lively, funny, and sweet. Steven Polcyn and Adriana Klein are honestly the most dramatic, hilarious, and nicest people to be around! They brought so much life and energy to Mr. and Mrs. Hubbly that I sometimes actually thought they were going to smash through the bathroom door to get me out. MJ, who played Borden, is so nice and he always has a smile. The first dress rehearsal, I remember him backstage whispering to me ‘Hi, honey’, which made me laugh because it was unexpected. I love them so much because they are always great company, even though conversations take strange and wacky turns. I will always consider them my family, the Hubbly and Isler Family!” — Martin

What are you looking forward to in future performances?
“I am very much looking forward to the musical aspect of next semester‘s Main Stage Production, ‘The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane’!” — Huizenga

“Moving forward, I am the most excited to switch back into my regular role of acting for the future productions. I love all branches of theatre and I feel so grateful to have been able to direct this semester as it was all fun. However, I love acting too and I am excited to return to that familiar space for ‘Macbeth’.” — Dykhouse

“I am looking forward to being on the hair and make-up crew for Macbeth. There are a lot of special effects make-up for the show and I’m excited to show everyone what we have been preparing.” — VanGilst

“The thing that I am looking forward to the most in future performances is what role I get to play next! I am also looking forward to acting in ‘Macbeth’ in a couple of weeks. This is another role that has pushed me as an actor as well!” — Moore

“Come to ‘Macbeth’! It’s going to be a really incredible show.” — Schneider

With the close of the One-Act Plays, another performance is heading up stage. Coming soon is the Theatre Department’s first mainstage play of the 2021-2022 academic year, “Macbeth.” Directed by Kim Darling, this version will include a note of hope, tying in with the Resilience and Rebirth theme. There will also be sword fights, dramatic lights, and murder!

Performances of “Macbeth” are taking place Nov. 12, 13, 19 & 20 at 7:30 pm in the Marg Kallemeyn Theatre in the Arts and Communication Center. Reserve your tickets here to witness one of Shakespeare’s famous tragedies.

— by Patricia Yang ’25

The Dining Hall was alight, active, and alive in the late hours of the night. Students clamored around tables, excitedly decorating cakes, throwing on any (or all) decorations they could find. It’s a competition where the best cake—or the worst–wins. It’s “Nailed It,” the cake-decorating event by STAC (Student Activities), led by sophomores Adriana Klein and Zain Fakhoury.

Inspired by the Netflix show of the same name, “Nailed It” had been hosted last year, when Fakhoury was seeking an activity that was COVID-friendly but still enjoyable and fun. “It was one of the highest turn-ups during COVID,” said Fakhoury. Because of its huge success, Fakhoury was excited to host it again this year with Klein, who loved the idea.

She and Klein had planned this event four weeks in advance, making sure to coordinate with the Dining Hall staff, seeing to it that all supplies were accounted for, and having enough time to set it all up. Even then, little things like forgetting to buy knives for cake decorating tools happened. “I feel that people don’t know how much planning goes into events,” said Fakhoury. “Even the smallest details have to be put into consideration.”

Klein and Fakhoury related that the biggest challenge to hosting this event was keeping the cost of the cakes manageable. “We also wanted the students to have the option of eating their cake, so we had to be cautious of that,” said Klein. They explored seven different bakeries, all of which were above budget. “Adri came up with the idea of going to Sam’s Club and asking them for sheet cakes,” said Fakhoury. “So, we went there, and we came in under budget!”

Fakhoury also mentioned how she had to lead the event that night due to Klein’s involvement with the Theatre Department’s One-Act Plays, which were being performed at the same time. Fakhoury explained: “So I had to actually work the whole event while she was acting.” Next time, said Fakhoury, she hopes that “Nailed It” would be on a different day so this time difference would not need to occur.

But despite all difficulties, both Klein and Fakhoury thoroughly enjoyed the planning process and the event itself. Fakhoury added that she was thrilled how the committee all came together this year to bring the event to life. “We never had that last year,” said Fakhoury. It was a good bit more work to put the event together last year, and this year, Klein and Fakhoury were happy to have help from more people in STAC. They also agreed that the shopping experience for “Nailed It” was a grand time for the both of them. “Planning everything, going on shopping trips, and preparing the ingredients the day of were some highlights for me,” said Klein. “We worked really well together!” Fakhoury added: “Adri’s such a chill person, and I really enjoyed the bonding time we had together. It felt like two friends hanging out, which was really nice.”

“Nailed It” was a blast and simply a thoroughly enjoyable experience for all. The Dining Hall was filled with laughter and chatter as Fakhoury announced the winner and wrapped up the event. “Though at times we were very stressed, everything came together beautifully,” said Klein.

The cake-decorating event inspired by the Netflix show will most definitely come back again next year, as confirmed by both Fakhoury and Klein. “People love it,” smiled Fakhoury. “It’s just a tradition at this point.”

Contact or find out more about the STAC Club through its Instagram page.

The Chicago Bridge Magazine and its podcast, which bridge the gap between the person and public figures in music and entertainment on the Chicago arts scene, recently highlighted Trinity’s Professor of Art & Design John Bakker. Bakker was featured on the cover of the magazine and was the guest speaker on the podcast episode, where host King Hoff introduced Bakker as a “legend in and around the community of Roseland and the state of Illinois.” 

Bakker offered reflections about his Roseland Portrait project, which was created in an effort to represent a community and its imperfect, but real support of one another. For the project, Bakker has set a goal of hand painting 400 portraits of everyday people from the Roseland community, including janitors, EMTs, school teachers, mechanics, cashiers, librarians, nurses, and others. 

