The last week or so, I have been captivated by the tragic story of the young man who was killed on an island near India because of his efforts to share the gospel with a remote tribe. The story is complicated as you cannot help but feel sympathy for the young man, his family and his friends as they all mourn his loss. And, I also respect his passion and willingness to take risks for God.

And yet, I am also left with an unsettled feeling in my gut. The story reminds me of the similar story of Nate Saint and his friends back in the 1950s who lost their lives in Ecuador during a similar attempt to reach a remote tribe. Those who study missions warn us that these efforts are both unhelpful and very dangerous. Mission work takes time, building relationships, learning the language. understanding the culture. Evangelism does not happen over night. It is often a long and tedious process. There simple are no shortcuts. (You can read a great reflection on this event by a missiologist here and another by Ed Stetzer here.)

The whole story got me thinking about church life here in West Michigan. There are lots and lots of people who live here who no longe for have never attended church. Some of them may still believe or almost believe, but need an invitation or a reminder of the gospel they once knew. But, many of them have been wounded by the church or have false views of Christians because of popular media or maybe even accurate views of us that we may not like. These people will not quickly come to believe in God, they need time to be known, heard, understood, and accepted. It takes time.

Sometimes, we can grow impatient with people. We want them to move at our pace rather than their own. We want them to already see what we see. But change takes time. Change takes safety and affirmation. Change takes relationship.

If there is someone you love who does not yet believe, don’t give up hope and stay in relationship. If you are growing frustrated by someone’s lack of response to the gospel, slow down, listen more and talk a little less. And most of all, pray. May we all pray for God’s Spirit to be at work in us and in those who are still far from him.

Connect to God
As a kid, I remember seeing my first 3-D movie poster (not the movie, just the poster) and being amazed as Jaws jumped off the page at me. It seemed so real. Now, you can put on a headset with your phone and play a virtual reality game, putting you in the middle of a combat zone or driving a race car. It’s not quite real, it virtually real. But deep down, something in us longs fro more than the illusion, we long for a real true life. Not a social media life, not a virtual reality life, and not a 3-D poster life, we want the real thing. Then look no further! In John 1, we meet the Word who literally made reality and invites us to experience true life in him.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community
In early January, we will be starting a new women’s exercise class on Monday nights. It will be a great time to both get some exercise and connect with other women at Zion. If you are interested in learning more, you can sign up on the Connection Card on Sunday.

Mark your calendars to join us for our annual Sunday School Christmas program on December 9 during our morning worship. This is a great tradition and the kids have been working hard to present us with the story of the true King who is like King David.

We are not only part of a church, but also part of our denomination. Our denomination, the Reformed Church in America, has been a continuing presence in the US for 390 years. We are also in a time of tension as a body and a group has been formed to prayerfully outline a way forward to continue in ministry. You can read about their latest meetings here.

Serve the World
A huge thank you to all who gave generously to the Thanksgiving offering over the past 2 weeks. We raised $8,666 to be given to Good News Nepal, RCA relief efforts for Hurricane Michael, and to support several families in our local community.

Administrative Details
As many of you may know, in September our Consistory went on a retreat together to discern God’s call for Zion in the next several years. We will be sharing this vision in more detail early next year, but the core of our vision is a desire to raise up Christian leaders in order to plant new churches in the Grandville and Georgetown Township communities.

As part of this visioning process, we also have been assessing our ongoing needs at Zion in order to continue welcoming new people into our congregation. We are working on everything from assessing our outreach ministries to creating leadership development resources and assessing our building use. Currently, the Consistory is interviewing potential architects to help us better use the footprint of our building to more effectively welcome more people to our church. We are asking specifically for help in rightsizing our children and youth spaces and improving the traffic flow in the building on Sundays with some more welcoming gathering areas.

As you think about your upcoming end-of-year giving, please consider giving to our new Church Remodel Fund. Going forward, we will involve the congregation in both the design and decision process of any remodel, but wanted to share this opportunity to financially support this effort as we begin dreaming of how we can use our facility even better to reach people for God.

We continue to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and for the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and treasures.
Fiscal Year to date budget: $282,755.20
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $279,217.53

Tomorrow our nation celebrates Thanksgiving. While not a Christian holiday, it is entirely Christian to give thanks to God for all he has done and given for us. On that note, following are 10 things for which I am thankful this year, not necessarily my top 10, but 10 things.

