Teresa Renkema

Associate Professor of Intercultural Communication

B.A. (Calvin College, 1974), M.A. (InterAmerican University of Puerto Rico, 1992)

TRenkema@kuyper.edu • 616.988.3679

Over the last four years Professor Renkema has taught the English as a second language (TESOL) certificate program as well as a variety of writing courses.  She especially enjoys introducing students to an appreciation of language through classes in linguistics, grammar and methods of teaching English as a second language. Professor Renkema brings to the classroom more than 15 years of experience living and working in Argentina, Costa Rica, Honduras and Puerto Rico.  As an ESL educator, she has worked in a variety of English language teaching settings, including private language school, middle school, high school and university.  Currently she volunteers in her own church's ESL outreach program. She often consults with churches and agencies in the area of teaching English as a second language.  

"One of the things that I really love about teaching and especially about teaching English as a second language is that I have daily opportunities to marvel at the intricacies of language and the human ability to create meaning and to communicate using language. Language is one of God's wonderful gifts. For me, though, it is not enough to simply acknowledge that God created language and gave it to his servants. God reveals himself through language and calls believers to develop their gift of language as a means of serving him.

As a professor at Kuyper College, I am privileged to model the use of language and to encourage students to use language to become kingdom builders. The exploration of God's gift of language enables us to communicate his deep love and care for the world. Through excellence in communication using language, we bring honor to God, build bonds with fellow believers and reach those who are strangers to his love. That is what teaching and learning at Kuyper College is all about."

Professor Renkema is married to Rev. William Renkema, the senior pastor of Borculo Church.   They have 4 adult children.  At every available opportunity, Professor Renkema returns to her farming roots by tending to her gardens.