SPRING 2015 | Vol. 24, No. 1

P U B L I S H E D S E M I A N N U A L L Y B Y T H E C L C N E T W O R K A D V A N C E M E N T O F F I C E

You need to walk quickly to keep up with Pierce. He’s one of West Side Christian School’s hardest workers, and one of the fastest. When he and Reuben Van Til, West Side Christian’s custodian, get together, it’s all business… and Pierce clearly loves it.

Depending on the season, Pierce and Mr. Van Til will rake leaves, shovel snow, or work in the garden. “Once it snows, he has his own snow shovel,” Mr. Van Til shares. “Typically at recess he’ll just take that out and clear the sidewalk, without ever being asked.”

Pierce came to West Side Christian in fourth grade, after attend-ing a public school. Right away, he began staying after assemblies to help clear the chairs. His teachers also noticed his interest in working with Mr. Van Til. Kim Mast, paraprofessional, remem-bers,“Pierce would be doing reading, writing, and math. Every time Mr. Van Til rode the tractor or walked by, he was very focused on that. He wanted to see what Mr. Van Til was doing, so we would start watching. That’s how we discovered Pierce’s gifts were in manual work and his interest was in whatever Mr. Van Til was doing.”

The next year, Pierce’s teachers arranged for him to officially work with Mr. Van Til. “It makes school much more enjoyable for Pierce,” Mrs. Mast explains. “Just like gym or art class makes school enjoyable for some kids, this kind of work makes school fun for Pierce… It makes for interesting sentences in writing. If Mr. Van Til is the topic, it really helps. It’s so much more interesting to Pierce than other things.”

“If it’s a snow day, Pierce has tears in his eyes,” shares his mother, Koley Hockeborn. “He wants to go and be part of the school. He’s learning from the other kids, too.” Pierce has a cognitive impair-ment, and was placed in a segregated classroom for his early schooling. A neighbor encouraged his mother to consider West Side Christian for Pierce, noticing that when he was around other kids his ticks and language would improve. After meeting with West Side Christian’s leadership and teachers, “They said they could teach him. It was scary and a big step, but he has improved in leaps and bounds.” Pierce is now reading, he is learning penmanship, and he is doing multiplication.

“The academic piece is hard for Pierce, but his gifts are his strength and hard work,” explains Maria Bultsma, Educational Support Services Coordinator. “This arrangement is really using Pierce’s gifts as best we can. He’s still spending time in class, but he’s using his gifts to do things like distributing the milk, picking up chairs after chapel, and paper recycling. The scheduled days with Mr. Van Til are motivation for him.”

Pierce’s favorite job is riding the tractor. “Last week when we were doing leaves, we’d fill my trailer full of leaves and he rides in the

Celebrating Pierce’s Gifts: A Blessed Partnership

“They said they could teach him. It was scary and a big step,

but he has improved in leaps and bounds.”

continued on page 7

Mr. Van Til and Pierce work together in the storage room at West Side Christian School.

“This kind of work

makes school fun for Pierce.”

2 | SPRING 2015 | INCLUSIVE

Everything must eventually come to an end because as the good book says there is a “time and a season for every activity under heaven” (see Ecclesiastes 3 for details). So it is with my tenure as the Executive Director of the CLC Network. To say it has been a privilege to be entrusted with such a mission as ours for the last 34 years would be an understatement. To know that I have had a direct hand in changing the face of Christian Education first in

over 50 schools through-out Michigan and now across North America is an amazing memory to take along with me as I exit from this post and into semi-retirement.

Please know that this journey was not mine to take alone and has been aided over the years by many, many key people – actually anyone who ever donated resources, volunteered or worked for CLC Network has been “key” because as I always would want to tell folks – “we can’t do it without you”!

However, please indulge my whim here by allowing me to single out five folks for now (a bigger celebration of first generation leadership is planned for October 20, 2015 – please come join us!) who without their counsel, support, leadership and allegiance to me I could not have prospered as CLC Network’s Executive Director.

