Central Church stands at 446 W. 40th Street in Holland, Michigan, and its identity is captured by a simple invitation: to flourish in your kingdom calling. The church is known for Bible-centered teaching that is practical enough for people who may be unsure what they believe, have been disappointed by church or simply have honest questions. Sunday worship is the center of its life, but the work stretches through children’s classrooms, student gatherings, practical formation, mission, care and a Christ-centered recovery community. Guests are invited to participate as much or as little as they wish.
From 1896 to a Campus Made for Many Gatherings
Central’s history reaches back to 1896. Its present mission is to amplify the hope and life of Jesus to all people, and its vision is expressed in the language of kingdom calling that shapes its discipleship. Senior Pastor Craig Rees says the heart of his leadership is to invite people to discover not only what God may be calling them to do, but who God is inviting them to become as they follow Jesus in everyday life.
That vision becomes concrete through Flourish Training, which explores how God has uniquely shaped each person and who God is inviting that person to become. Next Steps, family ministry, worship formation, recovery step studies and missions all express a desire for faith that is understood and lived in daily life. Across Central’s teaching, Scripture is central, while prayer, grace, the work of the Holy Spirit and following Jesus shape the church’s understanding of spiritual growth. The approach leaves room for honest questions and for people who are uncertain, hurt by church or new to faith.
The church operates across a large campus with distinct entrances for its different ministries:
- Worship Center: Entrance A or I.
- Central Kids: Entrance D.
- Chapel: Entrance G, identified by its two-story glass windows.
- Student Center: West side of the building, Entrance H.
The large layout is not meant to make visitors feel lost. The welcome team assists with children’s check-in, room locations and each step of an arrival. Visit information also includes directions to the church.
Central’s sermons can be watched through its livestream, and its sermon collection includes messages dating to 2015. A Central Holland mobile app and a weekly email provide additional ways to stay connected with the life of the church.
Sunday: About 75 Minutes of Worship, Teaching, and Prayer
Central gathers on Sundays at 9:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. in the Worship Center and at 9:00 a.m. in the Chapel. The 75-minute service includes worship, practical teaching from the Bible and opportunities for prayer. That combination gives visitors a clear picture of a Central Sunday: time to worship, hear teaching that is intended to be understood and applied, and space to respond personally.
Whether someone is attending for the first time or returning after a long absence, the church’s welcome is simple: come as you are. People may participate as much or as little as they wish. The Chapel and Worship Center have separate entrances, so a guest can arrive directly at the gathering for which the morning was planned. Families do not need to navigate the campus alone; the welcome team assists with children’s check-in and room locations.
Central also carries its Sunday teaching beyond the building through an online livestream and a substantial sermon archive. The watch experience makes the worship gathering available to people who cannot attend in person, while recordings allow listeners to return to messages on spiritual formation, biblical teaching and the church’s call to flourish.
Central Kids, Middle School, and High School
Central’s NextGen ministry is built around partnership with parents. The church works to encourage and equip families to disciple their children as they form deep-rooted relationships with Christ. Central Kids serves children from three months through fifth grade in a safe, fun and engaging environment during Sunday services. Its age-specific preschool service for children three months through five years is on the first floor, while the K through fifth-grade service is on the second. Classes are designed around core truths, friendships and a meaningful hour together.
Central Kids meets at 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. On Wednesday, Central Kids Midweek runs from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Families follow the Playland signs and enter at Entrance D. The check-in team helps families find the appropriate age group, including when a child is attending for the first time. For children with special needs, support is available during both Sunday services. A child’s family can tell the check-in attendant, after which the Special Needs Coordinator greets them, learns about the child’s abilities and limitations, and arranges either a Buddy who helps the child join regular programming or activity in a special-needs classroom. The phrase guiding this ministry is simple: Everyone Belongs.
Central Students gives middle and high schoolers places to belong, grow and practice faith in community. Middle School meets on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Its rhythm includes engaging events, meaningful small groups and student-led worship, with particular attention to Christ-centered friendships and a deeper understanding of what it means to follow Jesus.
High School meets on Sundays from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Students encounter worship, honest teaching, meaningful small groups and strategic events intended to help faith become part of life in school, friendships and the future. Central describes the goal as ownership of faith and discovery of purpose and influence. Student check-in is at the Student Center on the west side of the building, Entrance H.
Monday Nights: A Free Meal and Christ-Centered Recovery
Every Monday, Central opens its Chapel for Celebrate Recovery, a Christ-centered 12-step program designed to help people connect with God and others while pursuing healing and freedom. The program is completely free. A free meal for the entire family begins at 5:15 p.m., large group worship and teaching starts at 6:30 p.m., and open share groups meet at 7:30 p.m. until the gathering concludes at 8:30.
Celebrate Recovery is described as a safe place for people carrying hurts, habits and hang-ups. Its large group offers worship and the story or teaching of someone who has experienced freedom and new life in Christ. Open share groups then separate for men and women, creating space for honest sharing, trust and supportive relationships. The weekly groups address struggles including chemical addiction, depression and anxiety, anger and control, sexual addiction, disordered eating and body image, codependency, hurts, habits and unhealthy relationships. Other areas of freedom include gambling addiction, eating disorders, financial recovery, food addiction, family dysfunction, physical, emotional and sexual abuse, self-injury, relationship addiction and anger.
The program’s 12 steps are framed biblically. They begin with admitting powerlessness over addiction and compulsive behavior, believing that a power greater than oneself can bring restoration, and turning one’s will over to God. The path continues through moral inventory, confession to God and another person, readiness for change, seeking removal of shortcomings, making amends where possible, continued self-examination, prayer and meditation, and finally sharing what has been learned with others. Closed step-study groups for men and women focus on God’s grace and an internal change of heart that develops awareness of God, self and others.
