Officials are planning a May 16, 2022 funeral service for Dr. William "Bill" Brownson Jr., long-time voice of the West Michigan-based radio ministry "Words of Hope" and former seminary professor.

Brownson died in Holland on April 1. He was 93
.
Following his own seminary training, Brownson served in two church pastorates. Then he came to Holland in 1964 to become a professor of preaching at Western Theological Seminary. He took his pastoral approach to his role at the Words of Hope ministry, which he joined in the early 1970s.

In his years at Words of Hope Brownson anchored hundreds of weekly radio broadcasts and also wrote devotionals for the ministry's printed outreach before his 1994 retirement. Author of several books, he is perhaps most noted for "Billy and Dave," a memoir written with his wife Helen about their life journey with their sons Billy and David, who died in 1977 and 2003 respectively.

Victoria Chapin is a local author/speaker/chaplain Victoria Chapin had just received a devastating diagnosis involving her eight month-old daughter Sydney.

"Tumors on her brain and spinal cord," recalled the Zeeland woman of that fateful news nearly 30 years ago.

"I didn't know much about the Holy Spirit then," she said. "But now I know it was the spirit that spoke to me and told me that I was not alone and it was gonna be OK."

But there was more bad news to come. Little did Victoria know that five years later, she would have to tell her three daughters, including Sydney, that their father had been killed in an industrial accident.

Eventually a teenaged Sydney lost her tumor battle. But even after multiple tragic events, Victoria's faith deepened and she now ministers to others through her books, chaplaincy and speaking ministries.

Jesus (actor Kyle Warmington) leads a Palm Sunday parade in last year’s production at Magnify ChurchThe true story of missionary Amy Carmichael is woven with depictions from Jesus' life in the latest Magnify Church Easter musical, "Perilous."

"(Amy) is a real Christian heroine," said "Perilous" director Vicki Modert of Carmichael - an Irish-born woman who served the poor, abandoned and abused in south India.

She died in 1951 after working in mission for more than 50 years.

Three different actresses portray Carmichael in the story – in childhood, her teen years, and as an adult. And the biblical scenes offer the characters (and the audience) a view of the Easter story.

Porta Schut holding one of the Haitian orphans she fell in love with. Porta Schut remembers returning from her first trip to Haiti in 2016 following a visit to an orphanage. She felt confused and helpless.

"There was something about these (Haitian) children that changed my heart," recalls Schut, who lives in Rockford. "I wanted to hug them continually."

These days, Schut's hugs are expressed in a number of ways. She is the founder of the nonprofit ministry Loving Kay Refij (LKR), which in Creole means "house of refuge."

Kevin DeVries: “We’re going to dive into the interior of the human soul and we’re basically going to say the greatest journey is always within.” He's scaled five of the seven continental summits, skied the North Pole and searched for the elusive Noah's Ark.

Despite these death-defying episodes in his life, Kevin DeVries, founder and president of Grand Rapids-based Grace Explorations, says the greatest journey is when men reach the mountaintop of their souls by descending to who they really are in Christ.

"Here's the thing: I really don't care about summits anymore, I don't care about elevations, I don't care about the physicality of it," says DeVries. "I'm 54 years old. We're going to dive into the interior of the human soul and we're basically going to say the greatest journey is always within."

Paulist Fr. René Constanza, who has served since 2018 as rector of the Cathedral of Saint Andrew in Grand Rapids, superior of the Paulist Fathers there and director of the Catholic Information Center in Grand Rapids, has been elected the next president of the missionary society of Catholic priests. In June, he will succeed Paulist Fr. Eric Andrews, who is completing his second, four-year term as president.

"I am deeply humbled and honored by the overwhelming support I have received from my Paulist brothers," wrote René in a message to his parishioners in Grand Rapids. "Despite the challenging and e xciting task ahead, I feel a pervading sense of peace knowing that the Holy Spirit is the one in charge of our community and its mission. It also is comforting to continue trusting in God who has always placed wonderful and talented people around me in every leadership role I have had."

Dégagé Ministries recently opened its new Thrift on Div store at 140 S. Division Ave. The store offers new and gently used women and men's fashions and will feature artwork and crafts by Heartside artisans, provide an unparalleled shopping experience and employment through Dégagé's Workforce Development Program.

