AL BANDSTRA CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
SCHOLARSHIP
Imago Dei Cleaning LLC has established this scholarship to support and continue Pastor Al Bandstra's rich legacy of teaching and promoting Christian education.
Through this scholarship, Imago Dei Cleaning hopes to help students pursue their educational goals in Christian Educational Institutions worldwide and lighten their financial burden.
This $500 scholarship is awarded annually to international and U.S. students who plan to enroll in or are already enrolled in a Christian school/college. This includes homeschoolers.
Al Bandstra, commonly known as “Mr. B,” is a pastor, Christian school teacher, and gardener who was raised a Calvinist on the family farm near Oskaloosa, Iowa. A product of the Oskaloosa School for Christian Instruction and Pella Christian High, he earned his BA from Dordt College, and furthered his training in Christian education at several schools, including the University of Northern Iowa, the University of Durango in Durango, Mexico, Seattle Pacific University, and Alta Vista College in Medina, Washington under Drs. Al Greene and Elaine Brouwer. He was awarded an honorary doctorate in The Theology of Christian Education from Antioch Missions International Seminary in Suji-gu, South Korea where he instructed the students in Christian education from 2010-2017.
He was granted his license to exhort in the Christian Reformed Churches of Classis Pella, now known as Central Plains, in 1994 and was ordained as a commissioned pastor in 1997 while pastoring the Tracy Christian Reformed Church in Tracy, Iowa.
He has been teaching in Christian schools in Iowa, Romania, and Korea for 55 years, 33 of them in Pella Christian Grade School. He retired from Pella Christian in 2008 to accept the invitation to join the staff of the newly founded Saemmul Christian School in Bundang, South Korea where he taught Bible and English and had the title and honor of being their, “Teacher of Teachers.” He led workshops in Christian schools throughout South Korea, lectured weekly at AMI Seminary, and pastored the international Ansan Mission Church.
Al became the pastor of both the Leighton CRC and the Tracy CRC in February of 2021. Along with pastoring, he enjoys teaching science to the 7th and 8th graders in the Peoria Christian School in Peoria, Iowa, and leading four weekly online Bible classes with pastors, teachers, and students in Korea, Nepal, Cambodia, and Brazil.
Benjamin and Maricel met him at the Korean seminary. Benjamin was then studying for a Master of Divinity degree.
2023 Scholarship is now open
Application
To apply for this scholarship, interested candidates or parents should provide the following:
In a 500-word essay or less, explain why you agree or disagree with this statement: "If you do not know Jesus, you do not know anything." In the explanation, convince us of your theology by applying it to a historical event or scientific principle.
Please send your completed materials in one email to albandstra.scholarship@imagodeipella.com with the subject line: "[Applicant's First and Last Name] – 2023 Al Bandstra Christian Education Scholarship".
Please visit the scholarship page at www.imagodeipella.com or call the administrator Benjamin Anum-Higher at 641.858.6985 if you have any questions. We are also on Facebook.
Scholarship Eligibility
To qualify for the 2023 Al Bandstra Christian Education Scholarship, an applicant must currently be enrolled or plan to enroll in a Christian school or enrolled in a course of study at any Christian College/University. Homeschoolers are welcome to apply.
Deadline
The deadline is July 31, 2023.
Award
The recipient(s) of the Al Bandstra Christian Education Scholarship 2023 will be chosen during the months following the scholarship deadline.
Thank you for your interest in the 2023 Al Bandstra Christian Education Scholarship.
