Howard D. Vanderwell was born and raised in Muskegon, Michigan, and spent much of his ministry in small to mid-sized towns. After serving as senior pastor for forty years at four different churches, Hebegan a second career at Calvin Seminary with the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship in 2002. Here he helped train the ministers of the next generation through ministries of teaching, resource development, mentoring, and writing. Howard had also previously authored Preaching that Connects (1989), Now That You are An Elder: A Study in Eldership for Today’s Church Leadership (1990), and Proven Promises (1990), and served on several ministry-related boards, often as president, including the annual denominational Synod of the Christian Reformed Church.