When George van Beek gave his first $5,000 grant to start the Experimental Fund back in 1981, he wasn't really sure what would become of it.
“At the time, the church was rather flat; nothing was really developing,” he told the Record. “I wondered what we could do to make it more lively. I just wanted the church to reach out in a different way, and that was the way to do it. And it's still working well.”
Van Beek was in Toronto in October to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Experimental Fund, which gives grants to congregations or groups looking for new and unique ways of doing mission and ministry.
That first $5,000 was given by van Beek to assist the church in its “doubling in a decade” initiative — which many hoped would have people clamouring to enter a Presbyterian parish by the time 1990 was rung in.
The goal, of course, fell short, but the fund that began to aid it continued and grew. Since its inception, the fund has given $150,000 to support new initiatives, with $500,000 currently in the bank.
Many projects that still exist today got their start thanks to the fund, including the Cariboo House Church Ministry in British Columbia, the church's web page, the Talking Record (making the Presbyterian Record available on audio tape), and a project developed by Lakeshore St. Andrew's, Tecumseh, Ont., that became the forerunner for the church's Leading with Care project.
“I'm delighted with the fund,” said van Beek, who remains the fund's chief benefactor. “I just wanted the church to be more active; it didn't really concern me how they did it.”
Although the fund received its first monetary gift in 1981, it wouldn't be until 1984 that it was fully endorsed by the General Assembly.
“The church was on the verge of change at that time,” said Dr. Margaret Taylor, whom van Beek first spoke to about starting the fund. She also used to sit on the fund's executive. “And George wanted a place in the church to do something of an experimental nature. He and [wife] Evelyn had the vision. And some people couldn't quite grasp it.”
She noted that van Beek was always sure of one thing: that the fund would support projects that benefited the whole church, and not just a small part of it.
Van Beek's vision has also provided for the fund's future, stipulating in his will that upon his death, the fund will be put under an agency of the church, rather than having volunteers manage it. The agency will report to General Assembly. It is hoped that through this closer connection to the church, the fund will enjoy greater publicity and a better ability to follow the activity of projects it has supported.
Upon this change, it will be renamed The Avondbloem Fund, meaning “evening flower” in van Beek's native Dutch. Future plans for the fund include supporting college bursaries, emergency situations and special building needs.
“George is a man of a lot of talents, a lot of love and a lot of gifts,” said Rev. Dr. Fred Rennie, secretary of the fund and van Beek's longtime friend and minister. “We're grateful for his foresight and benevolence in this project.”
For more information on the Experimental Fund, visit www.presbyterian.ca/exfund/index.html.
