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Guiding Light Mission Opens Third ‘Community of Recovery’

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on . Posted in Local

glm1Guiding Light recently dedicated its new transitional housing facility at 530 Andover St. SE in Kentwood, which is part of its Iron House program.Guiding Light Mission intensified its quest to help homeless and addicted men regain their footing in the community with the recent opening of its third transitional housing facility.

Guiding Light executive director Stuart Ray, the rescue mission’s board of director members and the Rev. Nancy Claus, chaplain for Porter Hills retirement home, took part in a house blessing ceremony of the building on June 16.

Its name is Iron House

The four-unit apartment complex at 530 Andover St. SE in Kentwood is the third building the rescue mission purchased since starting the transitional living program in 2013 Guiding Light calls Iron House, so named after Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” The other two properties, 520 Andover and 540 Andover, flank the two-story 530 Andover facility.

3 Mile Project Encourages Kids to be Loud, to Belong

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on . Posted in Local

3mp1 The outside of 3 Mile Project still resembles the manufacturing building it once was. Inside, the fun begins.Stan Kiste, executive director of the community youth center, 3 Mile Project, says there are a growing number of young people who are disenchanted with Christianity.

"There are barriers they have toward church," Kiste said. "It is perceived as weird, hypocritical or irrelevant. Families have been hurt by the church. And the perception with some churches is it's OK to wait for people to come to see them."

Church Efforts Fuel Food Booths at Festival of the Arts

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

fest food wide shot235Sandy Baird looked over her church's food booth Sunday afternoon while also keeping an eye on the weather above the Festival of the Arts in downtown Grand Rapids.

"Saturday was very busy," she noted of the bright and sunny skies the day before. "Today is looking more like (last) Friday," she added of breezy, overcast skies that already had shed a bit of rain.

The Latest from Diet Eman

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

emandietThe first week of June was quite a week for Diet Eman.

The Grand Rapids resident – noted for her part in the Dutch Resistance movement against the Nazis during World War II – was honored by King Willem–Alexander and Queen Maxima of The Netherlands on June 2 during the couple's royal visit to West Michigan.

At Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park the 95 year-old Eman was honored with a performance of a ballet called "It Is Well" performed by Turning Point School of Dance.
The dance was based on Eman's book about her Resistance experiences titled "Things We Couldn't Say."

Mel Trotter Ministries Partners with Nonprofits to Coordinate Holistic Care to the Homeless

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on . Posted in Local

Trotter1Mel Trotter Ministries executive director/CEO Dennis VanKampen reads a copy of the Bible believed to have been owned by Melvin Ernest Trotter.Dennis VanKampen recently was appointed executive director and CEO of Mel Trotter Ministries (MTM), a multifaceted outreach to the homeless based in the Heartside district of Grand Rapids. It’s not a job he initially sought. He is grateful the Lord saw otherwise.

As a result, VanKampen’s perspective has since changed since he landed the top job at the nonprofit founded by redeemed alcoholic Melvin Ernest Trotter 115 years ago when it was known as the City Rescue Mission. Also changed is how it will help the homeless and mentally and physically ill find Christ’s hope and healing.

Terry’s Picks: June 2015

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

EVENTSWest Michigan Christian web writer Terry DeBoer surveys the landscape for the area’s faith-based arts and entertainment events over the coming month. Here are three highlights for June:

*Soul’d Out – The Southern gospel quartet performs at 7 p.m. June 5 at Grace Fellowship Church, 735 Buth Dr. NE in Comstock Park. The Ohio-based group, founded by baritone singer Matt Rankin, features a mixture of hymn arrangements and gospel melodies. Soul’d Out performs throughout the U.S. and southern Ontario. The quartet’s most recent CD is “Re-Soul’d, Vol. 3” featuring several medleys and the uptempo tune, “God’s Perfect Plan.” Tickets are $15 and are available online or by phone at 800-965-9324. For more information contact the church online or  616.785.4047.