• Phil Stegink and Doug Bouman were both on staff when I arrived as CLC-N’s new leader back in August, 1981 – and they are still with us today. Both Doug and Phil have been a shining light in my professional life and two of the finest examples of how God calls by name and equips his people for leadership positions. Without their continuous counsel, admonitions, ideas... and stalwart loyalty to both me and the students we serve we could not have prospered as an organization and I could not have coped with being Executive Director for the last 34 years – bravo gents, bravo indeed!

The End – Amen!

• Then if the description of a great Board member is to listen and be supportive as well as defend the organization by doing what you need to do when you have to, one name sticks out among many, many fine and competent Board members and that is Gale Tien. Gale was our Board President for not quite three years in the late “aughts” and needs to be credited by me for setting things into motion that quite literally saved us from going out of business – kudos Gale, kudos indeed!

• I have served alongside many fine Christian School administrators over the years – however two will always stand out in my mind’s eye.

• Bill Gritter who was the Superintendent of the Grand Rapids Christian Schools when I arrived at the tender age of 29 back in 1981 and was assigned as my mentor. To Bill I can only say thanks for believing in me during those early years because you were right, I didn’t know what I was doing!

• Then finally to Bill Van Dyk who had faith enough in a Kingdom vision that was both progressive and risky for the day and still gave us a platform as the Principal at Zeeland Christian back in the fall of 1989 to try this new brand of Special Education known as Inclusion. Without Brother Bill’s irascible commit- ment to that vision in those early years it may never have thrived into the national model that it is today – God bless you Bill!

So that about does it – my last Director’s Corner for the Inclusive. However, I do have one more thing to clear up yet with you all and that has to do with the big reveal. So the picture of me that we have used for all 37 previous issues of the Inclusive (since Spring, 1996) has not changed over the years – so here’s how the “real me” now looks circa Spring, 2015 – God bless!

Shalom, Bear

SAVE THE DATE : TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20 CLC Network’s 35th Anniversary Dinner

Honoring firST-gEnErATion lEADErSHiP, inCluDing r.H. “BEAr” BErEnDS | WATErMArk CounTry CluBVisit clcnetwork.org/dinner for details

“To say it has been a privilege to be entrusted with such a mission as ours for the last 34 years would be an understatement.”

D I R E C T O R ’ S C O R N E R

R.H. “Bear” BerendsMarch, 1996

R.H. “Bear” BerendsMarch, 2015

Phil Stegink and Doug Bouman at a golf outing, circa 1996

Doug Bouman, Bev Van noord, r.H. “Bear” Berends, and Phil Stegink circa 1991

INCLUSIVE | SPRING 2015 | 3

Back in December, Chris and Heather-Lee Wysong challenged CLC Network donors and friends to help send CLC Network’s message of inclusion to church leaders around the country. Chris shares, “Too often, group leaders, volunteers, and pastors lack the training to effectively welcome persons with disabilities into church life. Inclusion and understanding of disabilities needs to be the norm, not the exception.”

Chris and Heather-Lee offered to match all gifts to CLC Network, up to $2,500, on Giving Tuesday (December 2) in order to send Barbara J. Newman to church conferences this spring, to speak about inclusion in churches and provide practical advice to church leaders. Donors responded by giving more than $3,800!

“I was thrilled to be able to introduce the idea of inclusion from a Christian perspective to pastors, church staff, and volunteers who may not have thought about it before,” shares Newman. “This information is so needed by many leaders, and I am grateful to CLC Network donors for helping me make inroads into so many new communities while also supporting communities already welcoming individuals with varied abilities.”

The Wysongs got to know CLC Network and Barbara J. Newman through Zeeland Christian School, where their son Pierce attends and is included socially and academically. At their church, they hoped for the same level of inclusion for Pierce, who has autism spectrum disorder.

“We attend a large church with someone designated to help those with special needs,” explains Chris. “Even with that commitment from the church, getting one-on-one help so that Pierce can partic-ipate in all the activities such as Sunday worship, summer camps, and overnighters, is almost an impossibility.” Since Pierce’s

disability is more hidden, church leaders, such as volunteer group leaders, often expect him to act in a “normal” way. Instead, Pierce acts as a person with autism spectrum disorder will — from his own unique perspective. As a result, his behavior is not often managed in a helpful way.

