A Multigenerational Church in Byron Center
Friendship Church sits on 100th Street SE in Byron Center, just off US-131, in a part of west Michigan where farmland gives way to growing neighborhoods. The congregation calls itself multigenerational, hospitable, and intentional, and that self-description is built into its mission: "As Christ-followers we are committed to cultivating, sharing, and celebrating the love of God with people everywhere." Its vision is simpler, to be a community of Christ-followers who love God and love people.
The church belongs to the Christian Reformed tradition, a family of congregations across North America that traces its teaching to the Bible and historically follows the sixteenth-century reformer John Calvin. Friendship reflects that heritage while speaking in language that connects with people who may have grown up elsewhere, and the Heidelberg Catechism shows up in youth ministry and in the rhythms of the church year.
Sunday Worship at 9:30 AM and 5 PM
Friendship gathers twice on Sunday. The morning service begins at 9:30 AM and a second service is held at 5:00 PM. Both follow a similar shape of about an hour of singing, prayer, Scripture reading, and a message from one of the pastors. Lyrics are projected so visitors can sing along or simply listen. Children ages three through five are invited, partway through the service, to follow a teacher to a children's hallway for a time of worship designed just for them, and parents are welcome to walk their child over and meet the teacher.
Older children and teens have options that follow the morning service. Kindergarteners through 8th graders attend Sunday School. High school students gather for Ground Zero, a Bible and doctrine study that uses the Heidelberg Catechism as a guide and works through how Christian faith applies to current events.
Younger children can be checked into the nursery before the service begins, and the church asks parents to arrive about ten minutes early so staff can walk them through check-in. Safety procedures are in place so that a parent can be reached during the service if a child needs them, and only a parent can pick up a child after the service.
Friendship livestreams its services, and a Vimeo archive holds sermons going back several years. A "Deeper" audio feed and the Amplify podcast offer additional material for those who want to keep studying between Sundays.
Kids and Students in Their Own Spaces
Children's ministry at Friendship is led by a team that splits the age groups. Tonya Brown coordinates programming for children from birth through kindergarten, and Sue Vanderlaan oversees the work for kindergarten through 8th grade. Their aim is a fun and safe experience every week that introduces children to Jesus at their own level. Parents are invited to accompany their child on a first visit to meet teachers and see the rooms.
Students in 7th and 8th grade gather as 1-Way, a junior high group that meets one Sunday evening a month for a large-group activity called SURGE, focused on building friendships. Every other year the group travels to Montana for a week-long Bible study retreat.
High school students, grades 9 through 12, are part of FYSH, which stands for Friendship Youth Serving Him. The group gathers during the week for grade- and gender-specific small group Bible studies, meets once a month for a Sunday evening of praise and worship called GATHERING, and gathers every Wednesday night at the Loft for a group Bible study. FYSH also raises funds for mission trips through service projects, an annual auction, and other events, with past trips going to Spain and Africa.
Macy Nyenhuis serves as the Middle School Ministry Coordinator, and Eric Everhart, one of the church's pastors, gives overall leadership to youth and outreach. Youth Sunday is a regular part of the church calendar, with students occasionally leading worship and preaching.
Adults: From Coffee Break to Pickleball
Adults at Friendship have many ways to grow and connect, and the range is wide enough to surprise first-time visitors.
Right after the Sunday morning service during the school year, an Adult Forum meets for informal but lively discussions on Scripture and current topics. Women's Bible study, called Coffee Break, runs two sessions on Tuesdays, one at 9:30 AM and another at 6:15 PM, with childcare available during the morning session for infants and toddlers. Men meet Wednesday mornings from 7:00 to 8:00 AM for Men's Life, gathering in the Great Room for breakfast and prayer and then working through the selected Bible passage.
Small groups, called Grow Groups, cover parenting, young families, service projects, discipleship, and other topics. Supper Clubs are smaller still, with groups of people meeting monthly from September through May at homes or restaurants to share a meal and conversation, and clubs change every year so newcomers can quickly find a seat at the table.
Two drop-in Bible studies welcome anyone who can show up. Come and Hear meets on Tuesdays at 7:30 AM and Wednesdays at 1:00 PM, with no preparation needed. There is also a prayer group that meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM in the Prayer Room before worship, and Wednesdays at 6:00 AM in the Sanctuary to pray for the church, the community, and the world.
