NEW GROUND CHURCH PROFILE To see people transformed by God’s amazing grace.

Connecting people to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ

ABOUT US New Ground Church (RCA), located in the bedroom community of Caledonia, Michigan, is a vibrant gathering of people across broad socioeconomic and demographic corridors. Together we work to fulfill our mission of “Connecting people to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ”. At the request of the Church’s Governance Team, an independent facilitator, Rev. Art Wiers, met with 39 Ministry Partners of NGC in August 2017 to evaluate the health of the congregation and assess its readiness to call a new pastor. Strengths identified by these attendees during the facilitated sessions included: •

Commitment to biblical learning and living

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Music that inspires

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Welcoming spirit

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Reaching out to the hurting

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Commitment to community

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People being “real”/authentic

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Team spirit

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Children’s ministry

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Living out the Christian faith seven day a week

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Willing to try new things

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Sharing the love of Christ

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Wisdom and maturity with youthful energy

Dining room table to communion table New Ground Church believes in being a Seven Day a Week Church. This is lived out by limiting the number of church programs that we have and encouraging our ministry partners to connect in their communities. We beleive that faith is lived out at home by connecting with neighbors around the dining room table as well as coming together as a community around the communion table.

Authentic Community One of the things that makes New Ground unique is its diverse community. New Ground has people from all generations living life serving together. It is also a come-as-you-are place where people from a variety of walks of life come together to worship and build community. ӹӹ We gather together through good food at our quarterly potlucks. ӹӹ Our Community Groups host a meal (approx. 5 times a year) to invite those new to New Ground or those who are looking for ways to connect to a meal after a service, meet some people, and find out more about the church. ӹӹ We hold a variety of community events throughout the year such as movie nights, bonfires, and being involved in Caledonia’s Western Week.

Our values Individuals who call New Ground Church (NGC) their home are identified as “Ministry Partners” rather than members. NGC places a premium on the participation of its Ministry Partners rather than its staff to carry out the vision of the church: to see people transformed by God’s amazing grace. To this end, 7 values of the church shape the community:

BEING TRANSFORMED BY GOD’S GRACE REVEALED THROUGH HIS WORD BY HIS SPIRIT. EXTENDING GRACE OF JESUS AND BRINGING HOPE TO EVERY SITUATION. BEING CONNECTED TO THE HISTORICALLY ORTHODOX MOVEMENT OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH. ALLOWING OUR LIVES TO BE INTERRUPTED TO MEET THE NEEDS OF OTHERS. ADMITTING WE ARE IMPERFECT AND BEING WILLING TO TAKE RISKS REGARDLESS OF THE THREAT OF FAILURE. INTERGENERATIONAL COMMUNITY WITH RECIPROCATING RESPECT AND SUPPORT. BELIEVING THE BEST ABOUT OTHERS IN EVERY SITUATION.

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care.

CALEDONIA information in numbers West Michigan has been historically known as a religious community. Many communities in West Michigan were originally founded by Christian populations, and this became the bedrock of the culture. Churches were built on every corner. However, as the graph below shows, church attendance has been decreasing. New Ground was planted by Fifth Reformed Church to address this issue. Caledonia and its neighboring communities are fairly affluent and well-educated areas. The role of New Ground is not to necessarily meet the physical needs, but rather to creatively approach the spiritual needs of this community, including our neighboring Davenport University. New Ground is a safe, authentic place where people can come as they are to learn more about Christ and their need for Him in their lives.

NEW GROUND CHURCH at a glance

New Ground Church

CALEDONIA

community

Shops and Restaurants

Caledonia is a village in Kent County in Michigan. The community is a mixture of rural and suburban living, with new housing developments being built regularly. Caledonia is located 10 miles south of Grand Rapids, MI and 35 miles from the lakeshore to Holland or Grand Haven.

Library Most New Ground Church attendees are from Caledonia and its adjacent communities of Alto, Grand Rapids, Kentwood, Middleville, and Wayland.

Rural

While most attendees are from Kent County, several also attend from the neighboring counties of Allegan, Barry and Ottawa.

