County Line Community Church has been part of Coopersville, Michigan, for more than 50 years, and the words that describe it best are its own tagline: “Loving God. Loving People.” The church started with Baptist roots and, nearly 20 years ago, became a community church so that people from all backgrounds would feel welcome, while holding tightly to the biblical convictions that shape it. It is known for verse-by-verse preaching, a worship gathering that blends contemporary songs with classic hymns, and a deliberately relaxed welcome for anyone who walks through the door.
Sunday mornings move between two hours: Sunday School for all ages at 9:45 AM and a worship service at 11:00 AM, with Kingdom Kids running for younger children during that service. A small-group prayer gathering meets on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:00 PM. County Line sits at 10326 Wilson St. in Coopersville, and the Sunday worship service is livestreamed on YouTube, where every message is also posted for viewing on demand.
More Than Fifty Years on Wilson Street
County Line Community Church has served the Coopersville area for more than 50 years. The congregation describes itself as a down-to-earth family of ordinary people who love God, care about each other, and want to make a real difference in their corner of West Michigan. Pastor Tom Lutke puts it this way: “We’re a down-to-earth group of people who love God, care about each other, and want to make a real difference right here in our community. Everyone’s welcome to come as you are.”
Its history has two distinct chapters, and the church is honest about both. The first began with Baptist roots, and those roots still shape its convictions. The second chapter came roughly 20 years ago, when the congregation transitioned to a community church model. The purpose of that shift was to welcome folks from all backgrounds while still holding tight to the core beliefs that shape who they are. The move widened the welcome without softening the theology. What has remained constant is a conviction that the Bible is the final authority on all matters of faith and practice and that Scripture-shaped teaching should be lived out in everyday life.
The reason for gathering is stated plainly: the mission is to love God wholeheartedly and love people faithfully, proclaiming the truth of Scripture and living it out in everyday life. Through prayer, discipleship, and service, the church seeks to strengthen families, support one another, and share the hope of Christ within the community and beyond. One line from 1 Corinthians 16:14 serves as a kind of motto for the whole approach: “Let all that you do be done in love.”
What County Line Believes
The beliefs of this church are grounded entirely in Scripture, and a thirteen-point doctrinal statement has guided the congregation since its founding. In summary, the church holds these convictions:
- The Holy Bible is the sole, infallible, final authority on all matters of faith and practice.
- There is one true God, eternally existing as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
- Salvation is completely a work of God’s free grace, received through repentance and faith.
- Jesus Christ is the eternal Son of God, incarnate, crucified, risen, and coming again.
- The Holy Spirit indwells every believer as the source of assurance, strength, and spiritual gifts.
- Human destiny includes resurrection and judgment for all, with eternal life for believers in Christ.
- All who acknowledge Christ belong to His body, the church, and are called to gather and serve.
- God created all things, and mankind uniquely in His image on the sixth day.
- Marriage is a lifelong covenant between one man and one woman, reflecting Christ and the church.
- Civil government is divinely appointed for human order, and Christians are to pray for, obey, and support it.
- The Lord returns bodily, personally, imminently, and pre-millennially.
- Believer’s baptism by immersion and the Lord’s Supper are the church’s ordinances.
- The Bible is the final authority, and where Scripture is silent, each believer is responsible to the Lord alone.
These convictions are held firmly but shared without pressure. Whether someone is exploring faith for the first time or has been walking with Christ for decades, the same invitation stands: study, ask questions, and be treated as part of the family.
Your First Sunday in Coopersville
Arriving at County Line is meant to be uncomplicated. The morning follows a simple arc that greeters are happy to walk anyone through.
- Park. Parking is free and plentiful in the lot off Wilson St., and welcome signs point toward the main entrance.
- Get greeted. Greeters at the door answer questions, point you in the right direction, and will point out the coffee.
- Join the service. Expect heartfelt worship, a practical message from Scripture, and a community that genuinely cares about one another. Services run about 75 minutes.
- Stay awhile. After the service, grab a coffee, meet some people, and stop by the welcome table in the foyer if you are new. First-timers are always welcome there.
Nobody is put on the spot. First-time visitors are never singled out or asked to stand up, and you are welcome to simply observe and take it all in at your own pace. You do not need to be a Christian to attend. Many people who walk through the doors are exploring faith for the very first time, and questions are welcome and expected.
There is no dress code, either. Jeans and t-shirts are as welcome as Sunday best, because comfort matters more than what anyone else is wearing. An offering is received during the service, and it is treated as an act of worship for regular members; guests are never expected or pressured to give.
Families belong here. County Line is a multi-generational community, and children are part of the service rather than a disruption. The church loves seeing families worship together, and the smaller size of the congregation means real relationships form across generations. Visitors with young children, teenagers, or families looking for a church home are received with genuine warmth. For those coming from farther afield, the church is about 25 minutes west of Grand Rapids on I-96, with plenty of parking when you arrive. Details for a first visit are available through Plan a Visit.