The store will be open Tuesday-Friday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., as well as Thursday evenings 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., with the anticipation of additional hours in the spring.

The interior design of Thrift on Div is the vision of Workforce Development Coordinator, Stacy Postma, who has extensive retail and education experience.

The Salvation Army of Kent County has named Joseph Curtis as the organization's donor development director.

In his role, Curtis will function as the key fundraiser working with donors, prospects, foundations, corporate partners and other community organizations to raise financial and in-kind donations that will advance the mission of The Salvation Army of Kent County.

"My aspiration is to bring people together through newly discovered resources and act as a catalyst for business leaders eager to help foster positive change. That's my life's calling," Curtis said. "It happens to be what I do for a living."

World Renew, the Christian Reformed Church in North America's international relief and development organization, is moving from its current location in the denominational offices in Grand Rapids to Byron Center. World Renew Canada will remain in the CRCNA's Burlington, Ont. building.

A building has been purchased at 8970 Byron Commerce Dr. SW and is around 10 miles from the CRCNA offices. The idea for the purchase came into discussion after a 2019 recommendation was made by CRCNA U.S. Corporation, owners of the current denominational building, to remodel the existing offices and resize the property.

The timeline of World Renew's projected move was then significantly delayed by the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, but the delay resulted in an outcome that is now adjusted to the current pandemic reality.

Guiding Light recently opened its sixth Iron Man house in the city of Kentwood at an undisclosed location. The home comes at a time of increased demand for addiction recovery services.

Able to accommodate seven men, the four-unit apartment building increases the nonprofit's capacity to house men as they transition back into the mainstream of society after successfully completing the Foundation phase of Guiding Light's Recovery program. In total, Guiding Light can house a total of 42 men in its six Iron House locations.

The apartments are designed for community-oriented sober living and are reserved exclusively for men who have finished four to six months of intensive residential treatment that combines evidence-based practices, life-coaching, therapy, support groups, spiritual direction and other resources to equip men to stay sober and reengage with their family, friends and community.

Pris McDonaldStaff and supporters of the local Master Arts Theatre are making plans for a life celebration for the organization's founder and long time director. Priscilla (Pris) McDonald passed away Feb. 11 in Florida at her winter home.

"Pris created a legacy of God-honoring creativity, theatre and theatre artists in this community," stated current MAT executive director Tim Van Bruggen.

McDonald became the faith-based theatre company's first executive director in 1987. She had continued to serve as artistic director after Van Bruggen began his duties in 2015. She retired from that role only recently.

Taking a knee and praying for God’s wisdom and favor before setting out to proclaim the Gospel. The 28-degree nighttime temperature is crisp and chilly, made even colder thanks to a wind chill that makes it feel closer to a frosty 10 degrees. It's the perfect evening to huddle inside and sip a cup of hot chocolate.

But for five men who've gathered on a recent Tuesday at the intersection of Burton Street and Eastern Avenue in Southeast Grand Rapids' Alger Heights neighborhood, the night will take on a decidedly different focus.

Four men have joined Stephen Nylen, an open-air preacher who founded Frontline Apologetics around 10 years ago, to declare Christ's salvation outside, where there are no walls, no order of service and no furnace to keep them warm.

Some of the men that work in evangelistic concert with Nylen — Daniel Cross, Joel VanOyen and Jason Silverthorne — will hold placards with Bible verses printed on them and, when possible, hand out four panel, doubled sided pamphlets with the headline, "Do You Know Jesus Christ" ablaze on it, to those willing to accept them.

The long-awaited “Legacy” CD is now completeThe James Family Singers, a West Michigan gospel music group more than a half-century old, has released a new collection of songs which builds on its distinguished legacy.

"We started taking about this project way back in 2014," said Marvis James, 72, one of several patriarchs in the talented chorale. "We're getting older and we wanted to leave something behind as a musical legacy for the nieces and nephews and others."

So the title of the 11-song CD, "Legacy," is a natural and resonates on numerous levels.

Several of the anthems, such as "The Lord's Prayer" and "Center of My Joy" are songs the family group has performed for decades, yet has never recorded.