Friendship also offers recreational and social outlets. Prime Timers is a group for members in their 60s and up who gather every few months for an outing, often a meal together, with occasional bus trips to Shipshewana or to Holland to see the tulips. Pickleball runs in the Activities and Recreation Center, the ARC, from fall through spring, with rotating teams across three courts on Mondays 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesdays 1:00 to 3:00 PM and 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Wednesdays 9:00 to 11:00 AM, and Saturdays 8:00 to 10:00 AM. There is a five-dollar entry fee and loaner equipment for newcomers. Co-Ed Volleyball meets on Thursday nights at 6:00 PM from October through May in the ARC. Once a year, the Inspire Women's Retreat provides an overnight gathering for women of all ages, with a focus on spiritual growth, reflection, worship, and fellowship.
What to Expect on Your First Visit
The church's own introduction to first-time guests lists three lines: "Everybody's Welcome. Nobody's Perfect. Anything's Possible." Visitors are told they do not need to dress up, will not be singled out, and will not be asked for money. The church adds, "We'll be friendly (it's even in our name)."
A Friendship service typically lasts just over an hour. Lyrics are projected during singing. Children ages three to five are invited to leave partway through the service for a time of worship in their own area, and the message is described as encouraging and hope-filled. A short online form lets visitors let the church know they are coming.
Friendship is located at 190 100th Street SE in Byron Center, just off US-131, and is easy to find on a map. A livestream is available for those who would rather join from home.
Core Values: Gospel-Centered and Missional
The church names eight core values that shape its life together: Christian Reformed, Gospel-Centered, Multigenerational, Generous, Hospitable, Prayerful, Servants, and Missional.
Friendship teaches from the Bible. Pastors have worked through the Nicene Creed in a sermon series, exploring what it means to confess faith in the Father, in the Son, and in the Holy Spirit. Sermons regularly walk through books of the Bible. The Heidelberg Catechism is used in youth ministry at the high school level as a guide for teaching doctrine and its application.
Pastoral Team and Staffing
Dan Kinnas serves as Lead Pastor of Worship and Discipleship. Eric Everhart is the Youth and Outreach Pastor, and Marshall Holtvluwer is Pastor of Congregational Care. Sue Vanderlaan coordinates children's ministry for kindergarten through 8th grade, and Tonya Brown coordinates ministry for children from birth through kindergarten. Jackie Egler serves as Care Coordinator, Rod and Sara Jager lead worship coordination, Macy Nyenhuis oversees middle school ministry, and Shari Murdock serves as Administrator with Denise Doezema as Ministry Assistant. Terry Kimber handles facilities and Austin Slater serves as Director of Technology. The church can be reached at office@friendshipcrc.org or 616-877-4144.
Reaching Byron Center and the World
Friendship's mission reach stretches from Byron Center to several continents. Locally, the church partners with Byron Community Ministries (a supply pantry, counseling, Senior Meals on Wheels, and emergency health needs), Crossroads Prison Ministry (connecting over 30,000 prisoners a year with Bible studies through volunteer mentors), Project Hope (a thrift store and food pantry), Roosevelt Park Ministries (family ministries, youth programs, language classes, financial literacy, and tutoring), The Dock (a drop-in center for youth with Kid's Hope mentoring), Refuge Chapel Ministries (chaplaincy for truckers), and Reach the Forgotten Jail Ministry (a chaplain-led ministry in Michigan county jails).
Internationally, Friendship partners with St. Thomas Anglican Church in Kilifi, Kenya, building relationships and serving together in mission. Through Resonate Global Mission, the church supports Jairo and Kelly Solano, who serve rural farmers and a Christian school in Nicaragua, and Anastaze Nzabonimpa, who assists refugees and vulnerable people. Jeff and Abby Nelson serve in Guatemala City, where Jeff works with SERGE as a clinical psychologist for pastors and ministry leaders and Abby serves as a nurse near the city dump. Jake and Jen Tornga serve with the International Association for Refugees in East Africa, and Evan and Kristal Young serve Africa Inland Mission Air as an aircraft mechanic. John and Damien Grimberg serve with Filter of Hope to provide clean water and the opportunity to know Christ to those in poverty in Latin America. Friendship is also a member of the KIBO Alliance, which promotes sustainable community development around the world.
The church also hosts a Community Festival and Dairy Day each year, tying its life into Byron Center's broader community celebrations.