1. My wonderful wife who is one of the hardest workers I know, a great mother to my children, and laughs with me more than my jokes rightly deserve.
2. Four healthy children who ask great questions, tease me more than I probably deserve, some of whom will still snuggle on the couch with me, and make being a dad a delight and joy.
3. The staff at Zion who are not only great people to work with who love Jesus, but also dear friends
4. An amazing Consistory who impress me, and others, over and over with their heart for mission and willingness to take risks in pursuit of God’s mission for his church.
5. Doug McClintic and Randy Weener, both of whom are moving into new roles that will give them new and greater platforms to serve God. They have been wise mentors, counselors and friends, not only to me but also to our church. I will miss our regular connections, but pray for their continued service to the church.
6. All of you. Zion is a great church and you are all so much fun to share life with. I am thankful I get to be your pastor.
7. Shoes. I have had foot pain for several months and recently got some new shoes that make my feet feel way better. Good shoes matter.
8. My favorite authors like Scot McKnight, Timothy Keller, and NT Wright who nourish my soul and deepen my knowledge of scripture.
9. My discipleship triad group. For the past 9 months, I have been meeting with 2, now 3, men from our church. We read a lot of scripture and talk about what God is doing in our lives together. These times feed my soul.
10. Jesus who died for me.

For what are you thankful?

Connect to God
This Sunday, the church celebrates the final holiday of the Christian year, Christ the King Sunday. Next Sunday, the year starts over with the first Sunday in Advent when we begin to look forward to the coming of the Savior King. But on Sunday, we remember Jesus as the true King of the Universe whose kingdom will have no end. Of course, it doesn’t always feel like Jesus is king. We live in a world filled with violence, corruption, oppression, disease, and death. It is far from the world pictured in either the Garden of Eden or the New Jerusalem of the book of Revelation. But, though we cannot see it yet, scripture is absolutely clear that Jesus is indeed ruler of the world. In Daniel 7, we are given a brief glimpse into the cosmic struggle between the forces of chaos and evil and the good creator God. This vision ends with one like the son of man enthroned and ruling. We long for that day and until it comes, we work as ambassadors of this heavenly king.

During worship Sunday, we will celebrate communion on this Christ the King Sunday. In preparation for this joyful celebration, the Elders urge you to examine your life to see where you need to confess sin, where you need to apologize and make amends, and where you need to forgive so that we can come to the table truly as one united people, join together by the Spirit in Christ. Children are welcome at the Lord’s Table, at their parents discretion, but they must remain with their parents throughout the service as we will not bring them back into the sanctuary from Children and Worship during Communion.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community
In early January, we will be starting a new women’s exercise class on Monday nights. It will be a great time to both get some exercise and connect with other women at Zion. If you are interested in learning more, you can sign up on the Connection Card on Sunday.

Mark your calendars to join us for our annual Sunday School Christmas program on December 9 during our morning worship. This is a great tradition and the kids have been working hard to present us with the story of the true King who is like King David.

Serve the World
We received a new update from Jibit Asha (our church planting partner in Nepal). The planter we support in focusing on planting churches in three new communities and has found a space to gather for worship in one of those villages. They also asked for prayer for a recent converted family who have been denied access to the public well in their village and now have to walk over an hour to get water each day. Please join in praying for a new well in this village and others as clean drinking water is hard to find and for open hearts in these villages to the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Tomorrow, we will once again gather on Thanksgiving morning at 9:30 am to worship and thank God for all he has provided this year. As is our tradition, we will have an open mic time for people to share their personal thanks as well.

We also collect a special Thanksgiving Offering each year. This year, the Thanksgiving offering will go to support local families (identified by our Hand2Hand ministry), Good News Nepal, and Hurricane Michael relief efforts coordinated by the Reformed Church in America. This offering will be collected on November 18, Thanksgiving morning, and November 25.

Administrative Details
As many of you may know, in September our Consistory went on a retreat together to discern God’s call for Zion in the next several years. We will be sharing this vision in more detail early next year, but the core of our vision is a desire to raise up Christian leaders in order to plant new churches in the Grandville and Georgetown Township communities.

As part of this visioning process, we also have been assessing our ongoing needs at Zion in order to continue welcoming new people into our congregation. As one significant example, in the past three years, we have seen the number of kids participating in our Christmas program grow from 30 children in 2015 to 68 children this year. We thank God for the gift of these children and their families. And, this growth has put a strain on how we use our building.

Currently, the Consistory is interviewing potential architects to help us better use the footprint of our building to more effectively welcome more people to our church. We are asking specifically for help in rightsizing our children and youth spaces and improving the traffic flow in the building on Sundays. (You may have noticed our hallways can feel a little congested and some Sunday school classrooms that can comfortably hold 6-8 children, but regularly have 10 or more.)

As you think about your upcoming end-of-year giving, please consider giving to our new Church Remodel Fund. Going forward, we will involve the congregation in both the design and decision process of any remodel, but wanted to share this opportunity to financially support this effort as we begin dreaming of how we can use our facility even better to reach people for God.

We continue to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and for the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and treasures.
Fiscal Year to date budget: $271,880.00
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $268,945.82

When my wife  Rachel was in Middle School, her parents and a group of other believers felt called to start a new church in Zeeland intentionally focused on reaching people who did not feel comfortable in a traditional church. Out of this dream, Gateway Community Church was born.

