Lester DeKoster

Lester Ronald DeKoster (21 April 1915 – 19 April 2009) was an American librarian, educator, editor and author affiliated with the Christian Reformed Church of North America (CRC) and Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Lester De Koster
Born	(1915-04-21)April 21, 1915 Zeeland, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 19, 2009(2009-04-19) (aged 93) Grand Rapids, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Librarian, educator, author, editor
Organizations	Calvin University, Christian Reformed Church in North America
Notable work	Communism and Christian Faith (1962); The Deacon’s Handbook (1980); Light for the City (2004)
Spouse	Ruth De Vries
Children	4

Early life and education

De Koster was born in Zeeland, Michigan, on April 21 1915. In his youth he was a champion tennis player. During World War II, he served in the United States Navy. After the war, he taught and coached debate at South High School in Grand Rapids before joining Calvin College as a member of the faculty.^[1] His undergraduate degree was from Calvin College. He then earned a master’s degree in speech from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in library science from the University of Chicago.^[2][3]

Career

DeKoster served as director of the library at Calvin College and Seminary from 1951 to 1969.^[4] He earned a doctorate from the University of Michigan in 1964, writing his dissertation on John Calvin, and was influential in expanding the holdings of what would become the H. Henry Meeter Center for Calvin Studies.^[2] In addition to his work as a librarian, he was also a speech professor at Calvin.^[1][2]

After his retirement he served as editor of The Banner, the official magazine of the CRC, for ten years.^[1] He wrote a number of books throughout his career, including Communism and Christian Faith (1962) and Work, the Meaning of Your Life: A Christian Perspective (1982). DeKoster established the Christian's Library Press with Gerard Berghoef, with whom he also wrote The Elders Handbook: A Practical Guide for Church Leaders (1979). His collaboration with Berghoef also produced The Deacon’s Handbook: A Manual of Stewardship (1980), a work emphasizing the diaconate’s role in combining spiritual and material care within Christian stewardship. Their writings presented work as “the fundamental form of stewardship” and as a means for human spiritual growth.^[5]

DeKoster's final book was on John Calvin and the role of preaching in modern civic life.^[6]

Philosophy and viewpoints

DeKoster emphasized preaching the Word and church-based evangelism, believing that the Great Commission was addressed to the Church and not to individuals. He was a confessionalist and was critical of fundamentalism while defending cooperation with Roman Catholics. He was opposed to abortion and rejected the "new theology" associated with Harry M. Kuitert.^[2] He was also highly critical of the teaching of evolution^[7] and Marxism.^[8][9][10]

Personal life and death

DeKoster married Ruth De Vries in 1941. The couple were married for nearly 68 years and had four children. He died on April 19, 2009 in Grand Rapids, two days before his ninety-fourth birthday.^[1]

Selected publications

• DeKoster, Lester (1956). All Ye That Labor: An Essay on Christianity, Communism, and the Problem of Evil. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
• DeKoster, Lester (1962). Communism and Christian Faith. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.
• DeKoster, Lester (1966). The Christian and the John Birch Society. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans.
• DeKoster, Lester (1975). How to Read the Bible. Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.
• Berghoef, Gerard; DeKoster, Lester (1979). The Elders Handbook: A Practical Guide for Church Leaders. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• Berghoef, Gerard; DeKoster, Lester (1980). The Deacons Handbook: A Manual of Stewardship. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• Berghoef, Gerard; DeKoster, Lester (1982). The Believers Handbook: A Guide to the Christian Life. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• DeKoster, Lester (1982). Work: The Meaning of Your Life: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• Berghoef, Gerard; DeKoster, Lester (1984). Liberation Theology: The Church’s Future Shock: Explanation, Analysis, Critique, Alternative. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• Berghoef, Gerard; DeKoster, Lester (1989). The Great Divide: Christianity or Evolution?. Edinburgh; Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust.
• DeKoster, Lester (1996). I Believe—Living the Apostles’ Creed. Grand Rapids: Christian's Library Press.
• De Koster, Lester (2004). Light for the City: Calvin’s Preaching, Source of Life and Liberty. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans.