The King's Connection Magazine Volume 24 // Number 2 | Page 22

KING’S FOUNDATION

Christian perspective
continues to be relevant
By Shirley Serviss, MTS

D

r. Henk Van Andel, former president of The King’s
University, is a busy man. Catching him at home long
enough for a telephone conversation isn’t easy. Even though
he retired in July, 2005, after serving as president since
January, 1985, he’s not sitting in his easy chair watching
television. He continues to live his faith. For five years
following his retirement, Van Andel served as the Executive
Director of Christian Studies International, an organization
that sponsors Christian professors to teach at universities in
developing countries. More recently he was Stated Clerk of
Classis Alberta North of the Christian Reformed Church, a
regional grouping of 32 congregations in Northern Alberta.
He is an active member
of the Edmonton
Northeast Rotary Club,
where he served as
President in 2009-2010.
Through Rotary, he has
been managing a project
to build bathrooms
and simple farming
infrastructure for about
200 families in a remote
area of Ecuador.

limited number of programs, was another of the highlights.”

Among his many
involvements, he is still
Dr. Henk Van Andel
a dedicated member of
The King’s University
College Foundation and one of its longest-serving members.
The Foundation, which he refers to as “Friends of Kings,”
raises funds for special projects, according to Van Andel. The
Bachelor of Commerce degree and the Secondary Education
Program are two examples of programs it has supported.

Given the economic inequities in the world, and the threat to
the environment, he believes there is an even greater need
for universities like King’s. “A Christian Perspective is founded
in the biblical principles of social and economic justice,
stewardship of and respect for God’s creation, and service to
our fellow human beings, especially those that are poor and
disadvantaged.” What could be more timely?

Fundraising isn’t new to Van Andel. When he came to King’s
from the University of Montreal, where he was a professor
of Physics, the college didn’t have its own facilities. It rented
space in downtown Edmonton. From 1988 to 1993, he
was involved in raising funds for the new campus. A later
campaign added a residence and new wing.
“Moving into our campus in 1993 was a big event,” Van
Andel says. “The fact that King’s was accredited in 1987 for a

20 /// The King’s Connection /// Fall 2014

King’s was very small when he joined it as president, with
only 100 students. “I thought it was a good challenge to help
it grow and become a viable university,” he says. Van Andel
saw King’s expand to 650 students during his tenure.
“What made its growth particularly challenging was that in
order to attract new students and professors, King’s had to
grow in terms of programs, but you can’t afford to offer more
programs unless you have enough students to pay for them,”
he explains. Some consider that a vicious circle. Van Andel
saw it as an interesting challenge.
Van Andel came to King’s because he believes in the value of
Christian higher education.
Most of his own post-secondary education took place at the
University of British Columbia, in the province where his family
settled on coming to Canada from Holland when he was 14.
Prior to that, he spent a formative year at Calvin College in
Michigan, which is supported by his church.
“Calvin College, being a Christian College similar to King’s,
introduced me to these ideas at the university level,” he says.
He continues to devote time to King’s because he thinks a
Christian perspective on life and the world is very important.

“King’s has great potential,” according to Van Andel. “It has a
strong faculty and a well-defined mission which will stand it in
good stead in the future.”
He expects it to continue to attract more students and
expand its offerings to more diverse programs. 