Updates

God's Faithfulness: A Story Still Being Written

If you’ve ever had to pack up a family home, you know it’s more than just moving furniture or deciding which toaster to keep. It’s about memories. It’s about letting go—and sometimes, real tears as you close the door for the last time. In stories, these are the chapters that change everything, and for Bethel, the last few years have felt like one of those pivotal page-turns.

​

Bethel’s Story: A Long Faithful Journey

Bethel’s story began, as most do, with humble beginnings—a patch of ground at Main and Carlton, tucked between factories and the rhythms of Zeeland. For seventy-five years, God wrote faithfulness across these pages: neighbors loved, families raised, missionaries sent, potlucks and prayers, laughter and grief.

​

But let’s be honest, a new plot twist emerged—these past few years have been challenging. The numbers on Sunday got smaller. The “to-do” list grew longer. Volunteers became scarce. Budgets tightened. We prayed. Sometimes we wondered if God was listening. And then… an answer came, but not the one we expected.

Restoration Church entered the story, bringing a burst of new life, like a surprise chapter you never saw coming. God was already foreshadowing bigger changes to come.

Then came the email from Mead Johnson - the local factory wanted to buy our church property.
It felt like a punch to the gut. The place we called home for so long was now the center of a business deal. Was this the end of the story? Or could God really bring blessing through what looked like loss?

We weren’t sure. Many of us grieved. Some of us were angry. Others were simply tired. The pressure was coming from all sides—financial stress inside, questions and opinions from the neighborhood, urgency from Mead Johnson, and a clock ticking faster than we hoped or liked.

We wrestled with options, sometimes loudly but always honestly. We tried to imagine starting over somewhere else, or restarting right where we were, or even merging with another church (though initially merging had little support). It felt like our chapter in God’s story was coming to an end.

We grieved. We argued. We wondered if the story was about to end. But the Author wasn’t finished. Through prayer, honest conversation, and a willingness to see with new eyes, God revealed He was just turning the page—not closing the book. Our “Blessed to be a Blessing” theme would carry on, just in a new way.

Third’s Journey: Waiting and Welcoming

Meanwhile, Third CRC had its own story. They had felt the slow ache of losses, the challenges of an aging congregation, and the deep need for God’s renewal. They kept serving—welcoming new faces, hosting Logos Church, partnering with Bethel on Vacation Bible School & Blessing of the Buses, and quietly asking, What’s next, Lord?

​

Third’s leaders kept asking, What’s the next chapter? Who might God bring across our path? And just as in any good book, the two stories converged: a Bethel leader stops by Third, and three key leaders “happen” to be there (Providence, not luck!). Suddenly, what started as a cautious conversation became a whole new storyline.

​

Third’s warmth tipped the scales at Bethel, helping us all trust that maybe, just maybe, God was up to something only He could script.

​

Honest Lament, Real Hope

If you’re from Bethel, you're aware of the cost. Our building is going to be demolished. Our old ways are shifting. There’s grief—and it’s justified. If you’re from Third, you might feel anxious too, about what this means for your traditions and routines. Both churches are experiencing the discomfort of letting go.

​

But underneath all that, there’s a bigger story: God has been behind every twist and turn.

God answered prayers at Bethel in ways we didn’t expect (or honestly, want at first). God opened Third’s arms at just the right time. Both churches had a short calendar, both had doubts, both saw doors close and then—miraculously—another door open.

​

“Go”—A Story as Old as Scripture

Throughout the Bible, God calls people to “Go.” Abraham left everything behind. Reluctant Moses led his people from slavery. The disciples abandoned their nets for a story much bigger than themselves. None of them could see what God was doing—but with every step, God was there.

Bethel and Third, this is our “Go” moment. The God who led us this far will not leave us now. He’s the Author who writes in surprises, redemption, and hope—every time.

Looking Ahead — Trusting the Next Chapter in Our Story

Here’s what we hope you hear:
​

• The journey hasn’t been easy—especially for Bethel.

• God was present through the ache, the questions, the short timelines, and the vote.

• God brought both churches together, not by accident, but by design.

• If God has been with us so far, He can be trusted with what’s next.
  ​

Imagine the future: a new household forming, new traditions emerging, children’s voices blending with senior saints, fresh ministries reaching unfamiliar faces, laughter and tears around tables we have yet to prepare. This isn’t about losing our story—it’s about God weaving two stories into something even more beautiful.

​

The Invitation

Let’s trust that God’s fingerprints are on every page—past, present, and future. Our merger is not the final page, but the next chapter in God’s unfolding story, with Him as Author and each of us as living characters.

​

Let’s turn the page together and see what the Author has in store.

​

​

September 7, 2025