A Bible Church in Byron Center
Byron Center Bible Church sits on Byron Center Avenue in the heart of Byron Center, a growing community in Kent County, Michigan. The congregation describes itself as a fellowship actively seeking to glorify God through the proclamation of His Word and the fulfillment of the Great Commission. As an independent Bible church, BCBC is part of IFCA International, a worldwide fellowship of churches, pastors, chaplains and laypeople.
Two Sunday services, an hour of Sunday School, a midweek children's program and a youth group fill out the rhythm of the week. Visitors are invited to stop at a Visitor Card form or simply show up; services are livestreamed for those who want to follow along from home.
Sundays at BCBC
Sunday mornings at BCBC follow a three-part rhythm. The first worship service begins at 9:30 AM, followed by Sunday School at 11:00 AM, and a second worship service meets at 6:00 PM. The 9:30 gathering includes nursery care for newborns through age three, Children's Church for ages three to five, and Sunday School classes for everyone from two-year-olds through sixth grade.
Worship music is described as blended, pairing contemporary songs with traditional hymns. The church is committed to expositional preaching, working through books of the Bible verse by verse in order to rightly know God, His Word, and to live for His glory. Past messages are archived on the church's messages page, broadcast on a podcast, and shared through YouTube and Vimeo. Services are also livestreamed on the Church Center channel.
What We Believe
BCBC affirms the absolute authority of God's Word, the proclamation of Christ's sacrificial love, the equipping of believers in Christian growth, and unity through Christ within the fellowship and abroad. The doctrinal statement spells out a classic evangelical position: the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are verbally inspired by God and inerrant in the original writings; one God exists eternally in three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; the Son became flesh in the person of Jesus Christ, conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the Virgin Mary.
The church teaches that all people are born with a sinful nature and are saved by grace through faith in Christ alone, with salvation resting on no human effort, merit, or ancestry. Believers are kept eternally secure by God's power through the new birth, the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, and the intercession of Christ. Two ordinances are observed: water baptism by immersion for those who have personally acknowledged Christ as Savior, and the Lord's Supper for those walking in fellowship with Him. BCBC also looks forward to the personal, bodily, visible and premillennial return of Jesus Christ, the bodily resurrection of the just and unjust, and the everlasting blessedness of the saved.
Kids and Youth
Children's ministry at BCBC aims for kids to discover who God is through His Word, turn to Christ for salvation, and grow in grateful response to His grace. On Sundays, the nursery is offered for every regular service, Children's Church gathers three- through five-year-olds during the 9:30 service, and Sunday School runs from age two through sixth grade at 11:00 AM.
On Wednesday nights during the school year, the BCBC Kids Midweek program runs from 6:45 to 8:15 PM. Divided into age groups for PreK-K5, first through third grade, and fourth through sixth grade, the program is designed to strengthen a child's desire to learn more about God and grow in Him. A separate youth group for students in seventh through twelfth grade meets at the same time, giving teens a chance to connect in Christ through Biblical teaching, worship, activities, and small groups. A week of Vacation Bible School is held each summer.
Adults at Every Stage
The Adult Bible Fellowships ministry follows the morning service and provides a time of fellowship and study that digs deeper into God's Word. Beyond Sunday School, BCBC organizes ministry for every season of life. The women's ministry offers opportunities to learn, grow, serve, share and belong; the men's ministry gathers around prayer breakfasts, Bible studies, retreats, sports and game nights; and the young adults meet on the first and third Monday evenings for friendship, fun, and time in God's Word. Adults 55 and older are served by the Faithful Stewards Ministry, which hosts events and gatherings about once a month throughout the year.
Small Groups are a major part of the BCBC adult life, though they pause over the summer and resume in the fall. Five groups are currently scattered through Byron Center, Hudsonville, Wyoming, and Dorr, meeting at various times during the week. Some are more kid-friendly than others, and newcomers can choose the group that best fits their schedule and family. A study guide is posted online for anyone wanting to dig in on their own.
Missions and Outreach
BCBC supports more than thirty active missionary groups and individuals serving across the United States and around the world. Missionaries are described as ordinary people serving God, and the church commits to pray for them, read their updates, and find ways to connect, encourage, support, and befriend them. Specific prayer points include open doors (Colossians 4:2-3), effective ministry (John 15:5), travel (Mark 16:15), protection (2 Thessalonians 3:2), refreshment (Matthew 11:28-30), God's will being done (2 Thessalonians 3:1), and boldness (Ephesians 6:19).
Locally, members serve through Byron Community Ministries, Byron Manor, Mel Trotter, and an orphan ministry, with special events like the annual Trunk N Treat rounding out the year. Inside the church, there are opportunities to teach, help with kids' ministry, serve on the worship team, work in IT, run sound and video, set up special events, coordinate lunches, or bring meals to those in need.
Leadership
Three pastors share the work of shepherding the BCBC flock. Senior Pastor Chad Dejong has been in pastoral ministry for more than twenty years and has served BCBC since 2020. He and his wife Lisa have four children, and in the spring and summer months the family is often found at a ball field, coaching, playing, or watching. Assistant Pastor Mike McClish joined the staff in 2011 after sensing the Lord's call, leaving a career as a CPA. He and his wife Sarah enjoy hiking and being active. Visitation Pastor Ron Tuinstra came on board after years of pastoral ministry, and now finds his joy in seeking to be a blessing to the fellowship through hospital and home visits.
Getting Connected
Visitors are welcomed with a Visitor Card that lets the pastoral team reach out with next steps. Giving supports weekly ministries, community outreach, and missions; donations can be made online, dropped in the offering box on Sundays, brought to the church office, or mailed. A monthly newsletter, a sermon podcast, livestreamed services, and active Facebook and Instagram accounts keep the congregation connected whether at home or in the pews.