That's understandable, since their previous album dates back to 1993.

Several Christian music concerts highlight the West Michigan calendar for February. Here are details on two of them.

Dégagé Ministries has hired Stacy O'Keefe, as director of development and Kacey Spencer as fund development and event manager.

Here is a recap of some of Calvin University's January Series speakers:

• Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers, of their award-winning podcast Pantsuit Politics  dealing with the history of the welfare system in the United States. They are co-authors of the book, " I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-filled Political Conversations."

As two  Christian  women from opposite sides of the political spectrum and as trained attorneys, their goal is to model how people from opposing political perspectives – as well as members of religious congregations – can have calm, grace-filled conversations  about politics.

Guiding Light has named John C. Harrington chair of its board of directors.

Harrington brings more than 40 years of experience in bank management, executive leadership and business consulting in a number of industries to his new role. As director and principal of Harrington Associates LLC and Harrington & Kieft LLC, his experience in aligning stakeholders, building partnerships and facilitating solutions will be an asset to Guiding Light.

Critter Barn in Zeeland, an educational farm dedicated to teaching about farming and agriculture for people of all ages and all abilities through the miracles in nature found at the farm, was awarded a grant as part of the Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation National Paralysis Resource Center 2021 2nd Cycle Direct Effect Quality of Life grants.

Critter Barn will use the grant award for purchasing seven adaptive tricycles and five activity chairs with trays from the Rifton Equipment Company, who specialize in designing and producing adaptive equipment for persons with disabilities.

Guiding Light Donor Relations Officer Bob Evans has been named one of Senior Neighbors' 16 Over 60 for his engagement in the community and impact on the lives of others. Now in its fourth year, the award program annually selects 16 individuals over the age of 60 in Kent County who have inspired others and positively impacted the community through business excellence and other extraordinary efforts.

For the past five years, Evans' role with Guiding Light has focused on nurturing donor relationships. He helps donors structure their stewardship donations so their contributions can have the greatest impact on individuals who are struggling with homelessness or addiction.

Gary Matthews now works with Celebration Ministry Staffing. Now a retired worship pastor, Gary Matthews has turned his focus to helping bring together worship leaders and churches.

This "matching service" is the mission of Celebration Ministry Staffing, a national organization Matthews joined last year after his retirement from Christ Memorial Church in Holland.

"We help churches find worship pastors and help candidates find what God's plan is for them with churches," said Matthews, 65, from his Holland area home.

The Nashville-based agency is less than three years old but already has an established track record in helping place worship directors and other staff in church leadership.

A few weeks ago Matthews and an associate visited a church north of Grand Rapids. They met with church leaders and pastoral staff, determining what the church was seeking and then looking at possible candidates. "We really do a lot of homework," Matthews said.

Survivor of a grizzly bear attack, Jim VanSteenhouse is also known as “The Bear Man”It's difficult for Jim VanSteenhouse to recall many details from the hours following a grizzly bear attack he endured in the Canadian wilderness.
But he remembers losing a lot of blood.

"There never was a point while I was choppered to base camp and then to the nursing station that I didn't feel blood dripping out of me," said the big game hunter from his Houston area home.

"My clothes were shredded and (the grizzly) tore my head up pretty good."

The attack came seven years ago on one of the mossy ridges stretching down from the Mackenzie Mountain range in the remote Northwest Territories. He and a guide were there bow-hunting moose, and were seated next to each other when a huge grizzly came up behind the hunter's right shoulder "at 4 o'clock."

When the bear lunged he remembers muttering, "Lord, here I come."

Dominican Center at Marywood, a ministry of the Dominican Sisters ~ Grand
Rapids, is moving west down the street from the Marywood Campus at 2025
Fulton Street East to the Aquinas College campus at 1700 Fulton Street East.
Starting Jan. 3, Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas College opened its
doors to visitors from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. "Come January 3,
2022, Dominican Center Marywood at Aquinas

College will open in what historically was the Bukowski Pastoral Center," said
Prioress Sandra Delgado OP. "This building has been re-formed to house
ministry offices, space for programs and retreat experiences, community gatherings, and prayer."