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M.R. DeHaan

M.R. DeHaan

M. R. DeHaan was a physician who later in life became a pastor - well known for his gravelly voice and impassioned Bible teaching. His commitment to ministry was to lead people of all nations to personal faith and maturity in Christ. So in 1938, from a small radio station in eastern Michigan, Detroit Bible Class was born. Suddenly the spiritual doctor was making house calls - to hundreds of thousands of Scripture-hungry listeners. Even though he was an unlikely radio personality - with a rough, authoritative voice - the program worked to great effect. And Dr. De Haan's heavily underlined reflections on the Scripture quickly became a source of biblical wisdom for many. In response to his teaching, listeners asked for transcripts of the broadcast for use as study materials. These resources, soon in great demand, were the precursor of today's widely distributed Discovery Series booklets. From this spiritual foundation, the Grand Rapids, Michigan-based ministry continues to build upon the foundation of Dr. De Haan’s vision and work. With commitment to the biblical principles, Our Daily Bread Ministries today offers teaching resources to millions worldwide. While Dr. De Haan began this ministry in his basement as a family operation, today the Lord has brought together a staff of over 300 Christian workers in our US headquarters. Dr. De Haan was a leader who is remembered as a real man of God who loved the Lord and loved teaching His Word. Find books by M.R. DeHaan

Articles by M.R. DeHaan

Do You Talk To Yourself?

Sitting in my car at the curb, waiting for my wife to finish shopping, I passed the time by watching the people walking by. I noticed one man in particular because he was deeply engrossed in talking to himself. What he said I don't know, but it surely was a serious discussion. He reminded me of a man who, when asked why he always talked to himself, replied, "I have two reasons: First, I like to hear a smart man talk. And second, I like to talk to a smart man!"

Don't Be Discouraged

"Why are you throwing away those nice potatoes, Grandpa?" asked my young grandson. I was planting potatoes in my garden, and he thought it was a waste to bury them. So I had an opportunity to explain to him that only as we give the seed away can we receive the harvest.

Earthquake Power

Have you ever been through an earthquake? Several years ago a mild quake awoke me with the swaying and trembling of the house. It was not severe and did not greatly disturb me. I am told that a really severe earthquake is a fearful experience. Much of the fear, however, may depend on the view one takes of the phenomenon.

The Star In The Window

During World War II it was the custom in the United States for a family who had a son serving in the military to place a star in the front window of their home. But a gold star indicated that the son had died in support of his country's cause.

How Do You Hear?

A young boy asked his father to solve a riddle. He said, "There were three frogs sitting on a log. One frog decided to jump off. How many were left?" The dad replied, "Two, of course." "You're wrong!" gleefully exclaimed the boy. "There were three frogs left. The one frog only decided to jump off, but he didn't jump!"

'Were You There?'

What you do with the Bible depends on what you do with the first sentence of Genesis. The Bible opens with a simple statement, "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" (Gen. 1:1). If you believe that, you can believe everything else that follows. If you reject that statement, you will also deny every other cardinal truth in the Scriptures.

Two Rivers

The Brule River, which is on the border between Michigan and Wisconsin, flows for miles with clear, sparkling water. It is inhabited by an abundant population of speckled, rainbow, and brown trout. At one point the Iron River, muddy and thick with sediment of ore and clay, merges with the Brule.

Do You Talk Too Much?

We all talk too much! What heartaches are caused, homes broken up, friends estranged, wars incited by some hasty, angry word! Much of the conflict in the world is caused by a combination of a narrow mind and a wide mouth. You will seldom get in trouble by listening, and most of us can learn more from what others say than what we have to say.

Killing Time

A friend of mine was sitting on a park bench with his hands folded, staring into the distance. When I asked what he was doing, he replied, "Oh, just killing time."