During the years 1947 to 1951, there was a big influx of immigrants from the Netherlands to Canada. They came to find a new life for themselves and their children. After the devastating war years, some came because they wanted a new start for themselves and their families; they thought that their children would have a better future in Canada. Many were, or wanted to be, farmers, and there was not much farmland available for them in the Netherlands. Some came because they just wanted a change. Last July 29th, it was 75 years ago that my parents came here with four children.

Most of the immigrants were Christians of the Reformed tradition. Here in our area, they first held meetings in someone's house. Later, a minister came, and, at first, the Lutheran church, and later, the Presbyterian church were borrowed for services every Sunday afternoon. As time went by, they bought or built their own church building. To be honest, we did not know much about the other churches in our community. Because of the language difference and our traditions, we were happy to go to our own church with our own people, and, at that time, most of us married within the church community.

As time went on, their children grew up. As they met people outside the community through school and at work, they started to adopt the Canadian way of life. There was the worry on the part of so many parents that their children would marry outside of the church community. Because retaining and protecting their Reformed church tradition was important to them, they always urged us to marry "one of our own".

Abraham, too, had left his home country. He had done well, but he did not like the Canaanites' way of life and their pagan religious practices. He wanted his only son to marry one of his own people.

Genesis 24:2-4 – Abraham said to the oldest servant of his house, who ruled over all that he had, "Please, put your hand under my thigh, and I will make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell; but you shall go to my country and to my family, and take a wife for my son Isaac." (NKJV)

As time went on, many of the children of the new Canadians married outside of their home church community, but many of us married Christians from other Christian traditions and faith journeys. Some of us started to attend other churches in the towns or cities to which we moved, and we discovered that we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.

As parents and grandparents, let us take seriously the challenge of urging our children and grandchildren to choose people of the Christian faith to marry.

2 Corinthians 6:14a – Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. (NKJV)

Prayer: Our Father in heaven, we thank You for Christian churches where we can worship, listen to Your Word, and sing praises to Your name. We offer this prayer in Jesus' name. Amen.

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About the author:

Joel Jongkind <austria67@bmts.com>
Meaford, Ontario, Canada
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