Festival of the Arts Includes Faith-Inspired Music

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

 Koller Jordan235Jordan Koller performs at Festival at 12:30 p.m. Friday  The 46th annual Festival of the Arts comes to downtown Grand Rapids the weekend of June 5-7. And church music ensembles and other faith-based artists will again be on stage amidst the all-encompassing variety of musical expression.

     “We loved playing at Festival last year,” said Steve Bacinski, guitarist with the Christian modern rock band Thirsty Ground.

     Thirsty Ground is back again in 2015, performing at 3:45 p.m. Fri. June 5 on the City Stage on Monroe Center at Ottawa Ave.

     Thousands of persons milling around the Festival grounds grow into hundreds of thousands over the three-day event. A music performer trying to attract passers-by and then holding an audience isn’t easily accomplished.

WAR International Battles the World’s Underbelly of Human Trafficking with Hope

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on . Posted in Local

war235WAR International founder and president Becky McDonald stands near jewelry “Monique” made. Monique previously worked in a red light district of Grand Rapids. She had no resume to list her employable skills. WAR International hired her through its pilot program that gives Monique the opportunity to repair and design jewelry.When customers make a purchase online, at a home party or at one of three Women At Risk (WAR) International’s boutiques, they’re not just buying handcrafted products. They’re enabling at-risk women and children to find freedom from human trafficking. And with their freedom, they gain what previously was not within their grasp: hope and a future.

Human trafficking is a euphemism that illustrates the underbelly of one of the world’s most heinous of sins. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security defines it as a modern-day form of slavery involving the illegal trade of people that forces them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation.

WAR International’s founder and president, Rebecca “Becky” McDonald has another term for it: a heart problem entrenched in avarice.

Faithful to God’s Calling, Qualified to Offer Advice

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on . Posted in Local

johnwilliams235Bishop John Williams holds a page of his handwritten memoir.Tucked inside a worn leather briefcase is the handwritten autobiography Bishop John H. Williams started when he was 35 years old with the uncomplicated title, "My Life." He turns 81 June 2.

A key reason his memoirs remain a work in progress is because Williams keeps chugging along fulfilling pastoral duties.

"I'm going to be faithful to the command God has given me," Williams said, who is the father of eight children, grandfather to 15 grandchildren and most recently a great-grandfather. His wife of 31 years, Catherine, died a year ago.

Destiny calling

Williams said he was 10 years old living his hometown of Coahoma, Miss., when he received the call to ministry.

More to Hear From Laura Story

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

Story235A little known fact about singer-songwriter Laura Story: She once was a student at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

“I was there for one semester and got homesick and went home,” recalled Story, 36, from her home near Atlanta. Ga. “But I loved it up there…. it was beautiful.”
(Story returns to Grand Rapids on May 16 – details below).

New Music Review: Fruit of the Spirit

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

Reynolds Ben and Barb  CD cove235jpgIt's possible that you may never have heard of Ben & Barb Reynolds, a couple from the Grand Rapids area.

It's more likely you have heard of their son Ken Reynolds, an associate pastor of worship at the huge Resurrection Life Church in Grandville. He's a songwriter, producer and recording artist as well as a worship leader. And he lovingly offered help to his parents in putting together this project.

Major Concert Tours Scheduled for West Michigan

Written by Terry DeBoer on . Posted in Local

Tomlin235Tours by leading Christian music artists Chris Tomlin and Newsboys are coming to West Michigan in November.

Newsboys' "We Believe tour...God's Not Dead" stops Nov. 6 at Grand Rapids First, 2100 44th St. SW in Wyoming, a church which has one of the area's largest worship auditoriums.

Newsboys and lead singer Michael Tait scored one of their biggest hits ever several years ago with "God's Not Dead." The anthem was the title song of the popular "God's Not Dead" film which also featured the band in an on screen role.

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