Kids in the Room: Sunday School and Kingdom Kids
Children have a place at both Sunday hours. The Sunday School class for elementary and middle school students meets every week at 9:45 AM, where the aim is age-appropriate, engaging study of Scripture that gives children a foundation they can build on. The Sunday School hour is offered for all ages, from children to adults, and the class offerings rotate throughout the year, covering biblical, theological, and practical subjects. Adults study alongside the younger classes, with Pastor Tom and Bryan Ringler sharing the adult class and Annie Williams leading a women’s class.
During the worship gathering, children ages 5 to 10, through fifth grade, are invited to Kingdom Kids, which begins after the offering. There, children explore Bible stories through creative projects, crafts, singing, and prayer, learning what it means to follow Jesus in everyday life. Kingdom Kids is led by Joni Lutke, and no registration is needed; children simply show up and are welcomed.
The charge to parents is one the church takes seriously, quoting Deuteronomy 6:6-7: “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Tuesday Evenings of Prayer and Scripture
The prayer gathering meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 6:00 PM, and the format is intentionally small. The group runs for about an hour and fifteen minutes. Together, those who gather work through a Scripture passage, discuss the week’s sermon meditation, and close with prayer using the congregation’s weekly Prayer Prompter. Everyone is welcome, whether they are longtime believers, someone returning to faith, or simply someone who takes prayer seriously.
Prayer is also woven through the rest of the week. The church receives prayer requests from people who want to be prayed for, and its prayer team is eager to lift up whatever people are carrying, with the promise that nobody has to carry it alone. The posture the church returns to often is set out in Philippians 4:6: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
Verse-by-Verse Teaching, with Every Message on YouTube
Pastor Tom Lutke preaches verse by verse, and the church makes that teaching available far beyond the room on Wilson Street. The Sunday worship service is livestreamed on YouTube, every message is posted for viewing on demand, and audio versions are available for messages that have been preached. The sermon archive runs deep, with dozens of series across many years of preaching.
One extended run of messages walks through the Gospel of Luke, passage by passage, treating the parables and hard sayings of Jesus in sequence. Another series teaches through the Ten Commandments from Exodus 20, taking up the commandments one at a time. Other threads in the archive address prayer, the Holy Spirit, the sovereignty of God, and the Sermon on the Mount, and seasonal messages draw on John’s account of the resurrection and of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Whatever the series, the pattern is consistent: clear, faithful teaching grounded in Scripture.
The pastor’s approach is described as approachable and grounded, always pointing back to Scripture, and he preaches with the conviction that the Word of God is alive and sufficient for individuals, for families, and for the local church. The church sums up its own life together with Hebrews 10:24-25: “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together... but encouraging one another.”
Missions From Zambia to West Michigan
Supporting the spread of the gospel through prayer, presence, and financial partnership is woven into the life of County Line. The church has a long history of missionary support stretching back more than 50 years, and it invests in local para-church ministries right here in West Michigan, with four local para-church ministry partners. The missionary family spans Zambia, Peru, and Bangladesh.
The newest missionary representatives welcomed by the church are the Gobely family, who serve at a boys’ orphanage in Zambia. The church prays weekly for each missionary, and an active Missions Committee continues to explore new partnerships. The reason behind all of it is captured in Romans 10:15: “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
Meals, Benevolence, and Neighbors in Coopersville
The call to love neighbors does not end at the church door. Through prayer support, meals, benevolence assistance, and community events, the outreach ministry seeks to serve Coopersville in practical, meaningful ways and to share the hope of Christ in the name of Christ. The worship ministry is run with a similar sense of purpose: the music team chooses contemporary Christian songs and classic hymns because the aim is to direct hearts toward God rather than simply fill a room.
Both ministries are led by Randy Van Aelst and Terry Andrews, and Randy Van Aelst also serves as an elder. Outreach ministry coordination sits with Annie Williams, who also leads the women’s Sunday School class, and Jessica Andrews coordinates events for the church.
The Pastor, the Board, and the Ministry Coordinators
County Line is led by a pastor and a board of elders and deacons who are committed to shepherding the congregation with care, humility, and a love for God’s Word.
- Rev. Thomas Lutke - Pastor
- LaVern Andrews - Elder
- Randy Bence - Elder
- Randy Van Aelst - Elder, worship and outreach ministry leader
- Sue Murphy - Deacon
- Annie Williams - Deacon, outreach ministry coordinator
- Sherry Rollenhagen - Deacon
- Joni Lutke - Kingdom Kids leader
- Terry Andrews - Worship and outreach ministry leader
- Jessica Andrews - Events coordinator
Pastor Tom has served the church with dedication and faithfulness, guiding the congregation through verse-by-verse expository teaching and what is called a shepherd’s heart for those in his care. His door is always open. The elders and deacons carry the practical weight of caring for one another, and the ministry coordinators make it possible for worship, outreach, children, and events to run week after week.
Why We Gather
The church’s reasons for gathering can be stated in a sentence: to love God wholeheartedly and love people faithfully, to proclaim the truth of Scripture and live it out in everyday life, and through prayer, discipleship, and service to strengthen families, support one another, and share the hope of Christ within the community and beyond.
The welcome it extends comes from Romans 15:7: “Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.” For more than fifty years, County Line Community Church has tried to make those words concrete on Wilson Street in Coopersville, and that remains the work it describes itself as doing, week in and week out.