“I wish that our church leaders, both pastors and lay people, would seek out the training that Barb offers at these conferences and through CLC Network. This is NOT just for the volunteer who is des-ignated for special needs!” Chris reflects. “That’s why we are excit-ed about supporting CLC Network. We don’t want to see kids drop through the cracks at church.”

While Pierce no longer attends youth group with his peers, miss-ing out on the opportunity to build friendships and causing the other children to miss the chance to be “Jesus with skin on” for Pierce, he has found a way to contribute to the life of the church. He persistently asked to help with the younger children. Today, he volunteers to help every other week during the service. In addition, he helps out other kids who have special needs.

Chris explains, “We are sad that Pierce isn’t participating in youth worship and at camp, but there just isn’t the support for his needs. Hopefully Barb’s training for pastors and youth leaders (parents and volunteers) will open more eyes to kids in congregations who are different.”

“That’s why we are excited about supporting

CLC Network. We don’t want to see kids drop through

the cracks at church.”

Chris and Heather-Lee Wysong

D O N O R P R O F I L E :

The Wysong family, from left: Conner, Heather-Lee, Chris & Pierce

Thanks to the contributions of Betty Grit, former CICW Worship Renewal Grants Program Manager, Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship is the first published resource to use Vertical Habits to foster faith formation among persons with disabilities.

“Since 2005, more than fifty schools and churches across North America have adapted the Vertical Habits into their corporate worship. This resource will provide communities with the tools to create a place where all believers can practice the habits together,” said Betty Grit.

This book was made possible by an anonymous donor who values the relationship between a Christian school, church, and family. “We are grateful for their support and their love for God’s children at all levels of ability and disability. This donor’s deeply rooted conviction that all children are covenant children is a blessing to each individual who receives this book,” shared Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, CLC Network advancement director.

Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship can be purchased from the CLC Network Online Store at www.clcnetwork.org/accessiblegospel. Thanks to a generous grant from CICW, this book is available at the reduced rate of $10.00 per copy. To date, more than 1,000 copies have already been sold!

Barbara J. Newman offers practical ideas and advice to intro-duce the gospel and nurture faith for-mation in children and adults with dis-abilities in her new book, Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship, published by CLC Network.

“Many years ago, I heard a well-known individual with autism spec-

trum disorder respond to a mother who asked how she could introduce her daughter with autism to God. My heart broke as the speaker replied, ‘God is too hard for people with autism to under-stand,’” Newman shared.

“Though we’ve published resources on inclusion and specific dis-abilities, I wanted to give readers of diverse denominations and roles a way to think about how each person in their congregation can use the gifts God has given them to grow in their relationship with God.”

Using the Vertical Habits framework developed by the Calvin Insti-tute of Christian Worship (CICW), Newman provides ideas to foster faith formation among everyone in a congregation through creating an inclusive worship environment. The 128-page book gives the reader a set of tools to get to know the person with a disability and an in-depth guide to integrate the eight Vertical Habits into their faith community.

New Book Promotes Faith Formationfor Persons with Disabilities

by Barbara J. Newman

with contr ibut ions by Betty Grit

©2015 CLC Networkclcnetwork.org | (616) 245.8388

ISBN: 978-1-936100-14-9 | $10.00 U.S

Accessible Gospel,

Inclusive Worship

Accessible Gospel, Inclusive W

orship

by Barbara J. N

ewm

an

Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship is, without a doubt, Barbara Newman’s finest work!

Without reservation, I know I will enthusiastically recommend this book for years to come!

