When he retired in 1996, the Christian Reformed Church’s media ministry, then called The Back to God Hour, noted that the name Joel Nederhood “has been synonymous with The Back to God Hour.” At that time he’d served as a radio minister, host of the daily Faith 20 television program, and director of ministries. He died Dec. 2 at the age of 94.
Nederhood gave a farewell speech to synod, the CRC’s annual general assembly, in 1996. The summary in the Acts of Synod shows concern for the continued necessary work of the ministry. “He expresses his gratitude for the prayers and financial support of the denomination during his years of ministry at The Back to God Hour. He briefly reviews the joys of his ministry in the church and expresses concerns about the culture and the need for the church to address those concerns from the Reformed perspective. He reminds the assembly how important it is for a Reformed church to be always reforming.”
In 1987 Nederhood visited Russia and preached in five cities there. In 1996 The Back To God Hour had nine major language ministries. After two name changes — Back to God Ministries International and in 2020, ReFrame Ministries, as it’s known today — ReFrame still has nine language ministries:Arabic, Chinese, French, Hindi, Indonesian, Japanese, Portuguese, Spanish, and English. It suspended its Russian language ministry earlier this year.
Nederhood was ordained in the CRC in 1960, coming from First CRC in Cutlerville, Mich. He would have been 95 this month.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, who was also recognized in the Acts of Synod 1996 on Nederhood’s retirement. “Rev. Kenneth Koeman, first clerk of synod, responds (to Nederhood’s remarks), quoting the words of Paul from Philippians 1:3, ‘I thank my God every time I remember you’ and on behalf of the delegates and the Christian Reformed Church expresses gratitude to Dr. Nederhood for his ministry. Mrs. Mary Lou Nederhood is also recognized.”
An online obituary notes visitation for family and friends Sunday, Dec. 7, and a funeral service the same day at Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing, Ill.