Bio

Robyn avoided the Lord Jesus Christ for the first 34 years of her life, turning to a “Higher Power” only in times of dire emergency or extreme turbulence. Raised by a brilliant, but liberal single mom, Robyn was taught to be responsible and moral, but not spiritual. It wasn’t until she was poised to marry her college sweetheart that she accepted Jesus as her Savior at a Christmas program. Her husband’s immediate job relocation after the wedding derailed any urgency to be discipled or trained. A new husband, a new city, a new home, and a new job preoccupied her days leaving her saved, but spiritually and Biblically illiterate.

After 7 years of marriage, the first of two children was born to Robyn and Jay and a host of questions about God was reignited.  Robyn joined a Bible study to accumulate information so she’d be prepared to answer questions that her children might ask about God. What started as an educational quest ended with a life long commitment to God through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Jesus became not only her Savior, but LORD of her life. Robyn has been leading other women to Jesus in weekly Bible studies and at women’s events ever since.

Widowed at 40 and left with two small children when her husband Jay died unexpectedly of a heart attack, Robyn testifies of God’s faithfulness in times of great tragedy and the power of his love and comfort by the Holy Spirit and through his Body, the church. Robyn shares her gift of faith and joy with women of all ages. A third generation teacher, Robyn teaches the Bible by topic or theme at retreats, holiday programs, and MOPS meetings.

Robyn is a homebody by nature; her favorite pastimes are reading, baking, and watching videos (as long as she controls the remote). She says she does like an occasional adventure. She acquired her pilot’s license at 42 so she could fly single engine airplanes and later, obtained her motorcycle endorsement to ride with the men in her family.

Robyn married Dave Dykstra in 2001.   At 37, Dave, who had never been married or had children of his own, courageously took on a woman at the precipice of menopause and two prepubescent boys.  Jake who was 12 by then, and Eli who was 9, both welcomed Dave’s request to adopt them the following year.

These days, both young men are grown and doing well.   Jake is finishing his degree as a Mechanical Engineer at G.V.S.U.  Eli is a fire fighter in the Grand Rapids area.  After 10 years as a family man, Dave is grayer but successful at home and at work. Robyn and Dave live and serve Jesus in Grand Rapids, MI.

Statement of Faith

I believe that Jesus Christ is God Almighty and the only way for men to be saved. (John 3:16) He is “the way, the truth, and the life.” (John 14:6)

• Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit, was born of a virgin and is true God and true man (Is.7:14; Matt.1:18-25).

I believe that “salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to man by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12 )

• Salvation comes by grace through faith only in Jesus Christ, through his substitutionary atoning sacrifice and not contingent on human merit (Eph. 2:8-9; Heb.2:14-17).

I believe that “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners” and can fully redeem and powerfully use even those who consider they have been “the worst” of sinners. (1 Timothy 1:15)

• To be saved, you must be born again.  This birth is instantaneous and not a process. (II Cor. 5:17, John 3:1-21)

Justification is an act of God in which he declares the believer to be righteous on the basis of faith in Christ and Christ’s righteousness to the believing sinner (Titus 3:5-7).

Sanctification is the setting apart of a believer unto God as his purchased possession through the work of the Holy Spirit and the power of his Word (Eph. 5:25-27; I Thes. 4:3-4)

I believe that Satan is a created but fallen personality, opposed to all that is holy, destined for eternal punishment (Is. 14:12-15; Ez.28:14-17; I Peter 5:8; Jude 6).

I believe all sin is forgivable.  “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”(1 John 1:9)

I believe Jesus Christ rose bodily from the grave, ascended into Heaven, and intercedes on our behalf as our High Priest. (I Cor.15:3-4; I Tim. 2:5)

I believe that all scripture is “God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness.” (2 Timothy 3:16)

I believe very believer is eternally secure, being “kept by the power of God” (John 10:28; Rom. 8:35-39; Eph. 1:13).

I believe that every believer in Christ is the “temple of the Holy Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

I believe that Jesus died and rose for all and we have been “baptized by one Spirit into one body” (1Corinthians 12:13) and recognize the value and equality of all members of the body of Christ. We are “all one in Christ Jesus.” (Galatians 3:29)

I believe man was made in God’s own image but now is through Adam’s fall, a sinner both by nature and choice, and can be restored to God’s favor only by God’s provision of salvation in Christ as applied by the Holy Spirit (Gen.3:1-6,24; Rom.3:10-19; 5:12,19).