I genuinely believe it is destined to become a classic work in the arena of disability

and the Church. —StephaNIe O. huBaCh,

Director, Mission to North america Special Needs Ministries

author of Same Lake, Different Boat: Coming Alongside People Touched by Disability

people of all ages and with all kinds of complementary abilities and capacities who immerse

themselves in the practices described in Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship will find

themselves growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ. —JOhN D. WItvlIet,

Director, Calvin Institute of Christian Worship

professor, Calvin College and Calvin theological Seminary

Barbara Newman just gets it! In Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship, Barbara gives us

practical hands-on strategies and hope-filled stories helping all of us see that inclusion is more

than just possible …it’s essential. —eMIly COlSON,

author of Dancing with Max

an imaginative and tested resource guide that can guide the whole church community in

weaving everyone’s gifts and needs into its life in worship and spiritual growth. —BIll GaveNta,

M.Div., Director, Summer Institute on theology and Disability

Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship needs to be in the hands of everyone serving in children’s,

youth, family or disability ministry, and every parent or grandparent seeking to promote the

spiritual growth of the children in their life impacted by disability. —StepheN GrCevICh,

MD, Founder/Director of Strategic Initiatives, Key Ministry

Accessible Gospel, Inclusive Worship is a guide to belonging and relationship in the expression

of faith, whether pastor, parent or practitioner. …through fresh perspectives, personal stories,

and innovative ideas of senses and movement, we are reminded that the Gospel in our midst

is surely the most inclusive thing of all. —DavID MOrStaD,

executive Director, Bethesda Institute

In this practical guide, learn how to create an environment where you can introduce

the gospel to persons with an intellectual disability or autism spectrum disorder. using the

“vertical habits” framework, Barbara J. Newman provides ideas to foster faith formation

among everyone in your community through creating an inclusive worship environment.

Accessible Gospel_COVER_FINAL.indd 1

12/8/2014 8:31:18 AM

4 | SPRING 2015 | INCLUSIVE

John D. Witvliet, director of CICW, remarked,“People of all ages and with all kinds of

complementary abilities and capacities whoimmerse themselves in the practices described inthis book will find themselves growing in grace

and knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

Friendship Festival Tells “God’s Story”Each spring, CLC Network and a local school host the Friendship Festival for nearly 200 students at schools across West Michigan. Each student with disabilities has the opportunity to invite two

friends celebrating the day together. Activities included carnival games, creative projects, and more.

friends to play games and worship on this special day. This year’s theme emphasized that we are all “Part of God’s Story.” Thanks to Grand Rapids Christian Schools for hosting us at Brookside CRC!

Thank you to the efforts of the Auction Committee! From left to right: Jim Sytsma, Ruth Sytsma, Kathy Heidmann, Jan De Jonge, Jane Bouman, and Wendy VanDoeselaar. Not pictured: Sharon Baker, Becca Jasperse, and Roger Wesorick

A special thanks to these donors and sponsors! Cash Donors: • Anonymous • Ada Christian School • Phil and Cindy Boender • Joan and Bill Grit • Kamp Oil, Inc. • Richard and Sue Lamberts • Micandy Gardens • Mr. and Mrs. George Peereboom • Standale Interiors • Tillema Sales & Service, Inc. • Greg and Sarah Yoder • Zaagman Memorial Chapel, Inc.

in-kind Sponsors: • Grandville Calvin Christian Middle School • Rottier Auction Service • Russo’s Pizza • Studio BHB • Valley City Linen

Auction 2015 RaisesMore Than $46,000!We are so grateful for the support of hundreds of donors and friends who made our Auction a success! On January 31, we enjoyed an evening of food, games, bidding, and prizes at Grand-ville Calvin Christian Middle School. As we reach out to support new partners from California to New Jersey, we are especially grateful for this community’s pioneering belief that persons at all levels of ability belong in our churches and schools.

Patricia and Sid Helder bid on items during the live auction.

AUCTION 2016

SAVE THE DATESATurDAy, JAnuAry 30 , 2016

Calvary CRCByron CEnTEr AVE. JuST norTH of 36TH STrEET

WyoMing, Mi

NewLocatioN!

