In Memoriam: Rev. Dr. Donald (Don) J. Griffioen

Throughout his years as a pastor, church planter, and home missionary, Don Griffioen was heavily involved in seeking social justice, including in local and national civil rights movements. He worked hard to help bring churches together to become more racially diverse and inclusive. Until the day he died, May 26 at age 92, Don continued to encourage all people to love one another and to see the good in all people, focusing on similarities rather than differences.

Don graduated from Calvin College (now University) and Seminary, then studied an additional year at Westminster Seminary in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1984, Don received his Doctorate of Ministry from Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, Calif.

After ordination in 1958 Don served Madison Avenue Christian Reformed Church in Paterson, N.J. In 1964 he was called by Christian Reformed Home Missions (now part of Resonate Global Mission) to be regional missionary for the East coast, focusing on church planting in New York and New Jersey. He then became missionary-at-large for the Grand Rapids Board of Evangelism, later becoming director of Grand Rapids Area Ministries. In this capacity, Don worked for 25 years at Baxter Community Center—a health and educational hub in Grand Rapids—serving as chaplain to the Baxter staff and volunteers and working with area churches within the city. He also worked actively with the Spanish CRC church and the Vietnamese Reformed Christian church in Grand Rapids. From 1993 until retirement in 1997, Don pastored Archer CRC in Chicago, Ill.

For the next 17 years Don had a post-retirement ministry as a special transitional minister, serving 18 different congregations across the U.S. He and his wife, Martheen, enjoyed serving the churches and all the travels they experienced together. Don retired for the second time at age 80.

Predeceased by a son and by Martheen, his wife of 63 years, Don is survived by two children and their spouses, nine grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.