IN MEMORIAM - Rev. Jeffrey D. Voorhees

1971 – 2008

Rev. Jeffrey D. Voorhees, a pastor with deep love for his parishioners, passionate about his convictions, gifted in song and music, and a loving, dedicated husband and father, passed away at the youthful age of 37. Death came as a result of a traffic accident Nov. 21, 2008.

Voorhees was born Feb. 21, 1971, in Omaha, Neb., the only son of Donald and Barbara Voorhees. He attended West Gate Elementary School, Arbor Heights Middle School, and Westside High School, all in Omaha.

He attended Dordt College, Sioux Center, Iowa, from 1989-1991, and graduated from Creighton University in Omaha in 1994.

Voorhees pursued his theological studies at the Reformed Theological Seminary in Jackson, Miss., which awarded him a master-of-divinity degree in 1997. He then followed the Ministerial Candidacy Program at Calvin Theological Seminary from l997-1998, and married Katie Hodge in 1999.

He became pastor of Pine Creek Christian Reformed Church in Holland, Mich., in 2000. In 2007 he accepted a call from Drenthe (Mich.) CRC.

His untimely death ended that pastorate all too soon.

Voorhees was held in high esteem by the congregations he served. He was a gifted, articulate preacher. His thorough understanding of God's Word was matched by his personal faith conviction and appreciation of the Reformed heritage.

He was passionate about evangelism and church revitalization, topics that were also the focus of his doctoral studies, which he was about to complete.

Voorhees’s lively interest in political and social life added to the depth of spirited discussions of which he was often a participant. A man of joyful spontaneity and loyalty, his company was always appreciated by his colleagues in the ministry.

Voorhees is survived by his parents, by his wife, Katie, and their four young children Calvin, Hannah, Felicity, and Gabriel.