Missionaries and Ministries
The congregation of Fellowship Reformed Church partners with various missionaries and mission-minded organizations. As a partner in the adventure of sharing the Gospel, the church provides prayer, encouragement and financial support. In addition, periodic mission trips afford an opportunity to visit missionaries “where they are.” Following, you will discover a partial listing of our missionaries and ministries--including a brief description of their endeavors. But because of persecution against the Christian Faith, some names and locations must be withheld.
Terri and Jose Duran
Terri is a daughter of Fellowship Reformed Church. Together, Terri and Jose have planted a bilingual church in Franklin, Tennessee. Beginning in the Fall 2011, the Duran's started a bilingual church La Casa de mi Padrein Holland, Michigan. Would you like to get involved? Email the Duran's your questions: lacasademipadreholland@gmail.com.
Roger and Charlene Koppenol
The Koppenol’s are active and involved members at Fellowship Reformed Church. Together, they serve with Audio Scripture Ministries in Holland, Michigan. Roger specifically works to provide research, evaluation, and coordination for mission project requests. They began their tenure with ASM in 2004. Visit www.asmtoday.org to learn more.
Jake and Jenn Tornga
The Tornga Family began full-time refugee ministry in Malawi, Africa in the Spring 2011. As a son of Fellowship Reformed, Jake felt a great passion to provide hope, assistance and a voice to those often forgotten and neglected in the refugee camps of Malawi. Jenn's compassion is equally committed to reaching and ministering to the needs of the children. The Tornga's are partnering with I-Teams as their mission-sending organization. To learn more about I-Teams and the incredible need in Africa, please visit http://www.iteams.org/us/.
Love in the Name of Christ--Hudsonville
Love INC, located in Hudsonville, works to support Christians in bringing God's love and care into their communities (Hudsonville, Jenison, and Grandville) by mobilizing churches to meet the unmet needs of individuals and families. In doing this, they seek to know God better, to demonstrate the power of Jesus' love, and to witness to the only source that can make all of us effective -- the love that God has for all people.
Ron and Jackie Barker--The Navigators
Ron's interest in sharing his faith began in high school where he experienced, seemingly, complete failure in effective communication of the good news of Jesus Christ. Larry Ostwald, a student trained by another Christian involved with The Navigators, took interest in Ron and helped him develop better communication skills so others could hear, understand, and believe for the first time in Jesus Christ. Then, Larry challenged Ron to equip others who could also train others also. Navigator DNA blood was forever transferred and spiritual generations had begun!
The Barkers are excited to see the current footprints of God in leading them to expand their part-time to full-time ministry beginning at Grand Valley State University and then to the other 140+ college campus of Michigan. To read more about Ron and Jackie's call and vision to full-time ministry with The Navigators, visit their website at www.barkers4jesus.info.
Camp Geneva
Camp Geneva exists to encourage young people to develop a commitment to love and serve Jesus Christ. Since it’s beginning in 1948, GENEVA has carried out a high quality, Christ-centered summer camp program for youth that takes them out of their normal environment and all its distractions, puts them with counselors who love kids and live out their faith in an active and appealing way, enmeshes them in a program that exposes them to the vitality of the Christian life, and provides opportunities for campers to consider how they ought to respond to the love that God has for them. It’s a program built upon relationships that revolves around experiencing the Christian faith in all its fullness. To learn more about Geneva, visit www.campgeneva.org.
Paul Hoekstra and Mark Hoekstra
The Hoekstra Family has been involved faithfully in missions for generations. Specifically, Paul Hoekstra has worked to establish Adopt-a-Village Ministries. Simultaneously, Mark Hoekstra has created the Talking Bible—an electronic edition of the entire New Testament that provides the Good News of Christ in the language of various people groups. Both ministries have recently come under the umbrella organization of Talking Bibles International. For additional information, please visit them at http://talkingbibles.org
InterServe USA
Currently, we are partnering with two families in the Arab World. Because of the sensitivity to the Gospel, we are unable to publicize those names for safety reasons. However, we can share that these families have been effective in reaching folks with the Good News. This area of Islamic rule is filled with a people who are very proud of their history, culture and traditions. Would you like to learn more? Visit www.interserveusa.org.
Geoff and Tammy Kooistra
Geoff and Tammy Kooistra are actively engaged with HCJB Radio in Quito, Ecuador. Together with their children (Jacob, Emma and Sara) they are committed to making Christ known through the powerful medium of radio. You may learn more about HCJB by visiting www.hcjb.org. You may also encourage the Kooistra Family with an email at tkooistra@hcjb.org.
Cran Hill Ranch
Cran Hill Ranch is devoted to being a ministry through which God is transforming lives into the image of Christ through Youth Camps, Family Camping, Retreats and Adventure Experiences. To learn more, visit www.cranhillranch.com.
