This year’s annual Kuyper Conference put on by Calvin University will take place in Jakarta, Indonesia, March 13-15 with the theme: “Reforming Always and Everywhere: Neo-Calvinism and the Reformed Tradition in Historical and Global Perspective.” Focused on the global growth of Neo-Calvinism, the stream of Calvinist thought represented by Dutch theologian Abraham Kuyper that applies the teaching of John Calvin to all aspects of life, the event will include recognizing evangelist Stephen Tong as the 2025 recipient of the Kuyper Prize.
Named for Abraham Kuyper, the prize was established in 1998 and is awarded to recipients demonstrating excellence in Reformed theology in public life.
Tong founded Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International and is a minister in Jakarta who has preached across Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and the Americas. His work mirrors Kuyper’s legacy, including contributions to the church and arts. His contributions have strengthened the Reformed tradition across Southeast Asia.
Jordan Ballor, Kuyper Conference coordinator, said Greg Elzinga, president of Calvin University, and Jul Medenblik, president of Calvin Theological Seminary, who are responsible for the recipient selection, “really respect what he (Tong) has accomplished over his lifetime and wanted to honor that.”
Ballor said Kuyper, who worked in many spheres, including education in the church, politics, and journalism, “is famous for talking about all the different areas of life where we need to be faithful to God. They (the presidents) picked someone who was like Kuyper, in the way that he had a focus on the church, but also a focus on culture and the arts, and has a real heart for evangelism.”
The conference will be hosted by the Reformed Evangelical Church Jakarta at the Reformed Millennium Center. This is only the second time since 2018 that the conference is taking place outside of Grand Rapids. Before 2018, it was previously hosted at Princeton Theological Seminary. In 2023, it took place at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ont. Ballor said the hope is to continue going international every other year. The Kuyper Conference, an academic conference that includes short papers, panel discussions, plenary lectures, and presentations, is administered by Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary.
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Kristen Parker is a freelance writer. She has a passion for words and creativity. Kristen and her husband Chris, enjoy board games and thrift shopping. They attend Stratford CRC in Stratford, Ont.