Gateway director addresses concerns about connection to Family Research Council
HOLLAND — Jay Riemersma, new director at Gateway Mission, is addressing concerns about his time with Family Research Council.
Riemersma was named interim director of Gateway in December after the retirement of Darryl Bartlett. The nonprofit announced Riemersma's selection as permanent executive director this week.
More:Former NFL player, Family Research Council director tapped to lead Gateway Mission
More:Family Central opens to scores of supporters amid protests in downtown Holland
Before he joined Gateway, Riemersma was regional director of development for evangelical activist group and think-tank Family Research Council. In 2022, he ended his tenure as a senior director of development.
FRC is the political lobbying firm for Focus on the Family, aided in its launch by millions of dollars donated from foundations owned by former Secretary of Education and Holland native Betsy DeVos and her parents, Edgar and Elsa Prince.
FRC has been listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, chiefly for its views on homosexuality, citing troubling quotes from FRC publications and executives as recently as 2019.
In an interview Wednesday, Feb. 15, Riemersma said, despite his past connection to FRC, Gateway Mission will continue to serve the entire Holland community, and will not exclude anyone based on their views on abortion, gay marriage or gender identify.
“We align on the biblical definitions of life and marriage,” Riemersma said. “We don’t turn anybody away and we don’t make it a prerequisite here at Gateway Mission to be a Christian in order to be part of our program. We reach out with the love of Christ to those in need from all walks of life.
“If they need the support, we are there to help.”
Riemersma added participants need not be Christian to graduate from the organization’s addiction and discipleship program, either — despite the name.
“Our mission is to declare and demonstrate the love of Christ by providing housing and programs for the homeless and less fortunate in our community,” Riemersma said. “Under my leadership, that's not going to change. ... If there are people that have a different view of things, I simply ask them to reach out to me and grab a cup of coffee and have a conversation.
“Gateway Mission provides critical services to our community and, under my leadership, none of that will change.”
Riemersma said, over the years, he and his wife have been supportive of Gateway because they view the work done through the nonprofit as critical.
“It's frontline work,” he said. “It's important, it's necessary. Providing basic needs, building relationships, teaching the truth, installing identity and bringing hope to those less fortunate in our community."
Gateway will host a "Meet Our Mission" event at 7 a.m. Wednesday, March 15. Donors and community members will have the opportunity to meet Riemersma and participate in a question and answer session.
Visit hopefoundhere.org/meetourmission to register.
— Contact freelancer Austin Metz at ametz@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Gateway director addresses concerns about connection to Family Research Council