New Housing Developments

Our leadership and staff Governance Team Our governance team is made up of pastors from our parent church, leaders from the denomination, and members from the New Ground community. This team functions to provide direction and oversight to the church. The members of NGC that sit on the Governance Team also help provide support for the day-to-day operation of the church and in helping others grow closer to Jesus through Bible study, community, and service. New Ground Church is led by its ministry partners. Church members head up ministry areas including hospitality, community groups, student ministries, men’s ministries, women’s ministries, meal teams, encouragment team, prayer team, event coordinating, and stewardship.

Student Ministries

Community Groups

Hospitality Team

Travis and Abby Christian

Dick and Carol Zahn

Nate and Emily Versluis

Governance Team

Governance Team

Governance Team

Jason Radmacher

Bryan Rice

Jim Henderson

Oversees Prayer Team

Leads Men’s Ministry

Oversees Stewardship Team

Governance Team Reba Ezell Oversees Connections Ministries

Worship Director Aaron Tuinenga Part-time staff

Children’s Ministry Director Britanny Van’t Hof Part-time staff

Ministry Areas Student Ministries

Children’s Ministry

Community Groups Worship Ministry

Our Student Ministries is for our 6th

Our Children’s Ministry is for our

We believe that to grow, we

Our worship teams include our

- 12th graders. We have about

infants - 5th graders. We have three

must be living life together. Our

musicians, singers, sound techs,

12 - 15 students who regularly

classrooms with about 25 kids and

ministry partners are encouraged

and slide techs. The worship team

attend. Travis & Abby Christian and

8 leaders each week.

to be part of a Community Group,

creates an environment that

Kyle & Nikki Kantz lead this group.

Our Kindergarten - 5th graders stay

which meet in homes twice a

welcomes the church to come to

They meet twice a month on

in the service through the singing

month. The groups are made up

worship. The worship team is not

Sunday evenings for lessons,

time and then are dismissed to their

of 8 - 14 people.

performing, but rather leading as

games, and community building.

classes for the rest of the service.

We currently have five active

everyone participates in giving

They also have a service project

These kids stay in the service on the

groups. Dick and Carol Zhan are

worship to our God. The music at

and retreat planned this year.

1st Sunday of each month to

leading this ministry area helping

New Ground is contemporary and

worship corporately with our

plug people into groups and

worshipful.

community.

providing support for the leaders.

Prayer & Support

Hospitality

Outreach

Bible Studies

ӹӹ Prayer Team: Pray for needs in

Create a welcoming environment for

We have participated in outreach

The Women’s Ministry usually does

the church during the week

those coming to New Ground.

both locally and internationally.

a Bible study guide and meets on

and have people available after

ӹӹ Provide Krispy Kreme donuts and

ӹӹ We have partnered with

alternating Monday evenings.

service to pray with people. ӹӹ Assistance Team: Provide for financial needs in the church. ӹӹ Meal Team: Make meals for those in the church who are in need. ӹӹ Encouragement Team: send

coffee for the service ӹӹ Ushers help with seating,

Ebeneezer Discipleship Training Center in Haiti and

Men’s Ministry has been a Bible

collecting offering, and handing

helped build a schoolroom in

Study in which men gather

out Bibles.

Uganda.

together to work their way through

ӹӹ Our Greeters welcome people as they join us for the service.

ӹӹ Locally, we have done a variety

the Bible and discuss the

of things including backpacks

passage. Currently, other avenues

for kids in Detroit, presents for

are being explored to better

cards for special occasions for

kids in local schools at Christmas,

engage and connect with the men

people at NGC.

hosting Pumpkin Palooza, and

of the congregation.

participating in Western Week.

Break new ground. Plant righteousness, and harvest the fruit that your loyalty will produce for me. It’s time to seek the Lord! When he comes, he will rain righteousness on you. Hosea 10:12

5455 84th St. Caledonia, MI 49316

Phone: 616.275.1060 Worship time: 10 AM Sunday

email: [email protected] Web: http://newgroundchurch.org/