On May 1st, Reverend Michael De Ruyter will be welcomed to the pulpit to preach as candidate for the position of Pastor of the St. Croix Reformed Church. The service will be preceded by a cake and coffee reception starting at 8:30 am. The worship service will begin at 9:30 am.

The Pastor Search Committee and the Consistory unanimously and enthusiastically recommend Rev. De Ruyter for the position.

Bio of Reverend De Ruyter

Mike De Ruyter was born in West Michigan.  He graduated from Calvin College and went to seminary in Southern California at Fuller. He graduated in 1996 the same year he married Tammy.  Tammy also graduated from Fuller with a Masters of Theology.  Mike became a church planter in Elk Grove, California and in 2001 joined the Army as a reserve Chaplain. 

When his unit was scheduled to ship to Iraq he resigned his church position.  Then as his unit was not deployed he looked to go back into full time ministry.  He took a position as Senior Pastor at the Midland Reformed Church in Midland, Michigan.  He served there until November 2021.  Michael’s involvement in the community led to him taking a position in prison ministry in Midland, but as the call developed at St. Croix the desire to return to the church was clear.

Michael brings a wealth of experience and expertise in many areas to his work in St. Croix.  He has a Doctor of Ministry from Fuller Seminary in Christian spirituality.  He studied and worked with Bowen family systems theory and he has led a Reformed Church in America church transformation process called “Churches Learning Change.”  He is a consultant and coach with The Leader’s Journey. He has a commitment preaching and teaching the scriptures from a reformed perspective and is passionate about seeing church and community connect in significant ways to meet the needs of the community and reflect the gospel.

Mike and Tammy have three grown children Benjamin (23), Hannah (21), and Ben (20).  Ben was just accepted into the Marines and thus the last child at home has shipped out so a move to St. Croix became possible.