Photos courtesy of Studio BHB

6 | SPRING 2015 | INCLUSIVE

discipling students — rather than limiting the conversation to disci-pline. It provides a direction for guiding their students to Christian behavior. “Many teachers are doing this in practice already, but this gives us an intentional and accountable way to talk about it,” says Zwiep.

“From an academic perspective, we would ask, what is our desired outcome?” explains Randy Buist, a board member who serves on the guiding committee addressing this policy. “Mistakes are part of the learning process. Let’s talk about what it means to act accord-ing to biblical principles — both with our students and our staff. We are teaching restoration and new social skills in a positive way.”

Critics of restorative justice worry about consistency and fair- ness. At Dutton, they have appointed Discipleship Committees at the elementary and middle schools, to help support each other and oversee the process. Depending on each situational need, the committee will help to ensure that negative behavior is addressed in a way that consistently and effectively restores Christian community and character.

“We need to teach each other how to live with each other,” reflects Stegink. “CLC Network focuses on restoring relation-ships to build community. It’s much more difficult to face those people we may have harmed than to sit in deten-tion and feel wronged. A restorative process is much more difficult because you’re facing your own role in creating pain or healing pain.”

“We are going to take time to be in community, to check in and see how things are going,” explains Zwiep. “And for a kid, that’s pretty powerful. I think everyone will be really surprised to see what will come of it.”

Like many schools around the country, Dutton Christian School once had a zero-tolerance policy about bullying. Responding to nationwide concerns about bullying, they wanted to make sure that students were respectful to each other and enjoyed a safe learning and social environment.

But it wasn’t working. “It wasn’t getting at the heart of the issues,” shares Amy Zwiep, assistant principal. “Research shows that zero tolerance bullying policies can make things worse rather than helping.”

Dutton Christian had put together a commitee to update the bullying policy, but it soon became obvious that their job was going to be much more complex. “It was unanimous. It is so much bigger than bullying,” remembers Zwiep. “We need to address the character of our students and staff to develop Christian character.”

At the same time, four Dutton Christian staff members enrolled in CLC Network’s online book study on restorative justice, led by di-rector of educational services Phil Stegink. “Restorative justice is a set of principles and practices the intent of which is to restore ruptured relationships,” Stegink explains. “Restorative justice is not about asking what the consequence is, it’s about addressing what has happened with everyone involved. Even when ramifications are involved, the purpose must be to bring you back to community.”

Zwiep and staff at Dutton Christian are launching a new policy, based in restorative justice, to replace the bullying policy. “Developing Christian Character” is a framework for thinking about

Building Community With Restorative Justice

“It’s much more difficult to face those people we may

have harmed than to sit in detention and

feel wronged.”

restorative justicein schools means asking…What harm has been done?What has been the impact?

What relationshipshave been ruptured?How do we restore

those relationships?

Dutton Christian SchoolS C H O O L P R O F I L E :

INCLUSIVE | SPRING 2015 | 7

our MiSSionCLC Network promotes the development of people with a variety of abilities and disabilities to live as active, integrated members of their communities.

THE inCluSiVE nEWSlETTEr is published in spring and fall by the CLC Network Advancement Office. The entire issue and back issues are available at clcnetwork.org.Editors: Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski, R.H. ”Bear” Berends

BoArD of DirECTorSBob Van Wieren, PresidentDean Rietberg, Vice PresidentHugh Groot, TreasurerTom Hoeksema, PhD, SecretaryLindsay Wieland Capel

Betty Grit Robin Ipema Josh LeoRandy Setsma

MEMBEr SCHoolS 2014-2015 CALIFORNIA

Alma Heights ChristianILLINOIS

Calvin ChristianINDIANA

Crown Point ChristianIOWA

Hull Christian, Netherlands Reformed Christian, Orange City Christian, Rock Valley Christian, Western Christian

