[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5398]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


                RECOGNITION OF REVEREND KENNETH DYKSTRA

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, today I rise in recognition of the 
steadfast service and commitment of a principled man of God, Reverend 
Kenneth Dykstra of Pella, IA. Reverend Dykstra served in the capacity 
as Senior Pastor of Third Reformed Church in Pella from 1969 to 1979. 
During this period he was involved and actively participated in two 
extremely consequential missionary trips, one to India and the other to 
Mexico--both with the Reformed Churches of America.
  Kenneth Dykstra devoted the next 8 years of his admirable career to 
prison inmates through a Bible study ministry as the Senior Pastor with 
the Worthington Reformed Church in Worthington, MN.
  Reverend Dykstra returned home to the beautiful state of Iowa in 1987 
to retire in the Dutch community of historic Pella. Knowing ``true'' 
retirement for a pastor is rarely an option, he served in a variety of 
roles including mentor for a church's new pastor and as a Minister of 
Calling with focused attention on visitations to shut-ins and nursing 
home residents.
  Kenneth Dykstra's significant contribution to not only those his 
ministry touched, but also the entire State of Iowa, in no way goes 
unnoticed. I thank and commend him today for all of his dedication, 
commitment and positive influence on those fortunate enough to know 
him.

                          ____________________