Bishop Jerry F. Datema: 1929-1994

Steve Dennie

November 1994

Jerry F. Datema--a UB missionary, pastor, and bishop--passed away September 15 at his home in Huntington, IN.

Shortly after retiring in August 1993, Bishop Datema was diagnosed with terminal abdominal cancer. He and his wife, Eleanore, had planned to move to Jamaica, where they had previously served four years as missionaries, to work with the national church in leadership development. However, those plans had to be canceled, and Bishop Datema began chemotherapy treatments.

At the time, it was thought that Bishop Datema might have only a few months to live. But the Lord saw fit to let him live for another year--a year in which he was able to spend much valuable time with Eleanore, their four children, and the eight grandchildren.

The end came very peacefully and without pain that Thursday afternoon. For several days, his physical condition had been deteriorating rapidly. However, he was able to remain in his upstairs bedroom in their house in Huntington, as he had wished.

Eleanore, along with sons Tom (who returned from Sierra Leone August 31) and Dave were with him when he died. Kyle McQuillen, Director of Missions, spent time with his predecessor that morning. Dr. Richard and Miriam Prabhakar, good friends on furlough from India, visited during the day. So did June Brown, with whom he had served throughout his ministry in Sierra Leone and as bishop.

Around 4:30 in the afternoon, Bishop Datema began slipping into what appeared to be a coma. And at 5:00, he passed on.

Jerry Frederick Datema was born December 15, 1924, in Dutton, MI, near Grand Rapids. He was the fifth of eight children in a close family.

Sensing God's call to ministry at age 20, he went to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. That's where he met his wife, Eleanore. They were married in 1954 and lived in Dutton, MI, where Rev. Datema pastored the Dutton United Brethren Church.

In the fall of 1956, the Datemas moved to Huntington. Jerry completed his studies for ordination and was granted a Bible Diploma from Huntington College.

Rev. and Mrs. Datema began their missionary career in 1957 in Sierra Leone. He went there to work at the Bumpe Bible Institute, while Eleanore, a nurse, ran a medical dispensary. They served there until 1963, at which point they began a year in deputation and further studies at Huntington College. Rev. Datema received his B. A. in Bible in 1964 and a Bachelor of Theology degree in 1965.

A new assignment in 1964 took the Datema family to Jamaica, where they served until May 1968. In August 1993, in anticipation of going to Jamaica, Bishop Datema wrote, "About 30 years ago, when we lived in Jamaica, there were six young United brethren pastors who had just completed bible college. Some of these men have now pastored United Brethren churches for 30 years and are our conference leaders. In returning to Jamaica, we will work under the leadership of these men, a position I look forward to with anticipation."

In September 1968, the Datemas returned to Sierra Leone for their fourth term, remaining until July 1971. On their return from the field in 1971, they were assigned by Michigan Conference to the Maple Hill Church at Grandville, where they served until 1976.

Returning to Sierra Leone for their fifth and sixth terms, Rev. Datema was assigned as Field Secretary. In August 1981, in the midst of their seventh term, Rev. Datema was elected as one of the four United Brethren bishops. He was appointed as Overseas Bishop, and was re-elected twice, serving in that position until August 1993.

Following Bishop Datema's death, two services were held to celebrate his life and ministry. The first, a memorial service, was held September 15 at College Park UB in Huntington, IN. The next day, a funeral service was held at Gaines UB in Caledonia, MI, followed by burial.

Brent Birdsall has known Bishop Datema in several capacities--first as a fellow missionary, then as his bishop, and most recently, as one of his parishioners at College Park. "Jerry Datema was an ordinary man touched by the extraordinary grace of Jesus Christ," he said in his message at the memorial service.

Pastor Birdsall commented on the six months Jerry Datema spent doing village-to-village evangelistic meetings in Sierra Leone. He traveled the area preaching in evangelistic meetings, accompanied by two blind African pastors--one playing the accordion, the other preaching.

"Jerry was involved in the ministry of telling people about Jesus Christ. I have talked to him over a number of years about a number of issues of ministry, but I think the ministry he probably enjoyed the most was those six months of evangelistic ministry in the village of Sierra Leone. He did all kinds of other ministry. He had higher profile positions. But somehow there was that tone of voice, or maybe there was that look in his eye as he almost put himself back in the villages around Bumpe and Mattru and Gbangbaia. And somehow in that elementary but essential work of proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ, Jerry was at his best.

Lloyd Spencer, a good friend and longtime superintendent in Jamaica Conference, attended that service. He expressed appreciation for Bishop Datema's 16 years of ministry to Jamaica--four years as a missionary, 12 years as bishop. "We loved him, he loved us, and he loved Jamaica."

Bishop and Mrs. Datema are the parents of four sons: Steven, living in California; Timothy, a resident of Michigan; Thomas, recently returned from missionary service in Sierra Leone and residing in Huntington; and David, pastor of Bethel UB Church in Elmore, Ohio. The Datema residence is 905 Himes Street, Huntington, IN, 46750. Memorials should be directed to: Jerry F. Datema Memorial Fund, Department of Missions, 302 Lake St., Huntington, IN 46750.