For the last 26 years, they have been instrumental in starting and supporting numerous ministries caring for the less fortunate in Zeeland including fixing up old cars, mobile food pantries, adopting a local trailer park, and much more. They were one of the first churches in Zeeland to include contemporary worship music and a more casual dress. They soon reached many people who were far from God, but in this community found a place to be loved, accepted, and welcomed.

Unfortunately, the past few years have not been easy for the church. This Sunday will mark the close of their ministry. Rachel and our kids will be worshipping with her parents this Sunday as they celebrate all God has done through Gateway. I’ll be sneaking out of Zion right as church ends to join them for a final luncheon.

I am sure tears will be shed as people say goodbye to their community. It is hard to lose a people and a place that mean so much to you. As an outsider, I grieve with them, but I will also always be grateful for the heart for evangelism and the passion for raising children in the faith that Gateway inspired in my wife. Please join me in praying not only for Gateway, but for the many churches and their members struggling to stay together, puzzled over how to reach their neighbors, and wondering what God may have in store for them next.

Connect to God
After God rescues the Israelites from their captivity in Egypt, he brings them to Mt. Sinai where he gives them the law, which includes the 10 Commandments. These commandments are not guidelines for all humanity, but a call from God to live as a counter-cultural community. They produce a people who in our daily lives live as a sign, a signal, and a witness that God has not left the world to its own devices. Instead, God has come to rescue, save, and restore all that has been broken and marred by sin. On the final week of our study of the 10 Commandments, we face not a behavioral command, but a heart command, do not covet.

If you would like a copy of the worship service, you can receive a complete copy by contacting Tom Verbrugge or you can find the weekly messages on our website.

Grow in Community

Congratulations to Ryan and Rachel Kleinjans on the birth of a baby boy. Colton Robert arrived on Friday, Nov. 9 at 4:40PM weighing 6lbs 11oz and measuring 20” long. Mom and baby are doing well.

In early January, we will be starting a new women’s exercise class on Monday nights. It will be a great time to both get some exercise and connect with other women at Zion. If you are interested in learning more, you can sign up on the Connection Card on Sunday.

Serve the World
Earlier this week, I met with Rob Holland, the pastor of Lifeline Community Church (our Wyoming Plant). They are beginning the process of formally organizing as a church in our denomination, but they are also already parenting a new church. For the past several months, they have been hosting a Congolese congregation on Sunday afternoons that worships about 100 people each week. This new church is exploring joining the RCA and will soon by moving to 4th Reformed in Grand Rapids which will give them more room and is closer to where their people live. But, they have asked Lifeline to remain in their role as a parent church to help them through this transition and eventually to join our denomination. One small step of faith by Zion leads to a step of faith by Lifeline which has lead to 100 people finding a new spiritual home here in the US. Our God is good!

This year, we will once again gather on Thanksgiving morning, November 22, at 9:30 am to worship and thank God for all he has provided this year. As is our tradition, we will have an open mic time for people to share their personal thanks as well.

We also collect a special Thanksgiving Offering each year. This year, the Thanksgiving offering will go to support local families (identified by our Hand2Hand ministry), Good News Nepal, and Hurricane Michael relief efforts coordinated by the Reformed Church in America. This offering will be collected on November 18, Thanksgiving morning, and November 25.

Administrative Details
As many of you may know, in September our Consistory went on a retreat together to discern God’s call for Zion in the next several years. We will be sharing this vision in more detail early next year, but the core of our vision is a desire to raise up Christian leaders in order to plant new churches in the Grandville and Georgetown Township communities.

As part of this visioning process, we also have been assessing our ongoing needs at Zion in order to continue welcoming new people into our congregation. As one significant example, in the past three years, we have seen the number of kids participating in our Christmas program grow from 30 children in 2015 to 68 children this year. We thank God for the gift of these children and their families. And, this growth has put a strain on how we use our building.

Currently, the Consistory is interviewing potential architects to help us better use the footprint of our building to more effectively welcome more people to our church. We are asking specifically for help in rightsizing our children and youth spaces and improving the traffic flow in the building on Sundays. (You may have noticed our hallways can feel a little congested and some Sunday school classrooms that can comfortably hold 6-8 children, but regularly have 10 or more.)

As you think about your upcoming end-of-year giving, please consider giving to our new Church Remodel Fund. Going forward, we will involve the congregation in both the design and decision process of any remodel, but wanted to share this opportunity to financially support this effort as we begin dreaming of how we can use our facility even better to reach people for God.

We continue to thank God for his provision of all of our needs and for the generous support of our congregation with their time, talent, and treasures.
Fiscal Year to date budget: $261,004.80
Fiscal Year to date contributions: $258,164.18