08/21/2025
Good Morning fellow history lovers!
Today, while sorting through some donations, a little booklet entitled: Before and After Marriage written by Dr. M. R. DeHaan was uncovered tucked away among some photos. I briefly looked through this pamphlet and couldn't help but wonder: how did a Doctor in Michigan write a pamphlet on Marriage and that wound up in a home in East Tennessee and, in turn, on my desk?
Well, let's begin with the author himself.
Martin Ralph DeHaan (1891–1965) was an American Bible teacher, founder of Radio Bible Class, and co-editor of Our Daily Bread.
Born in Zeeland, Michigan, to Dutch immigrants, DeHaan graduated from Zeeland High School in 1908 and later earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois in 1914. He opened a country practice in Byron Center, Michigan, where his quick thinking often saved lives, including diagnosing his mother’s diabetes and prescribing a newly developed medicine for her treatment: insulin.
Though raised in a devout home, DeHaan struggled with alcohol until a near-fatal illness in 1921 led to a spiritual transformation. He gave up medicine in 1922 to study at Western Theological Seminary, graduating in 1925. His first pastorate at Calvary Reformed Church in Grand Rapids drew large crowds in person and over the radio. His conflicting views on faith led him to resign in 1929 and establish Calvary Undenominational Church, which grew rapidly before health troubles and church disputes prompted his resignation in 1938.
After tending to his ill health, DeHaan devoted himself to teaching Bible classes and radio broadcasting. His Radio Bible Class program, launched in the 1930s, eventually aired worldwide on more than 600 stations. In 1956, he introduced the devotional booklet Our Daily Bread, which reached millions.
Outside of ministry, DeHaan enjoyed gardening, fly fishing, beekeeping, and exploring old houses. Though not fond of social events, he loved meeting listeners during his travels.
Weakened by years of heart trouble, DeHaan made his final public appearance at Moody Bible Institute in 1965. That July he was injured in a car accident, and on December 13, 1965, he died at home in Grand Rapids.
For privacy sake, I will refrain from mentioning the family who donated this item. Suffice it to say, the couple who had this booklet they lived a long and happy life together. How much of an affect Dr. DeHaan had on their union will remain unknown, but, it would appear that his radio broadcasts and writings were so popular that their reach extended over 596 miles away to Clinton, TN and beyond.
I hope you enjoyed this brief trip down the rabbit hole that is history. Where one small item can catch your eye and lead you to places unknown in search of one man's life story.
Thank you for stopping by the Archives!
