When faith became action: The Bible study that sparked Elim Village

Willy Van Huizen would not be living in her current home at Elim Village if it weren’t for an idea sparked in her own living room more than three decades ago. It was there, during a Sunday night Bible study on the Book of James, that the small group first asked themselves what it would mean to put faith into action—and how they could create a Christian community where spouses could age together.

Winnie Vandenberg, who attended that pivotal meeting in 1991, remembers the moment vividly: “Ype Feenstra said at the end, ‘So what are we going to do about this? Are we just going to leave it?’ A few projects were mentioned, like mowing the lawn for somebody, but he had other things in mind, and he said, ‘I think we need to do something for the old people.’ Little did he realize that this would come.”

Inspired by Ype Feenstra’s challenge, and the warning in James 2 that “Faith without deeds is dead,” the group began exploring ways to create a home for older adults.

Willy remembers feeling compelled out of concern for her parents. “They had done so much for our children by starting Christian schools, but for them there was nothing. So we talked about starting something for our parents.”

“By the end of the evening, we had a few projects and ideas going,” Winnie recalls. “The guys would meet together and figure out what needed to be done.”

By the end of 1991, the first “Senior Home Exploratory Meeting” was held and the group formed the unofficial Elim Foundation, its name inspired by Exodus 15:27.

The planning process was detailed and time-consuming. Members researched senior living options, looked for suitable land, and tackled the logistics of financing and construction.

“We were in a car a lot, driving all over the place, but it sort of slowly started coming together,” Winnie says. “Then, of course, the huge job of getting investors and finances. Once the plan was off the ground a little bit, it was a big job.”

Years later, that early work has resulted in a community far larger than either of them imagined. Both Winnie and Willy live at Elim today and are surprised at how Elim Village evolved beyond their initial vision.

“Elim is so much more than we ever expected. We couldn’t have planned this,” Willy says. “To look back and just think wow, we did that. It’s amazing. It’s totally amazing.”

“I don’t think we ever expected the beautiful buildings, the camaraderie of the people that live here,” Winnie adds. “I’m never ashamed of saying I live at Elim. It’s a beautiful place, it’s looked after well, and we feel loved.”

So what do they think the next 25 years could bring for Elim Village? Willy’s vision for the future remains rooted in faith: “It’s still in the Lord’s hands, and He doesn’t need much to work with, just a few people.”