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James Bultman Contributes Essay
To Book on Faith Experiences

Posted July 26, 2002

HOLLAND -- Dr. James E. Bultman, president of Hope College, has an essay included in "College Faith: 150 Christian Leaders and Educators Share Faith Stories from Their Student Days."

Published by Andrews University Press, the book brings together the personal faith perspectives of scores of leaders in Christian higher education, including more than 60 college, university or seminary presidents. The testimonies are presented to cover a wide range of issues faced by any Christian student in any age: academic struggles, financial crises, satisfying or frustrating personal relationships, opportunities to witness and the call to follow Jesus.

Dr. Timothy George, executive editor "Christianity Today" and dean of Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, said, "Aptly arranged like a special collection of precious stones--beautiful gems of grace--these stories of personal faith bring us all closer to Christ. A book of encouragement for students everywhere, as well as for those who teach them, and all those who love and pray for them."

Bultman's essay, "A Few Godly Men," reflects on the positive influence of his coaches while he was a student at Hope. He reflects on the way that they taught through their coaching, emphasizing excellence in sport while keeping the activity in perspective, and through the way that they lived out their faith.

"These godly men did not wear their religion on their sleeves," he wrote. "Rather, it was an inherent part of the fabric of their lives. They lived their faith every day, and it was experienced by those of us who had the privilege of coming under their tutelage."

Bultman, president of Hope since 1999, is a 1963 Hope graduate. He played football and baseball during each of his four years as a student, and captained both teams. His coaches in football were Gordon Brewer, Russ De Vette and Dr. Ken Weller, and his baseball coach was Dr. Daryl Siedentop. Others he cites in the essay include the late Larry "Doc" Green, who was the college's athletic trainer, and former football coach Al Vanderbush, who was continuing to serve on the college's political science faculty.

Brewer and De Vette are both retired from Hope and living in Holland, and Vanderbush is retired from the college and living in Bloomington, Minn. Weller went on to become president of Central College in Pella, Iowa, retiring in 1990. Siedentop lives in Westerville, Ohio, and is a member of the faculty at The Ohio State University.

After graduation, Bultman taught and coached in the public schools in Portage. He was on the Hope education faculty from 1968 to 1985, and served as an assistant football coach from 1970 to 1985 and head baseball coach from 1971 to 1985. He was president of Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, from 1985 to 1999.

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