Collection 491 Oral History Interview with Chester Terpstra

Collection

Identifier: CN 491

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Oral history interview with Chester Terpstra (1917-2007) in which he discusses his years as a student at Wheaton College (1939-1943); his friendship with Billy Graham; and his later ministry in Micronesia and Hawaii. Other topics discussed include the religious culture of Hawaii during World War II and after; the prevalence of pre-millenialism at Wheaton College and among evangelical missionaries; and the 1943 revival at Wheaton College. The time period covered by the interviews is 1939 to 1993.

Rev. Terpstra was interviewed by Larry Thompson on May 7, 1993 on the campus of Wheaton College.

Dates

Created: 1993

Conditions Governing Access

There are no restrictions on the use of this collection.

Biographical Information

Full Name: Chester Terpstra

Birth: September 4, 1917 in Allegan County, Michigan, USA

Death: April 12, 2007 in Sequim, Washington, USA

Family:

Parents: George and Lizzie (Lugtiheid) Terpstra

Siblings: Aleta, Hilda, Janet, Gerald

Marital Status: Margery Shirley Williams, August 10, 1945

Children: Michael, Merrill, Marshall

Ordination: Tthe Congregational Church (later was a minister in the United Church of Christ)

Education:

1943 - BA, Wheaton College

1945 - MA, Wheaton College

1959 - DD, University of Edinburgh

Career:

1945-1948? - Assigned by the Hawaiian Board of Missions to Kawaiahao Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

1948-1949 - Served as pastor to English-speaking congregation of Makiki Congregational Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

1948-1959? - The Terpstras were missionaries under the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions to the island of Pohnpei, Micronesia

1954 - Established a Pastors and Teachers Training School in Pohnpei to train Christian workers for Micronesia

1963-1969 - Served as pastor to English-speaking congregation of Makiki Congregational Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA. He was instrumental in the formation of the Central Honolulu Community Association, encompassing the Makiki, Sheridan Tract and Kakaako districts.

1969-1976 - Conference minister of the Hawaii Conference - United Church of Christ

1989-1990 - Served as Interim Senior Pastor of Makiki Congregational Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

1993 - Served as Interim Senior Pastor of Makiki Congregational Church, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA

Other significant information:

2004 - Moved to the state of Washington to be near their children

Extent

1 Audio Tape

53 Minutes

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Accruals and Additions

The material in this collection was given to the Wheaton College Archives and Special Collections by Chester Terpstra in May 1993. CASC gave a copy of the interview to the Billy Graham Center Archives in also in 1993, since the BGC Archives staff had set up the interview.

Accession: 93-67

May 18, 2007

Bob Shuster

B. Brollier