Regional Synod of Canada - Reformed Church in America

Pioneer Christian Monthly

Date - May/94

Contributor - John Drost

Title - In Memorium: Rev. Cornelis Gerardus Bons March 16, 1926 - March 17, 1994

Topic - Remembrance

On Thursday March 17 the Rev. Cornelis Bons went to be with his Lord The following excerpts are taken from the sermon given by the Rev. John Drost at the funeral service.

11 Timothy 4:7, 8 - "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteous."

Beloved Truus, Trudy Ann, Conroy and Monica and their sons Jeremy and Tim, beloved congregation: This is a time of deep sadness for all of us as we gather to remember, and in a sense to say farewell to someone who was very dear to us, Cornelis Gerardus Bons. We loved him as a husband, father and grandfather, we loved him as a pastor and friend, we respected him as a colleague, as a leader, and as a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Cor Bons was born in the Netherlands, on March 16,1926. He passed away on the 17th of March, 1994 the day after his 68th birthday. Rev. Bons completed his studies for the ministry at the University of Utrecht in 1953, receiving the status of licensed candidate for the ministry in the Nederlandse Hervormde Kerk. Cor and Truus Bons were married in the year of his graduation, and in that same year they emigrated to Canada. About their move to Canada Cor Bons writes in a booklet commemorating the 25th anniversary of this congregation: "I had no idea that I would ever leave the Netherlands and become an immigrant in Canada." In later reflections upon this occurrence in his life he would without hesitation testify that he knew this to be God's appointment.

Following his arrival on this continent Cor and Truus Bons spent some time in training and preparation at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. His ordination to the ministry in the Reformed Church in America followed on March 16, 1954, his birthday. We note that he ended his life's journey on the day of his 40th anniversary as an ordained man of God in the Church of Jesus Christ.

Following ordination Rev. Bons served the Reformed Church in Brockville (today Maitland) from 1954-1959. He then accepted a call to Barrie, Ontario where he stayed until 1963. At this point the family returned to the Netherlands for approximately one year. Rev. Bons has at times referred to this brief interlude as his Jonah flight, a kind of escape from what God intended for him. The flight was only brief, however. During this time away from Canada, Cor Bons saw clearly that God wanted him here, and thus the family returned to this country in 1964 after acceptance of a call to this congregation. His ministry at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Woodstock lasted 16 years and was richly blessed. In the anniversary booklet referred to earlier he writes: "Since 1970 the congregation grew in number, from 82 families in 1970 to 123 families in 1978. Also spiritually we have seen growth over the years." During his ministry in Woodstock he served the Classis of Ontario as its clerk and treasurer for several if not many years.

In 1980 the Rev. Bons was called to the position of Field Secretary, later Executive Secretary, for the Reformed Churches in Canada, or what was then known as the Council of the Reformed Church in Canada. He was the Pioneer in that position, and the task, because it was new to him, was very demanding, and often times trying not only on him but also on his dear wife Truus. However, we are thankful for his leadership during these seven years. It was a time of change in the Reformed church, and Cor Bons accommodated that transition by the quiet and steady manner that characterized his leadership, and by the trust he instilled as a person of unquestioned integrity. He stepped down from his position as Executive Secretary in 1987 and retired some time later. About one year ago he was diagnosed with cancer. He accepted that calmly believing heartily that God would also direct this part of life's journey by His holy Will and Wisdom. He preached what became his farewell sermon to this congregation on December 3, 1993 on the occasion of the dedication of this expanded church building. In his text from Psalm 84, he reminded us that those are blessed whose strength is in the Lord, and in whose heart are the highways to Zion.

Husband, father and grandfather Cor Bons is fondly remembered by his family. Conroy, who I asked what he would remember his father for, testified that his father was a compassionate and gentle man, good for us and good for mother. He kept his feelings to himself, never allowing those feelings to interfere with his judgement. Truus, I know that Cor leaned a good deal on you for the various tasks to which he was called. His life's work was your life's work. I want to recognize that in these moments as Cor would want us to.

Cor Bons knew of his impending departure, and he had accepted it. It is true, he had accepted it because in a sense there was no other choice. The possibility to successfully treat his condition was minimal, and he did not want to be the subject of experimentation. But more importantly, his acceptance was a faith decision. He was willing at this point to lay down his life as an offering unto the Lord. And this is how we may think of the time of our departure, not in terms of losing our life, but in terms of laying it down as an offering unto the Lord, a final offering of what is left. The Scriptures teach that all of life is an offering to the Lord. In Paul's words: if we live, we live unto the Lord. But what is true of life is also true of death, for if we die we die unto the Lord. Thus Christ the Lord receives us, and in His Presence we await the resurrection on the last Day.

Are we sad in this hour? Yes, we are. Death is so final. It severs so cruelly relationships that we held dear. It cuts us off so completely from a life that was intensely interwoven with ours. Yes, we are sad. But we're also glad, because our strength and hope are in the Lord. He will lead the way as He led the way of His servant Cor Bons, and as He enabled him He will enable us by His grace and power to fight the good fight, to finish our race, and to keep the faith, so that when the call comes; we too, shall be prepared to lay down our life as an offering for his glory.

Amen.

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