In Memoriam: Rev. Scott A. DeVries

Scott DeVries had a calm demeanor and shared his strengths of patience, strategic thinking, and curiosity with the world around him. He had a great love for the church and his community. At his memorial service, two of his brothers testified to Scott’s love for others. “Scott exemplified love. He exemplified how to show Christ’s love to others,” said one. “Scott had a self-giving, self-sacrificing love for others,” said the other. “He was a Jesus follower. He knew, when you boil it all down, only these remain: faith, hope, and love—but the greatest of these is love.” Scott, 47, died April 27, just five weeks after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

“Those of us who had the privilege of conversing with Scott during the final weeks of his life witnessed the steady courage and unswerving trust that characterized Scott throughout his illness,” said Zachary King, general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. “That courage and trust was rooted in Jesus Christ and his unshakable promises to Scott and all his people.”

Scott first earned an engineering degree from Michigan State University before being called to ministry and graduating from Calvin Theological Seminary. Ordained in 2008, he pastored West Olive (Mich.) CRC and Bethany CRC in Holland, Mich. Then, from 2016 to 2018, he was ministries coordinator for Classis Holland, after which he held positions in denominational ministry. At the end of 2022 he was appointed director of synodical services, a position he held at the time of his death.

An avid reader, Scott was also an adventurer who enjoyed the beauty of God's creation through backpacking, fishing, camping, hiking, and skiing.

Scott is survived by his wife, Sara, and two teenage children, to whom he was a dedicated husband and loving father.