The Poelstra Family

The Poelstra Family has generously donated the funds to establish the John and Ruth Poelstra Scholarship. In order to establish a lasting legacy for their parents and to invest in the building of God’s eternal Kingdom, the Poelstra children have established this endowed scholarship with the desire to support and encourage students who have a vision and a commitment to serving the Lord in a cross-cultural ministry overseas.

John (November 14, 2016) and Ruth (Eastburg) (November 30, 2015) Poelstra grew up in Ripon, a rural farm community in the central valley of California. As deeply committed Christians, they were active all their lives in the Mission Covenant Church in Stockton, California. John served as Sunday School superintendent for over 20 years and taught Sunday School well into his eighties. Ruth led a woman’s Bible study and taught the young and married class for many years. She later served as the church secretary. They reached out to newcomers and regulars in the church, often inviting them over for lunch after the morning service even into their nineties.

John and Ruth had four children, a daughter and three sons, Marilyn (Wallace), Paul, Larry, and Jim. They raised them up in the “discipline and instruction of the Lord,” with “one eye fixed on eternity.” All four adult children along with their spouses went on to serve the Lord in their local churches. Their oldest son, Paul, graduated from Biola (1963) and served at the University for 45 years before retiring in 2009.
Their parents inculcated in them a love for missions, often entertaining missionaries in their home and giving generously to their support.

We pray that God will bless these funds as they are used in your education so that you are able to follow the call God in your life. As you have been blessed, may you likewise be a blessing in God’s Kingdom work.

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners. – Isaiah 61:1

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” – Isaiah 52:7

Our Prayer for you:
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word. – II Thess. 2:16-17