Taylor
W. Holbrook, the pastor of the Hopewell Reformed Church, is a 1986 graduate
of Western Theological Seminary and a 1980 graduate of Hope College, both
in Holland, Michigan. He was born in Cicero, Illinois, and has lived in
Brooklyn; Denver; Holland, Michigan; Sierra Leone, West Africa; Troy, New
York and Silverton, Colorado. He served for 12 years as the pastor of the
Middlebush Reformed Church in Somerset, New Jersey from 1986-1998.
Pastor Holbrook is the third generation Holbrook in the pulpit. His father and grandfather were both Reformed Church in America ministers. He serves the Reformed Church in America as a Regional Evangelism Trainer as well as being a member of the Revitalization Task Force.
Taylor is married to Cathleen Bast Holbrook, who is also a child of the manse. Her father, Robert Bast, was minister for evangelism and church life for the Reformed Church until his death and her grandfather Henry Bast was the broadcast minister for Temple Time, now called Words of Hope. Cathy taught English at Holland Christian High School. Cathy was raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan and has also lived in Iowa, Illinois, and New Jersey. She enjoys quilting, reading, gardening and entertaining.
The Holbrooks have three children: Hilary, Sarah, and Andrew, and one dog, Fiona. The children are active in sports, music and the life of the church.
Pastor Holbrook articulates a vision for his ministry at Hopewell
in a simple phrase that covers ministry and mission; that in all we do
our goal is "to know Christ and to make him known." He says "my prayer
for Hopewell is that as we continue to grow deeper in our relationship
to Christ we will become more challenged in the charge to share and be
good news to others."