Alan and Sue Schreuder
The Schreuder’s have been partnering with the National Presbyterian Church of Mexico since 1980. They specifically serve by developing theological education and leadership training materials. Also, they lead village workshops and help to coordinate the paramedic training program. Fellowship has participated in several mission trips to Mexico with the Schreuder’s. Several interesting links are available regarding the Schreuder's ministry at www.rca.org/schreuder.
East Ottawa Special Ministry
East Ottawa Special Ministry provides safe, loving, mentoring relationships for those with special needs. The ministry teaches Christian principles from God's Word. It also provides experiences throughout the community for the students--giving them the opportunity to use their gifts and abilities. To learn more, please contact bjgemm@aol.com.
Wayne and Miho Jansen
Since 1991, the Jansen Family has worked closely with the United Church of Christ in Japan to teach practical theology and to develop the Clinical Pastoral Education program at Tokyo Union Theological Seminary. The Jansen’s have twin sons: Manato Thomas and Meguma David. Read more about their work at www.rca.org/jansen.
Dick and Donna Swart
Supported by the Reformed Church in America, the Swart family (www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=537) began serving in Africa in 1986. In partnership with the Ethiopian Evangelical church, they have ministered to provide agricultural development, evangelism, and medical care for the Daasanech people.
Jehovah Jireh Ministries
Jehovah-Jireh Ministries of West Michigan (JJMoWM) is a tangible expression of God's love and provision. Located in Forest Grove, they currently provide free food and clothing--as well as Christian love and encouragement--to approximately 175 families each week. Learn more about the ministry and how you can volunteer by visiting http://www.jjmwm.org/.
Jacob and Sharon Moss
The Moss family left the comfort of their northwest Iowa home for the Appalachian region of Jackson County, Kentucky. They have served as program directors of Jackson County Ministries since 2004. JCM places a strong emphasis on service to high-risk youth through the Christian Living Activities for Youth (CLAY) program. CLAY reaches out to young people who are having problems with the law or at school. Jackson County Ministries was established by the Reformed Church in America (www.rca.org/sslpage.aspx?pid=48) in the early 1900s.
God's Kitchen
Organized through Catholic Charities of West Michigan, God's Kitchen provides a loving meal to those individuals and families who find themselves in need. Daily meals are provided on the following schedule: Monday through Saturday from 12:30-2:00pm; Sunday from 2:30-4:00pm. Volunteers are always appreciated as they help to prepare, serve and clean up following each mealtime. To learn more, please visit http://ccwestmi.org/.
Keith and Mary Beavon
The Beavon’s have faithfully continued their service with Wycliff (http://www.wycliffe.org/)—a Bible translation society for those who desire to have the Word of God in their own language. The Beavon’s have most recently been involved in translation in Cameroon, Africa. Keep up to date with their activities on their blog.
Denny and Carol Hoekstra
The Hoekstra’s love their thrilling adventures with Mission Aviation Fellowship (www.maf.org) (MAF). This organization exists to share the love of Jesus Christ through aviation and technology so that isolated people may be physically and spiritually transformed. Over 55 airplanes fly nearly 3 million miles a year to some of the most remote locations in 25 countries.
Lakeshore Pregnancy Center--Holland
Each and every day women all across Michigan fall victim to the pressure of abortion when it is presented as the only viable solution to the crisis surrounding an unplanned pregnancy. In this decision not only is a life lost but a woman’s life is changed forever. Lakeshore Pregnancy Center seeks to offer hope and assistance, supporting one woman at a time with information about her pregnancy options, and communicating the blessing of entering into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. To learn more about how you can become involved, please take a moment to visit http://www.lpcenters.com/getinvolved.html.
John and Ruth Stanley
As husband and wife, the Stanleys (http://www.e-lessons.org/jnrstanley/)travelthe globe installing, maintaining and training personnel for religious international short wave stations.
Chris Pieters--GVSU Campus Ministries
As Campus Minister, Chris works to establish relationships and teaching moments with the students on the campus of Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Campus Ministries, in partnership with the Zeeland Classis of the Reformed Church in America, has had a powerful impact on the lives of many young persons. Check out what is going on at GVSU here.
Jodi Oppenhuizen
Word to All Internationalwas formed to address the need for new Christian resources and tools for outreach in the Czech language. Through her efforts with Word to All, Jodi has worked in negotiating copyright contracts for books which will be published in the Czech language, and assist with conferences, promotion of materials, and ideas for new publishing projects. She also continues to serve as a member of the South City Church by leading the English-related outreach classes. Jodi is a daughter of First Reformed Church in Grandville, Michigan.