Kankakee Valley Post, Volume 17, Number 17, DeMotte, Jasper County, 21 March 1947 — YOUTH FOR CHRIST RALLY AT AMERICAN REFORMED CHURCH [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

YOUTH FOR CHRIST RALLY AT AMERICAN REFORMED CHURCH

Thcj Rev. Spencer DeJong, recent preacher in a large evangelistic pieeting in Holland, is coming to DeMotte at a Youth for Christ meeting in the American Reformed Church on Saturday. The time is 7:45. He is a Reformed Church pastor from suburban Chicago. He and two others have just returned from a tour which took them into thirty-seven cities of Holland, where these meetings were attended by a total of 50,000 in six weeks. With Rev. DeJong went Dojuglas Fisher, musical director of Chieagoland Youth For Christ, and Doriald DoVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan, musical director of Calvary Interdenominational church in that city. The team was sponsored by Youth for Christ International with the cooperation of hundreds of Dutch-American business men and young people. In Holland the trio held their meetings in the largest obtainable auditoriums in down town sections of leading cities.. Every meeting was over-crowded and on many occasions police were called to handle thousands on the outside who were attempting to get in, and fire departments were called upon to clear the isles of those who were sitting on the floor. Young people made up the majority of the audience and enthusiastic singing \yas popular in English, but DeJong’s sermons were translated for the audiences. “Literally thousands of Holland’s young people decided to openly follow Christ,” says DeJong, “we left a national Youth For Christ organization in Holland so that the work can be carried on by local leaders, many of whom are prominent industrialists and church men.. We were told this is the greatest revival of religion Holland has had since the Reformation.” On their last night in Holland, U. S. Ambassador Hornbeck appeared publically with the

team in Utrecht, commenting on the help Youth For Christ had been to the Dutch people spiritually. Upon their return to Chicago, Dr. Jan Vander Morkel, Consulate General of the Netherlands, greeted the Team and added his commendation. » Youth For Christ International is sending Rev. Spencer DeJong and his team back to Holland in May this year with the expectation of holding services in Germany during the summer months. Youth F’or Christ has already visited *tv n countries of Europe and a team is now on a six month itinerary in the British Isles. Along with the Rev. DeJong on Saturday will be Cornelius and Fern Keur for musical talent. Mr. Keur is a talented song loader and is known nationally. His wife is a soloist and together they will be here in DeMotte. Remember the date: Saturday at 7:45 in the American (Reformed Church. Everyone is invited, not only Young People, but everyone. Come and hear spirational singing, speaking and receive ' a blessing. Bring your friends, relatives, neighbors to this meeting.

MR. AND MRS. KEUR

REV. SPENCER DEJONG