Honoring the Life and Legacy of Co-Founder David Vander Ploeg
It is with great sadness and tremendous admiration that Barnabas Foundation honors David Vander Ploeg, one of the Foundation’s co-founders, following his passing on November 20, 2023.
Dave was among a small group of attorneys and businessmen whose expertise and vision launched Barnabas Foundation in April 1976. He served as the Foundation’s second executive director from 1993 to 2000, and he remained a passionate advocate for the organization well beyond his official “retirement” from that position.
From the beginning, Dave played a pivotal role in defining the objectives and principles that continue to guide Barnabas Foundation today. In a March 19, 1976 article for The Banner magazine – published one month prior to official incorporation – Dave described his vision for what the Foundation would become.
“Assistance and advice will be available to Christian organizations for the development and administration of existing or newly established planned-giving programs,” he wrote. “Barnabas Foundation also will have available a network of estate planners to advise and assist donors and their legal or financial advisors.”
What Dave described then continues to be an essential part of Barnabas Foundation’s work today.
As visionary as he was, even Dave couldn’t have predicted how the Lord would continue to bless and expand upon the founders’ original dreams. In a September 21, 2000 speech for Barnabas Foundation’s 25th anniversary, the late co-founder Bill Weidenaar reflected on Dave’s initial reaction to a third co-founder’s estimate.
Bill recalled, “Case [Hoogendoorn] said, ‘You better be careful, because if we do this thing right, Barnabas someday could be handling $15 million.’ David and I reacted with slack-jawed stunned belief.”
Today, Barnabas Foundation is managing nearly $700 million in assets and distributed $95 million to ministries in the past 12 months.
Those who worked closest to Dave remember him as gracious, dedicated, easygoing but brilliant and pure of heart. He was passionate about generosity being an expression of good stewardship.
“Dave was a mentor, a dear friend and foundational in my professional development as a leader,” says James Bakke, current executive director, who was hired under Dave’s leadership. “I will be ever indebted to him for the investment he made in my life.”
“He was always very generous and caring to me, quick to appreciate the work I did for him,” says Lynell Dykstra, current associate director of member relations, who served as Dave’s administrative assistant from 1994 through 2000. “I thoroughly enjoyed working with him, and I’m grateful for his continued friendship over the years.”
Visitation will take place on November 28, from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Starks & Menchinger Chapel in St. Joseph, Michigan. The funeral service will take place at the Christian Reformed Church of St. Joseph on November 29 at 2 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Reframe Ministries (formerly Back to God Ministries International) 1700 28th St. SE Grand Rapids, MI 49508-9915.
For additional service and memorial information, CLICK HERE.
