Anne Oostendorp

WISE COUNSEL HELPS PREACHER’S DAUGHTER LEAVE $3 MILLION FOR MINISTRY

Anne Oostendorp sat in the back row of church for nearly 30 years, slipping out quietly nearly every Sunday morning after the worship services at LaGrave Christian Reformed Church. She never married or had a family, spending time instead with her sister and brothers, a small circle of friends and nieces and nephews.

This quiet, unassuming daughter of a CRC pastor passed away on October 24, 2007 at the age of 66. Following her death, friends and family were surprised to learn she had left $3 million to the kingdom causes she loved.

“Nobody on her street would have guessed she had that kind of money,” her brother Derk Oostendorp observed. “She lived like The Millionaire Next Door”, a reference to a popular book that concluded many wealthy Americans live far below their means. When it came to buying a car, for example, “You wouldn’t find her buying a Lexus,” Derk noted. She opted for a Pontiac instead.

A graduate of the University of Michigan Medical School, Anne helped develop the specialty of pediatric radiology and became the first pediatric radiologist in West Michigan. She initially objected to the high salary she would be paid, prompting a colleague to suggest that Anne “use the money for what [she]  thought was right.” That advice would prove to be a defining moment in Anne’s lifestyle of generosity to her family and the ministries she loved.

In her work, Anne developed a reputation for being very diligent, dedicated to finding the causes of disease in children through diagnostic tests and the latest research in her field. Anne was very gifted at asking the right questions, and was described as “very intense” when it came to finding the right answers to those questions.

The ability to ask the right questions and find the right answers carried over into Anne’s finances too. Although she was quite private about her personal finances, she had an innate sense of who to trust and ask for advice on her investments.  She selected a trusted advisor, and her assets began to multiply.

Anne also realized she needed good counsel when it came to thinking through her charitable investments in ministry organizations. She turned to the professionals at Barnabas Foundation, who, her brother Derk recalled, “allowed her to plan carefully how she would use funds to be able to give to things she was interested in.”

Barnabas Foundation helped Anne develop an estate plan rooted in “very definite personal connections” – including her family, CRWRC, Christian Reformed World Missions, Kuyper College, Calvin College, Luke Society, and her church.

The Bible says, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” (Proverbs 15:22). Anne understood the importance of seeking wise Godly counsel, and her commitment to this biblical principle has blessed many others – and will continue to bless many more – for the glory of God and the advancement of His kingdom.