Painting & Explanation by Members of the Boys and Girls Club –   God made our world with creativity and design: the flowers in their bright colors, the animals and insects made with interest, music, dance, science, art, and more for us to live life to the fullest and enjoy His creation. While all of … Read More

By ESCAPE Ministries student – I want to share a story of SURRENDER, a story of God’s GRACE, and how I now live FREE! I used to be a pot-head, a pill popper, an atheist, and a cutter. I was in a really bad place in life. I felt abandoned and alone. I soon learned that … Read More

By Jay Lindell – “Capernaum” is a new ministry with teenagers who have cognitive impairments.  Each week, volunteers help out in classrooms at Holland High School and West Ottawa High School, serving students and building friendships.   This summer our annual trip to camp was joined by our first Capernaum campers. “John” was able to … Read More

By Jonathan Brownson – Last night we had a church meeting. Before we did anything, though, we had a time of listening prayer.  After listening for a time, I asked the people to share a word, sentence, name, or picture God might have given them.  Brent said that God gave him a verse reference (John … Read More

By Jonathan Brownson – One of the lessons we learn as a church is that God wants us to celebrate not only what God provides but when God provides it. Jim, a friend of the church, writes grants for a living and had been volunteering his time to write grants for giving to our fund raising for needed repairs.  We had been … Read More

By Raul Garcia – I am 28 years old, born in small town west Texas. We moved to Holland before I started grade school. Our family later bought a home in the neighborhood on 20th Street and I attended Van Raalte elementary school. I had an amazing childhood. When I was in high school my … Read More

By Jonathan Brownson – On Tuesday, September 2, the sanctuary of the church was full of people waiting to register for our monthly Feeding America distribution. While our friends from the neighborhood were waiting in line for food, Earl, our volunteer general contractor, was waiting, too. He had come to talk about replacing the carpet in our … Read More

By Rhonda Carter – Today I followed in Jesus’ footsteps on 15th Street.  I walked into a home, not a house, but a home where life is shared.  Eight students gathered, all from different houses in the neighborhood, yet one family.  They made jokes about each other, teased and laughed, as they shared stories of time spent together; time … Read More

By Rhonda Carter – Hannah stretched out on one end of the couch, with Jerry sitting on the other side.  His brother, Rey, sat close by with Devin and Adam, while Maddie sat cross-legged on the floor.  Soon Fabian joined the group.  As they teased and joked, I was struck by how differences don’t matter here.  There is a … Read More

By Anonymous – A few years ago I helped deliver Meals on Wheels on 16th Street to a man named Modesto.   He had almost no English and my Spanish amounted to Hola and Gracias.  But I could tell by his eyes that we understood each other.  I began to look forward to stopping at his house. I … Read More