The Class of 1982 donates a brick in the courtyard to encourage future generations.

By anyone who knew them, Timothy’s class of 1982 was undeniably unique. The class had a way of unifying friend groups that even surrounding grades found attractive, and all the while making sure they had fun doing it. Their culture of inclusiveness also led to deep and meaningful relationships, many of which carried on well beyond graduation. 

“The class just bonded and it’s become like family since we left,” said Ken Huiner, a class of ’82 alumnus who now serves on Timothy’s Alumni Board. “I can remember kids in different grades hanging out with our class when they felt left out and that there weren’t a lot of individual church or denomination alliances. What unified us was faith in Christ.”

Because of this, and fueled by the dawn of Facebook, the twenty-five-year reunion for the class of ’82 was a major hit. The list of attendees included more than fifty alumni and even several Timothy staff, such as Jim Boven, Scott Roelofs, and Jim Snoeyink.

“I think if you talked to any teacher who taught the class of 1982 they would all agree that it was a great class,” Mr. Roelofs said, who teaches history at Timothy. “They were a tight-knit group that all seemed to get along with each other and included everyone. They were successful academically, athletically, and artistically. As a teacher, I loved the fact that they were enthusiastic in class. They knew how to have fun without getting out of control.”

Since the first reunion, the class has had three more, the most recent being 35 years. With full hearts after the most recent reunion, Ken recalled of his classmates, “We started talking about what to do with the overage of money charged for the event. As it wound down, someone familiar with Courtyard Bricks suggested that it might be a good way to use the money that was leftover.”

The group agreed and they promptly started to consider what their brick might say and reached out to classmates to see if they were interested in being a part of it. While there were many fond memories of the school, what stood out most in people’s minds was the centrality of Christ and the Bible.

Lynelle and Jim Cook were a part of the small group that was considering what the brick would say and it soon became clear. Ultimately, it was Lynelle who thought of the scripture that would best capture their thoughts on Timothy and what they hoped would serve as an encouragement to future generations. “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 

The group agreed that it was perfect and in the end, more than a dozen people donated to the bricks, raising over $2,000 for Timothy and providing two bricks for the courtyard.

Since the class of ’82, dozens of more classes have come through Timothy and have helped to shape it into an even stronger, larger, more diverse and academically challenging place than ever before. However, what remains constant is what is eternally true — God’s word, which shapes all that Timothy does. 

When reflecting on the choice of Scripture and what it meant to be a student at Timothy, Ken shared that, “Being at Timothy was a blessing. To have the guidance of your peers and dedicated teachers to keep you on the right path was so valuable. The Christian environment anchors your faith while you’re learning to be an adult.”

The class of ’82 is grateful for what Timothy provided and many, like Ken, find themselves using the lessons their Timothy education provided every single day. In thinking about what he would want to share with today’s students, Ken eagerly exclaimed, “Enjoy it while it lasts. Appreciate it and save those memories, because you will carry them with you for the rest of your life.”

If you would like to learn more about planning a reunion for your class or donating a courtyard brick, please email Jay Evenhouse at evenhouse@timothychristian.com