GOD'S RENAISSANCE MAN Like his predecessors in church history, Kuyper was a person of massive intelligence, immense learning, terrific energy, and zealous faith. He nevertheless received great adulation from his beloved kleine luyden(little people) of the working and lower middle classes, many of whom struggled to survive economically and few of whom could afford a higher education. Throughout his long career as a pastor, journalist, educator and political leader, Kuyper maintained close contact with the common people and communicated with them effectively, even though he was far above them in intellect and formal learning.