OUR NEW MINISTER
as of March 15, 2010
RUDOLPH VAN GRAAN
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Rudolph van Graan was born November 21, 1961 in Germiston, South Africa, where his father Edwin was serving his first pastoral position in the Dutch Reformed Church. He is the third of four children. When Rudolph was three years old, the family relocated to Kabwe, Zambia, just weeks before Zambia’s independence. The years the family lived there formed Rudolph’s earliest memories. The church at that time, no longer under Colonial control, was in the process of redefining its message among a multitude of traditional religions and cultures. In later years, Rudolph often returned to Zambia to enjoy the familiarity of that beautiful landlocked African country.
Rudolph’s school years were spent back in South Africa in the small rural farming communities of Groot-Marico and Lydenburg where his father had been called as pastor. Those childhood years were the best anyone could wish for. He and his friends explored every nearby valley and creek on their bicycles and often spent days camping or hiking. As he grew older, schoolwork, piano and clarinet took up more of his time, but his family still found time to be together, whether on trips to the many game parks, or on camping expeditions deep into the African bush. Rudolph graduated in 1979 from Ermelo High School with Distinction in Music.
Immediately after high school, Rudolph enrolled at the University of Pretoria to prepare for a career in ministry. During the seven years of study he served as both organist and youth leader at the Petra Church in Pretoria, but also did part of his ministerial internship in Harare, Zimbabwe. Upon Ordination as Minister of Religion, Rudolph fulfilled his National Service obligation by serving as a military chaplain for two years, followed by a position in Media Ministry at the South African National Broadcasting Corporation. He produced and presented the nationally broadcast religious programming for both radio and television, and was instrumental in the formation of the Media Ministry Group. During this time he met his future wife, Marie. In 1991 Rudolph and Marie were blessed with the birth of their son, Alvard. The marriage sadly ended in divorce.
With the lifting of the ban on the African National Congress (ANC) and the release of Nelson Mandela in 1992, South Africa was preparing for a new post-Apartheid era. These national changes unleashed many challenges, which confronted people on a day-by-day basis. White South Africans could again travel to other African countries, and Rudolph spent more than a year in Zambia ministering to the expatriate community of Lusaka. The lifting of Apartheid left many diehard conservatives feeling disenfranchised, and many of them found a haven for their political viewpoints in the mainline churches. Having repeatedly voiced his opposition to Apartheid, Rudolph finally realized that he no longer had a place in the Dutch Reformed Church. He stood in direct opposition to its fundamentalism, its narrow stance on the issues of diversity and reconciliation, and its exclusion of people on the basis of color and sexual orientation. Rudolph left full time ministry and embarked on a career in business, but continued to minister to others and to serve God by using his musical gifts in leading choirs and playing the organ. After the completion of his Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the University of the Witwatersrand, Rudolph started a successful travel agency in Johannesburg which he operated until his emigration to the USA.
In 2008, Rudolph and Alvard were the lucky recipients of the USA Diversity Visa, commonly known as the Green Card Lottery. After completing all the requirements for this visa, Rudolph and Alvard moved to the USA on July 3, 2008. They settled in Clearwater, Florida, where Rudolph’s longtime friend from Seminary, Anton Dewet, serves as Pastor for the Faith United Church of Christ. Rudolph soon found interim employment at Macy’s Credit and Customer Services while Alvard completed his Senior Year at Countryside High School. Alvard is currently working toward his BFA at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy, Los Angeles.
Having been introduced to the UCC as long ago as 1992, Rudolph became actively involved at Faith UCC, first as a substitute organist, and then as Director of Music. Although Rudolph is an accomplished musician he has continued to feel a call to fulltime pastoral ministry. He was granted Privilege of Call in the UCC by the Florida Conference in October of 2008. As a pastor, Rudolph will bring with him the insights that come not only from his experience operating a small business, but also the insights that come from his lifelong involvement in a broad multicultural Christian ministry.
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Rudolph and Alvard
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Wednesday Evenings
FAMILY DINNER at 6:00 p.m.
(suggested free will donation $7 - but come anyway!)
Movie, Game Night, Seminar, or Social Event begins during or after dinner.
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Thursday Mornings
WOMEN’S SPIRITUALITY GROUP
Thursdays at 8:15 a.m. in the Chapel
Our current reading is GILEAD
by Marilynne Robinson
ALL WOMEN ARE WELCOME
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