'''Gerald "Jerry" Zandstra''', is an ordained minister in the Christian Reformed Church, and currently serves in Wayland CRC<ref name=":1" />. He is a former Republican primary candidate for the United States Senate.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Jerry Zandstra Has the Big Picture in Mind – Politician to Movie Executive |url=https://www.corpmagazine.com/uncategorized/jerry-zandstra-has-the-big-picture-in-mind-politician-to-movie-executive/?s= |access-date=2008-07-01 |newspaper=Corp! Magazine}}</ref>

== Politics == Zandstra has been a long-standing supporter of the Republican Party. From 2000 to 2005, he held a position of Director of Programs with The Acton Institute, a conservative think-tank based in Grand Rapids, MI.<ref>{{Cite web |author=John Couretas |date=2005-05-17 |title=Rev. Gerald Zandstra takes leave from Acton |url=https://rlo.acton.org/archives/150-rev-gerald-zandstra-takes-leave-from-acton.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Religion & Liberty Online |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 2005, Zandstra announced that he would seek the Republican nomination for US Senate.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2015-03-25 |title=Michigan Candidates Line Up for GOP Senate Bid |url=https://www.foxnews.com/story/michigan-candidates-line-up-for-gop-senate-bid |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Associated Press |language=en-US}}</ref> Zandstra faced Keith Butler and Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who went on to win the Republican primary in 2006.

Following his unsuccessful US Senate campaign, Zandstra returned to work at the Acton Institute.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Member |first=Acton Staff |date=2024-03-11 |title=Rev. Gerald Zandstra Rejoins Acton as Senior Fellow |url=https://www.acton.org/press/release/2006/rev-gerald-zandstra-rejoins-acton-senior-fellow |access-date=2024-03-11 |website=Acton Institute |language=en}}</ref>

== Legal Issues == In 2014, Zandstra led The Pyramid Campus Group who sought to purchase a pyramid-shaped building owned by Michigan-based Steelcase.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Monica Scott |date=2014-11-26 |title=Education group purchasing Steelcase's landmark pyramid building for $7.5 million |url=https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2014/11/education_group_purchasing_ste.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |work=mlive |language=en}}</ref> It was announced on May 9, 2015, that the agreement fell through. Steelcase sold the Pyramid building to a Norman Development LLC who intended to lease the building to Switch. When Switch announced "plans to convert the pyramid and its surrounding property into the nation's largest data center east of the Mississippi River," Zandstra's group filed a lawsuit in Kent County Circuit Court.<ref>{{Cite news |author=Jim Harger |date=2015-11-19 |title=Lawsuit filed over failed purchase of Steelcase pyramid after data center announced |url=https://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/2015/11/lawsuit_filed_over_failed_purc.html |access-date=2024-03-11 |work=mlive |language=en}}</ref>

== Christian Reformed Minister == Zandstra was ordained as an ordained minister of the Word in the Christian Reformed Church on October 6, 1991<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.calvin.edu/cgi-bin/lib/crcmd/search.pl?ID=2654&prevmode=name&termid=2700&act=show_details|title=CRC Ministers Database|website=www.calvin.edu|access-date=2016-11-07}}</ref> at Midland Park, NJ. He served the following CR churches: Midland Park, NJ, 1991–93; Seymour, Grand Rapids, MI, 1993–2000; Hillside, Cutlerville, MI, 2001-06 (Leave, 2005–06); Interim, Wayland, MI, 2006–13; Wayland, MI, 2013<ref name=":1" />

==Education Interest==

Zandstra holds a Bachelor's degree from Calvin College, two Master's degrees from Calvin Theological Seminary, a Doctor of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and a second doctorate from the Western Michigan University School of Public Affairs.<ref name="Acton Institute">{{cite web|url=http://www.acton.org/program/tfavs/favs-faculty-biographies-0 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120317050827/http://www.acton.org/program/tfavs/favs-faculty-biographies-0 |archive-date=March 17, 2012 |title=FAVS Faculty Biographies: Rev. Jerry Zandstra |publisher=Acton Institute |location=Grand Rapids, MI, USA |access-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Faith Inspires Action">{{cite web|title='The Genesis Code' is Released on DVD|url=https://faithinspires.wordpress.com/tag/jerry-zandstra/|website=Faith that Inspires Action|access-date=30 June 2014}}</ref>

He has taught in the MBA program at Cornerstone University.<ref name=":0" /> Zandstra was also an advisor to the Kenyan Constitutional Committee.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.acton.org/pub/commentary/2002/09/11/kenya-power-politics-usual|title=Kenya--Power Politics as Usual|newspaper=Acton Institute|access-date=2016-11-07}}</ref>

Zandstra has been involved with forming Charter Schools and has been part of the creating of charter schools in Michigan.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.pioneertribune.com/news/2013-06-20/Sports/LSSU_launches_new_iCademy_school.html|title=LSSU launches new 'iCademy' school {{!}} www.pioneertribune.com {{!}} Pioneer Tribune|access-date=2016-11-07}}</ref>

== Acting == Zandstra played the character Reverend Jerry Wells in ''The Genesis Code'',<ref name="The Genesis Code">{{cite web|url=http://www.thegenesiscodemovie.com/?i=media |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100824052010/http://www.thegenesiscodemovie.com/?i=media |archive-date=August 24, 2010 |title=The Genesis Code: Media |publisher=American Epic Entertainment, LLC |access-date=April 23, 2011 }}</ref> produced by American Epic Entertainment, of which, he has been the president.

== Personal life == Zandstra grew up in Highland, Indiana, and is also married and has three sons<ref name="Faith Inspires Action" />

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== {{Portal|Biography}} *[http://www.inno-versity.com The Inno-Versity Group] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20110203061449/http://www.thegenesiscodemovie.com/ The Genesis Code Movie]

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