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Film Tie-In “Millennial Tour” to Appear at Unity Festival

Written by Terry DeBoer on 03 August 2015. Posted in Local

Love Collide (Brooke and Lauren DeLeary)Thousands of area Christian music fans are familiar with the annual Unity Christian Music Festival where early each August, you can see top artists such as Matthew West, Third Day and David Crowder. Those three and many more will be performing this year during the festival’s Aug. 5-8 schedule (see www.unitymusicfestival.com for more information).

But there’s a unique artist spot this year on Unity’s lesser known A (Alternative) Stage, located under the big tent out near the point at Muskegon’s Heritage Landing.

Terry’s Picks: August 2015

Written by Terry DeBoer on 01 August 2015. Posted in Local

West 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 August:

New ICCF President Possesses ‘Wealth of Experience’

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on 27 July 2015. Posted in Local

Ryan VerWys said he plans to do much learning and listening his first 90 days as ICCF’s president.Starting Sept. 4, Ryan VerWys assumes the leadership helm of Inner City Christian Federation, Michigan's oldest nonprofit affordable housing provider. He succeeds longtime president/CEO Jonathan Bradford, who will retire after serving 34 years in the position.

VerWys said he intends to be quick to listen and slow to speak during his first 90 days in his new job.

Be Careful What You Wish For

Written by Dan Seaborn on 18 July 2015. Posted in Local

A mom sits on the couch while her three-month-old nuzzles her neck and squirms uncomfortably trying to find the right spot to sleep. Her two-year-old daughter has just bounded out of her baby brother's room wearing a pair of his pants which of course look like shorts on her. She is wearing nothing else. Her five-year-old, normally very independent, is whining to her dad about not being able to peel her orange, while he's trying to clean up the dinner dishes.

Cooperfly Puppet Troupe Sparks God’s Gift of Imagination at Fuller Avenue CRC

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on 16 July 2015. Posted in Local

Puppet EdGar Sinclaire with puppeteer Justin Haveman and Kevin Kammeraad get the kids laughing and clapping with the song, “Chocolate.”Despite an overcast sky that threatens a sudden downpour, the chatter among the adults and children at Fuller Avenue Christian Reformed Church's parking lot is lively and buoyant. Soon, they have more to enjoy than the chicken dinner and watermelon that's been served to them free-of-charge, courtesy of the Southeast Grand Rapids church's annual summer Tuesday Family Fun Nights.

Before long, all eyes are on puppeteer Justin Haveman's puppet EdGar Sinclaire. With his bushy eyebrows, bright red fur and ears that stick out to there, EdGar's presence alone tickles children's funny bone, but the laughing swells when the fuzzy puppet starts with a comical song, "Chocolate" that has the kids and adults laughing for joy.

Master Arts Theatre Making Progress in New Director Search

Written by Terry DeBoer on 16 July 2015. Posted in Local

Master Arts Theatre, the local faith-based community group which offers a full schedule of annual stage productions, hopes to have a new executive director by this fall.

"We've been actively interview candidates for the last number of weeks," said John Miedema, chairman of the non-profit organization's board of directors. "We've been pleased with the response and the caliber of candidates we've been getting."

Rev. Robert Dean Seeking to be ‘People’s Mayor’ of Grand Rapids

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on 08 July 2015. Posted in Local

Pastor Robert Dean said his plans for Grand Rapids if elected mayor includes reducing the city’s $1 billion debt, pave and maintain its city streets and ensure public safety in all neighborhoods.The Rev. Robert Dean, founding pastor of New Life Church of God in Christ in Southeast Grand Rapids, has served as a school board president, city commissioner and state representative. Now he's hoping to add mayor of Michigan's second largest city.

Dean is a mayoral candidate for the City of Grand Rapids. Contenders started to emerge when Grand Rapids voters passed a term limit measure for its mayor and city commissioners. Incumbent Mayor George Heartwell's third and final term ends this year.

Dean has three opponents seeking the same seat: incumbent Second Ward city commissioner Rosalyn Bliss, John George and Willard Lee. If any of the four Grand Rapids candidates gets more than 50 percent of the vote in the Aug. 4 primary election, that candidate will be elected. If not, the top two vote-getters would advance to the November election.

Terry's Picks for July

Written by Terry DeBoer on 02 July 2015. Posted in Local

West Michigan Christian News writer Terry DeBoer surveys the landscape for the area's faith-based arts and entertainment and events over the coming month. Here are three highlights for July:

Calvin CRC’s Global Gifts Sells Fair Trade Products to Help Stamp Out Poverty

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on 30 June 2015. Posted in Local

Global Gifts sells handmade merchandise from around 30 countries.Global Gifts is a retail shop of a different sort.

Step inside its 1,300-square foot store at Grand Central Plaza, 2055 28th St. SE in Grand Rapids, and customers can feast on an array of Fair Trade-certified merchandise made from around the world — around 30 nations total.

Such handmade products are lifting people who live in developing countries out of abject poverty by paying them livable wages for the products they craft.

WOW Kicks off Inspirational Summer Series

Written by Terry DeBoer on 29 June 2015. Posted in Local

The bleachers were full for the Mark Schultz performance June 28This summer's Worship on the Waterfront (WOW) series at Grand Haven's Waterfront Stadium began Sunday June 28 with a grand success.

"The bleachers were packed and we estimated more than 3,500 in attendance," said Carolyn Manting, music director at WOW's sponsoring church, First Reformed of Grand Haven.

The Sunday evening crowd had assembled to hear singer-songwriter Mark Schultz who has numerous Christian radio hits in his song catalog.

Exodus Place’s 3 Pillars Liberates Men from Hardscrabble Bondages

Written by Paul R. Kopenkoskey on 27 June 2015. Posted in Local

Exodus Place president/executive director Robb Munger (wearing blue shirt) have been helping men like John Eaton receive a new lease in life through Christ since 2009.Life has been harsh for John Eaton.

His arms are covered with self-harm scars made by razor cuts. He's lived for a time on the streets, suffered from alcoholism, and has served time in prison. On top of all this, Eaton suffers from Schizoaffective Disorder, a mental illness with psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia such as severe changes in mood, delusions and disorganized thinking.

He's entertained thoughts of suicide. But no more.

His life is on the right track now since his parole officer connected him to the Exodus Place, 322 Front Ave. SW in Grand Rapids, a Christian transitional living center Robb Munger founded in 2009. The nonprofit's 38,000-square foot building previously was a correctional facility.

New Music Review: “ResLife Worship: Higher”

Written by Terry DeBoer on 22 June 2015. Posted in Local

The multi-talented choir and other music artists from Resurrection Life Church in Grandville have done it again with another compelling release of lively praise music titled "ResLife Worship: Higher."

Church choir leaders Ken Reynolds and Jonathan Cordero (both associate pastors for worship) have assembled a wonderful collection of songs recorded live that will be profitable for wide church use.

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