Malachi Verwys

Iam a senior at the High School and this is my 9th year attending Potter’s House. Next year I plan to attend Calvin University, studying political science. When I first came to Potter’s House as a shy 4th grader, I joined Mr. Van’s 4/5thgrade class. The friendships that I was able to make in this classroom have stuck with me to this day. My various experiences both in academics and extracurriculars at Potter’s House have shaped me into the person I am now.

In the classroom, an environment of open discussion and curiosity created a place where my beliefs could be challenged and explored. This year, I had the opportunity to take a class about C.S. Lewis. It was taught by Mr. Cole, who has been teaching at the high school for 20 years. This class thought through the philosophy of Christianity and developed arguments for its existence, helping me to a deeper faith in God.

Through basketball and other extracurriculars, I learned how to dedicate myself to a team and compete in a healthy manner. My interactions with the teachers and staff have allowed me to see what sacrificial love looks like on a daily basis. We start every day at the High School by saying “The greatest among us will be a servant, go be great today.” and the teachers live this out every single day.

Among the teachers, Mr. Clark leads by example. This year, I met with Mr. Clark in his office to discuss the upcoming basketball season. During this meeting, he offered to continue his tradition of training basketball players early before school. That fall you could find my brother and I training every morning at 6 am in the gym with Mr. Clark. Mr. Clark is a busy person, often working 16-hour days during the basketball season. However, his willingness to sacrifice his time even before the basketball season to train me is a prime example of how he exemplifies servant leadership. Not only has this shown me how someone can show Christ’s sacrificial love day to day, but also how backing up your words with action is key to being a person of integrity.

But undoubtedly, my biggest takeaway is the diverse cultural community at Potter’s House, which is united by Christ. As seen by the many flags in the procession, it is possible to have a conversation with someone from Ukraine and turn the corner and talk with someone from Sub-Saharan Africa. Our diverse cultural background strengthens the faith we have in Christ while allowing our differences to glorify God all the more. If God’s Kingdom is a beautiful tapestry, we are the multi-colored threads woven collectively with Christ, who is the strand that fastens us together.

This section list gifts that are donated in memory of a loved one or in honor of someone special. The blue and bolded names are the honoree followed by the donors’ names underneath.

In Loving Memory of:

Jack L. Buist

Marge Buist

Tom and Carol Buist

Donald Swierenga

Skip (Jerry) Sietsema

John and Judith Benson

Jack Bos

Eric Hull

Brad and Vonnie Lamb

Doug and Judith Lipinski

Wes and Chris Mepyans

Robert and Mary Jo Schierbeek

Mark and Debra Seitsema

Randall and Linda VanEck

Betty Stegink

Evelyn Dykstra

Karla Laninga

New Life Thrift Store

Jack Tiemeyer

Jack and Mary Vandenberg

Pearl Tap

Robert and Taryn Vanderweele

Judie Verhulst

Eric Verhulst

Tamiqua Wright

Rick and Lonnie Ostrander

In Honor of Birthdays:

Dick Antonini

Chris and Lynette Wingeier

Linda Antonini

Chris and Lynette Wingeier

Bruce Osterink

Dale and Marcia Cooper

Thank you to our 20222023 Banquet Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsors

Dave and Joanna Huizenga

Lumbermen's Inc

Jay and Kathleen Morren

Diamond Sponsors

Lois Nagel

John and Lorene Postma

Ross and Suzann VanKlompenberg

Gold Sponsor

James and Nancy Engen

Dan and Magee Gordon

Integrated Packaging Machinery

Brad and Vonnie Lamb

Plante Moran

Wyser Innovative Products LLC

The John Booy Heritage Circle is composed of individuals who are dedicated to supporting our students in becoming resilient followers of Jesus by including a bequest to The Potter’s House in their estate planning. It is a critical part of building longterm financial stability for The Potter's House.

Become A Member

We invite you to join the John Booy Heritage Circle. It is as simple as notifying us of your planned gift intention. If additional expertise is needed in developing or updating your will, we will be happy to provide you with the services of the Barnabas Foundation at no cost to you. Barnabas will not only help with structuring legacy gifts but also act as a conduit for charitable contributions. For more information, please call our Advancement Office at 616-241-5220.

Jbhc Member Benefits

- Invitation to the annual John Booy Heritage Circle luncheon.

- Free access to ALL Potter's House events, including plays and sporting events.

- Reserved gala sections.

- Appreciation gifts upon receiving the Statement of Commitment.

- The assurance of knowing that you’re giving a gift that will “keep on giving” into the future to raise resilient followers of Christ.

$300K needed by June 30 to complete our budget!

$6.3 MILLION ALREADY RAISED