Children and teenagers are included in the Monday gathering. Celebration Place offers free childcare from three months through 12 years of age. Children three months through four years stay in the Playland; children ages five through 12 have Playland time together with age-appropriate lessons that mirror the adult teaching. The Landing is the program for teenagers, a safe and confidential place where they can be supported as they deal with depression, anxiety, loneliness, isolation, bullying, peer pressure, family conflict, self-worth and other struggles. The Landing is also presented as a resource for preventing future difficulties. The program’s stated aim is to develop daily practices for healing, joy and freedom.
Formation for Adults, Families, and Young Adults
Flourish Training and Next Steps extend the church’s discipleship emphasis beyond the sanctuary. Flourish Training helps participants examine how God has uniquely shaped them and who he is inviting them to become. The teaching emphasis is not limited to information; Central repeatedly connects biblical ideas with ordinary life, personal honesty, prayer and the Holy Spirit’s work. Its goal is a people who can describe their calling and live it in relationships, work and community.
Family ministry includes children, students, special-needs support and a Family Creative Arts ministry. Young adults ages 18 to 25 are also named as a distinct constituency. Alongside the age-specific gatherings, Central supports the expressive and formative sides of church life through worship, chapel music, creative arts and teaching teams. Worship Director Hannah Lampe, Elementary Coordinator Heidi Boogaart, Kids Director Ethan Lampe, Special Needs Coordinator Jaclyn Driesenga and several student leaders help carry these ministries day to day.
Pastoral care, connections and missions are also distinct responsibilities. Anna Beck serves as Connections Pastor, Jennifer Stohler directs care, and Patty Jones directs Central Missions. The church’s mission emphasis is both local and global, with generosity supporting ministry in Holland and around the world. Prayer is offered as a church ministry, while named leaders carry worship, formation, recovery, care and service alongside the church’s elder team.
Generosity That Reaches Beyond Central’s Walls
Central describes generosity as an act of worship and stewardship. Its Vision Goal is the annual operating budget that funds the church’s ministries, including children’s supplies, community groups, Sunday services, missions and facilities. Online giving supports one-time or recurring gifts, gifts can be made during worship, and checks can be mailed to the church. Donors may also direct gifts to missions, the building fund or a special project. Central is a 501(c)(3) organization, provides yearly giving statements and makes detailed audited financial information and annual ministry reports available.
The church also accepts non-cash gifts. Appreciated stocks and bonds can be donated directly, avoiding capital gains and the cost of selling the securities, while vehicles and other assets can also be arranged. Government-issued bonds do not qualify for direct stock and bond giving. For people age 70½ or older, a direct IRA distribution may be sent to Central; it does not receive giving credit or taxable-income recognition but can count toward the required minimum distribution. These giving routes reflect the church’s stated conviction that generosity should be transparent, accountable and directed toward lives and communities transformed.
Financial stewardship is therefore connected to the church’s wider mission of amplifying hope and life. Giving is not framed only as paying expenses, though operating the ministries requires those resources. It is described as participation in a kingdom movement that reaches beyond buildings and budgets, including ministry in Holland and around the world. The online giving options make a recurring or single gift part of that larger practice of worship and service.
Craig Rees and a Team for Formation and Care
Craig Rees has served as Central’s senior pastor since 2014 and founded the Water’s Edge Family of Churches. His pastoral emphasis is to make faith understandable and practical, especially for people who are unsure what they believe, have been hurt by church or wonder whether there is more. That tone is reflected across Central’s worship services, recovery groups and formation ministries: biblical teaching is offered with room for questions, vulnerability and a willingness to hear people’s stories.
Adam Davidson serves as Chapel Pastor, Spencer Olson as Student Pastor, Larry Erlandson as Senior Adult Pastor, Anna Beck as Connections Pastor and Vaughn Biggs as Creative Pastor. Wibke Rees directs Celebrate Recovery, while several recovery coordinators support the Monday groups. The church also has an elder team, along with ministry leaders in children, worship, special needs, students, family arts, care and missions. Hannah Lampe directs worship, Scott VandenBerg directs chapel music, Madi Kooienenga coordinates worship, and Jo Gray leads Family Creative Arts.
That mix of pastoral, teaching and program leadership reflects the breadth of Central’s work. Worship is not separated from formation, and family ministry extends beyond children’s classes. The recovery community, pastoral care, missions and worship each have named leaders, while an elder team and ministry leaders support the church’s work. These roles place pastoral care, teaching, worship and community service within the same church life.
Rooted in Hope and Open to Questions
Central Church’s life in Holland can be understood through the connections between its parts. The history reaches back to 1896, while the present is marked by a desire to help people flourish in their kingdom calling. Sunday worship combines singing, practical Bible teaching and prayer. A large campus gives children, students, artists, worshippers and people with special needs places to belong, while Monday gatherings offer a free meal and honest groups for those seeking freedom from hurts and compulsive behaviors.
The through line is formation around Jesus rather than simply a busy calendar. Central’s teaching makes room for the Holy Spirit, grace, prayer and honest questions. Its family ministries seek to help parents raise children in deep-rooted relationship with Christ. Its recovery groups pursue healing through biblical principles and community. Its generosity carries ministry beyond the walls into Holland and around the world. At Central, flourishing is both a personal calling and a shared way of life, from the nursery to the student room, from the Chapel to the Worship Center, and from local mission to the wider world.