MICHIGANAda Christian, Adams Protestant Reformed Christian, Allendale

Christian, AnchorPoint Christian, Ann Arbor Christian, Borculo Christian, Byron Center Christian, Calvary Schools of Holland, Catholic Central, Dutton Christian, Eastside Christian, Fremont Christian, Grand Haven Christian, Grandville Calvin Christian, Holland Christian, Hudsonville Christian, Jenison Christian, Lamont Christian, Legacy Christian, Living Stones Academy, Moline Christian, New Era Christian, Northpointe Christian, Plymouth Christian, The Potter’s House, Providence Christian, South Christian, St. Thomas the Apostle, Unity Christian, West Highland Christian West Side Christian, Zeeland Christian, Zion Christian

NEW JERSEYSussex Christian

WISCONSIN Central Wisconsin Christian, Oostburg Christian

ADMiniSTrATiVE STAff R.H. “Bear” Berends Executive Director Doug Bouman Director of Evaluation Services Elizabeth Lucas Dombrowski Advancement Director Barbara J. Newman Director of Church Services Phil Stegink Director of Educational Services

ConTACT uS info@clcnetwork.org (616) 245-8388 clcnetwork.org

C l C n E T W o r k

trailer. You don’t see him a whole lot happier than that, and it was a big help to have him out there with me,” says Mr. Van Til. “He likes it when we go in the storage room. He takes my keys and opens the door and turns on the lights. He’s a very hard worker, he works just as hard as I do.”

Pierce’s mother has noticed the difference in Pierce. “Pierce’s teachers at West Side Christian know him, they are so in tune with him. He and Mr. Van Til took to each other right away, and now he’s learning life skills. They created this program for him,” Mrs. Hockeborn shares. Mrs. Bultsma credits CLC Network teacher consultants for providing additional brainstorming and encourage-ment. “They have provided insight to possible options [for Pierce],” she reflects. “Most of all, [CLC Network consultants] have listened to our concerns and have been very encouraging to our staff.”

“We are working on goals for his future, what he might do after books and after school,” adds Mrs. Bultsma. “There is a lot of learning going on, a lot of happy things, and a different kind of learning. Pierce has a lot of gifts given to him from God and we’re just trying to figure out how to use those gifts.”

Celebrating Pierce’s Gifts: A Blessed Partnershipcontinued from page 1

Mr. Van Til shows Pierce how to use the leaf blower.

Before working at West Side Christian, Mr. Van Til built custom cab-inetry. He’s had the chance to show Pierce his shop and hopes to teach him about a few tools and their basic functions. “It’s a lot nicer than my garage,” says Pierce. “I got to try the air hose,” he remembers with a smile.

Watching Pierce and Mr. Van Til together, their con-nection shines in both of them. As Mr. Van Til reflects, “It’s advantageous for me and for Pierce to be doing this. I feel a little more import-ant when we work together. It’s not the most glamorous job in the world but I’ve always felt called to be here and share some of my knowledge with the kids.”

Mr. Van Til and Pierce head off together to complete more projects at West Side Christian.

“Pierce has a lot of giftsgiven to him from God

and we’re just trying to figure out how to use those gifts.”

“He and Mr. Van Til took to each other right away, and now he’s learning life skills.”

Member: Christian Schools International, Council of Reformed Charities, Barnabas Foundation

4340 Burlingame Ave. SWWyoming, MI 49509-3770

NoN-PRofIt oRG.US PoStAGE

PAIDGRAND RAPIDS, MI

PERMIt No. 592

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Students Celebrate Friendships at Annual BanquetFor more than 200 West Michigan area high school students and alumni, the Connections Banquet is a memorable evening of fellowship and fun. Planned by students from South Christian, Grandville Calvin Christian, Northpointe Christian, and others, this year’s event was themed “Sand & Sea.” Thanks to all of our donors and volunteers for making this a great night!

Students posed together for a keepsake photo. from left: kerri knoll, Jordyn Bykerk, and Jenni Peters.

Emcees kevin Bosch (left) and kevin offringa led the night’s activitiesin “Sand & Sea” style.

The illusionist Tom Coverly (center) entertains the audience with the help of student volunteers naomi Vroegop (left) and Jesse koning (right).

REGISTER NOW!GOLF OUTING 2015

THurSDAy, JunE 11, 2015Pilgrim’s run golf Club