The project is a way to tell the stories of ordinary people who make up a real community and address the unconscious white bias that creates a narrative in the news media. “There’s all kinds of good stuff that happens in communities, even communities that are struggling with violence,” Bakker said. “These people get up and go to work every day, they have lives that are interesting. They have the same joys and sorrows. This is representing African-American communities in ways that are ordinary and not extraordinary.” 

Bakker views the project as part of his beliefs as a committed Christian and a professor at Trinity. “The essence of the Christian assertion is that all of us matter because we’re made in God’s image. That’s why I do these portrait projects. The other option is that there is some kind of ranking that some people are more important and some people are less important, and I just frankly reject that.” 

During the podcast, Hoff thanked Bakker for his vision and work.  “It takes a selfless man, and thank you for being someone who is shining a light in the world.”   

The Roseland Portrait project is one of several initiatives that connects Trinity to the neighborhood and is part of a grant from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU). The project has been shared across communities, including at several locations in Roseland, Trinity’s Jennie Huizenga Memorial Library, and the Palos Heights (Ill.) Public Library. Bakker also recently presented a public lecture at the Palos Heights Library about the project, called “Using Art to Build a Community.” The lecture is available here.  

— By Patricia Yang ’25

In the peaceful library loft corner, sitting at the tall round table with tall chairs, Rev. Ben Snoek, Trinity’s new interim campus pastor, told his thoughts, hopes, and excitement about Trinity over the steady rushing of the water fountain below. “Pastor Ben,” as he is already known throughout campus, joined the Trinity community in the Fall 2021 semester, following the retirement of long-time Chaplain and Dean of Spiritual Formation Rev. Willis (Bill) VanGroningen.

Having grown up in the Dutch Reformed community of Holland, Mich., Snoek knew he wanted to work within that circle; as an ordained pastor in the Christian Reformed Church in North America, Trinity’s identity called to him. It was also Trinity’s innovative side—the preference of innovation over tradition—that really drew him in. “Trinity is always trying something new,” said Snoek. “Trinity always wants to have an attitude of saying ‘yes’ to things.” He felt a match in values there.

Before joining Trinity, Snoek served at Asbury University, a small Christian liberal arts university in Kentucky as Assistant Chaplain for Worship, and then Director of University Chapel. Though he is still adjusting to Trinity’s unique community culture, Snoek is beyond excited to jump in and work with faculty and staff. He also desires to connect with all students: “I feel it’s so important to share my life with you,” he said. “It’s so easy for professional and administrative roles at colleges to kind of get buried down in the paperwork… it’s one thing to talk about students, to talk about what they want, to talk about what’s keeping them up at night—it’s another to talk with them, about their hopes, their dreams, their aspirations. I can’t really create systems and structures and programs that you need if I really don’t know what’s going on in your heart.”

Snoek also related how surprised he was with Trinity’s welcoming and warm atmosphere. “Christian colleges have a reputation for being kind and friendly people. Trinity feels different though,” he explained. “The students are eager to collaborate with the faculty and staff and administration, the faculty and staff are willing to work with each other.” Altogether, he surmised, it makes for a place where everyone genuinely cares about each other. Everyone is supportive of one another. “The staff and faculty seem to care a higher degree more about this school,” said Snoek. “That’s really special. I don’t think we should take that for granted.” He said he felt very welcomed and supported, like everyone here really wanted him to succeed. And he is grateful for that.

“I’m really excited to see where God might lead the Campus Ministries office,” said Snoek. Now that Trinity is back in-person despite COVID’s still-roaming presence, Snoek believes it is a good time to start dreaming again and trying new things. He is eager to re-launch in-person chapel after a year of online worship. “We have a really good opportunity here to try to be innovative, to be creative, to see where the Spirit might lead us.”

At first, Snoek did not imagine he would ever be working in ministry. He considered other careers throughout high school—but always, in the back of his mind, he was thinking of ministry. “I just had a moment where I sort of felt that that was something God was calling me to do,” he mused. “I just knew that ministry was something I should follow and pursue.” God really surprised him with this call to ministry; he never expected to be where he is now. “When I came to college, my only picture of ministry was a senior pastor of a megachurch, so I thought, ‘Oh, that must be what I want to do too.’” Yet God had different plans. After working here and there at both small rural and urban megachurches, Snoek was led to Palos Heights Ill., and Trinity.

Snoek earned a B.S. and M.A. from Indiana Wesleyan University and completed ordination studies at Calvin Theological Seminary. Alongside his work as a campus pastor, Snoek is also writing his dissertation for a Ph.D. in systematic and liturgical theology at Columbia International University. “It’s just a fancy way of describing theology from the perspective of worship.” He noted that there were quite a few books on how to lead worship in churches and seminaries, but that was about it. “There’s really no research in what worship looks like in colleges,” said Snoek. “My research is hoping to answer what that sort of stuff looks like.” He loves studying and thinking about worship, yearning to dig deeper beyond musical styles or lights or the sermon. “Worship is a high-stakes activity: worship is where God encounters God’s people, and God’s people actually get to communicate with God.”

Prior to working full time at Trinity, Snoek was a musician and string orchestra composer. He still publishes a bit on occasion. He also worked as a graphic designer in college and actively participated in music ministry, but currently, he is looking for a new hobby. “So, if anyone has recommendations,” said Snoek, “they can send me an email.”

Overall, Snoek is delighted and eager to work more with the Campus Ministries office and all of Trinity. He looks forward to all the spiritual growth and connections to make in the years to come.

Learn more about Snoek and get in contact with him through Trinity’s website or follow him on Instagram.