Degage’s $7.5 Million Expansion Opens
Dégagé Ministries in the Heartside neighborhood that is for homeless people, recently opened its first completed section of its renovated campus. The $7.5 million "Building Dignity Through Christ" capital campaign is at the Northwest corner of Sheldon Boulevard and Cherry Street in downtown Grand Rapids.The first phase includes:
• Relocating the organization's main entrance away from the congested Cherry/Division corridor to the more pedestrian-friendly Cherry/Sheldon intersection.
• An expanded dining room to serve 90,000 meals a year (50% increase in capacity, from 120 to 180 seats).
Rockford-based Homes Giving Hope, a Christian nonprofit Sara and Brian Boven and Kay Wood co-founded for persons with disabilities, recently received $7,418.00 from Wolverine World Wide's Rockford area retail show store Rockford Footwear Depot.
The Calvin Prison Initiative, a partnership between Calvin University, Calvin Theological Seminary and the Michigan Department of Corrections, recently graduated 40 inmates who received bachelor's degrees while behind bars.
Guiding Light has promoted Brian Elve as its new executive director. Formerly
Chris Preuss has been tapped as the next executive director and president of Norton Shores-based Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference. Preuss spent most of his career with General Motors where he served as their global vice president of communications. He also served as the chief marketing and communications officer of Aptiv (formerly Delphi) and most recently led a business network of agency brands that supported the Ford Motor Company around the world.
Singer Denise Frye was raised on music of the church.
The Executive Director of the Christian Reformed Church in North America says the shooting death of Patrick Lyoya by Grand Rapids police has hit him hard.
Next Step of West Michigan, a faith based social enterprise that's a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mel Trotter Ministries that provides skills training and employment for individuals rebuilding their lives, announced that former Guiding Light Executive Director Stuart Ray has joined the organization as Director of Business Development.
Inner City Christian Federation has a new name: ICCF Community Homes. The name better communicates the organization's longtime vision to create vibrant communities in West Michigan with connected neighbors, housing justice and abundant opportunity.
