Where Everybody Is Somebody on West Allegan
Tucked into the village of Martin, Michigan, just south of Plainwell and a short drive east of Kalamazoo, Martin Reformed Church has stood at 1073 W. Allegan for more than half a century. The congregation traces its formal beginning to 1923, when the local Presbyterian society reorganized as Martin Reformed Church under the Reformed Church in America, and it has now served the village for more than a hundred years. Today the church is part of the Kingdom Network of like-minded Reformed congregations. Its motto, set in the masthead of every page, sums up the tone of the place: "Where Everybody is Somebody, and Jesus Christ is Lord!"
The building sits on a quiet stretch of West Allegan just outside the original downtown core. Visitors pull up beneath the car port added in the 2019 narthex expansion and step into a Welcome Center staffed by greeters. Inside, the church runs two Sunday services, a full slate of children's and youth ministry, a state-licensed preschool, a midweek prayer gathering, pickleball on winter Thursday nights, and a partnership that farms a field each year to feed local food pantries.
From a 1842 Presbyterian Meeting to a 1923 Reformed Congregation
Christian witness in Martin goes back further than the church itself. A Presbyterian Church was formed in Martin in 1842, and an original church building went up in 1871. That wooden structure was eventually outgrown, and on July 24, 1923, the Presbyterian Church reorganized to officially become Martin Reformed Church, a congregation of the Reformed Church in America. The new body started with 44 members - 33 received by letter of transfer and 11 by profession of faith - and on August 17, 1923, a consistory of three elders and three deacons was formed and communion was served for the first time.
Through the 1930s a basement was dug beneath the existing church, and by 1946 an organ and restrooms had been added. By 1948 the congregation had grown to 129 communicant members across 60 families. The little downtown church was running out of room.
The Sanctuary on West Allegan
Ground broke in 1970 on a new site on West Allegan, designed around a sanctuary that would seat 425 to 450 people. Soon after the groundbreaking, the arches were set in place pointing heavenward - a detail the church still notes in its own history. On June 6, 1971, the congregation moved out of downtown Martin into the building still in use today. The cast bell on display in front of the current building dates back to 1871 and came from the original church, a tangible link between the two locations.
Growth continued through the 1990s with a major building addition that brought a fellowship hall, nursery, kitchen, dedicated youth room, and gymnasium. In 2019 a beautiful narthex expansion added gathering space, restrooms, a Welcome Center, and a car port, changing both the look and the feel of the front of the building.
A Century of Pastoral Ministry
Martin Reformed Church has been served by a long line of pastoral families since its 1923 founding. The early years brought Dr. and Mrs. Winfield Burggraaff (1922-23), Rev. and Mrs. Gary De Jong (1925-26), Rev. and Mrs. George Flikkema (1926-36), Rev. and Mrs. Murray Steinkamp (1936-39), Rev. and Mrs. Albert Mansen (1939-45), Rev. and Mrs. George Chermak (1946-55), Rev. and Mrs. August Koopman (1957-66), and Rev. and Mrs. Don Bekkering (1966-72). Pastor Marvin and Trena Meeter served from 1973 to 1987, followed by Pastor Ken and Karen Kuiper (1989-95), Pastor James and Sue Goldschmeding (1996-2003), Pastor Rich and Shauna Davis (2004-2007), Pastor Jim and Sandy VanderRoest (2008-2013), and Pastor Mark and Shelley Heijerman (2013 to 2023). Pastor Matt and Debbie Hendricks began their ministry in 2024 and currently shepherd the congregation.
Sunday Morning and Evening Worship
Two Sunday services anchor the week at Martin Reformed Church. A 9:30 a.m. service runs all year round, and an evening service meets at 6 p.m. from Labor Day through Memorial Day. Both services are offered in English in the main sanctuary and are also available through a live stream for those unable to attend in person.
When visitors walk through the door they are met by a greeter and directed to the Welcome Center on the west side of the narthex for any questions. After the service, the narthex is the place to linger over coffee and fellowship. The congregation is open about wanting to be a place where newcomers can feel at home, and a printed welcome brochure is available.
Beliefs Rooted in the Reformed Confessions
Martin Reformed Church describes itself as a Kingdom Network Church in the Reformed tradition. Its faith is summarized in the Apostles' Creed and the Nicene Creed and taught alongside the Heidelberg Catechism. As a Kingdom Network congregation, the church adheres to a set of nine core beliefs: that Jesus Christ is preeminent and the foundation of all they do; that the gospel of his virgin birth, sinless life, atoning death, burial, and resurrection is to be proclaimed; that the Bible is the inspired and inerrant final authority in every area of life and doctrine; that on essential issues they seek unity while allowing liberty and charity on disputable matters such as baptism, ordination, and worship style; that they are committed to multiplying disciples and planting new churches; that they long for the great vision of every tribe, tongue, and nation gathered before the throne; that they are a people of love marked by Christ-centered friendships and accountability; that they intend to defend and celebrate a biblical view of sexuality and heterosexual marriage; and that they stand on the shoulders of the Reformation and the ancient church by gladly adhering to the Heidelberg, Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasian Creeds.
Led by the Consistory
The spiritual life of the congregation is governed by the consistory, the classic Reformed body made up of the minister, the elders, and the deacons. The consistory represents Christ together, with the three offices mutually supportive and accountable. The current elders are Bob Modreske, Nate Jager, Rob Veld, Nick Stahl, Bob Sikkema, and Rev. Ken Kuiper. The deacons are Andy Wilson, Sam Mensch, Ryan Boender, Brian DeMann, Nick VanDerHeide, and Jared Westendorp. Pastor Matt Hendricks serves as the minister of Word and Sacrament alongside them.
Children's Ministry from Nursery Through Sixth Grade
The children's ministry at Martin Reformed Church welcomes children from newborn through sixth grade and offers a progression of programs designed to fit each stage.
- Nursery. The MRC Nursery ministers to children from newborn through age four in a safe, clean room staffed by trustworthy volunteers. Its goal is to give parents confidence that their children are being cared for by volunteers who reflect the love of Christ.
- Kids of Light. A children's church for ages four through first grade that meets every Sunday during morning worship in the basement from September through May. Each week the children listen to a Bible story, join a devotional, make a craft, do an activity, and work on a Bible verse that fits the lesson.
- Kids Choir. Immediately after the morning service and Kids of Light, children ages three through fifth grade gather to sing songs and periodically lead worship for the whole congregation.
- Big D.O.G.S. A Wednesday night program for ages four through fifth grade that meets every other week from fall through spring. Each evening includes learning God's word, games, crafts, snacks, and time for fun.
- Vacation Bible School. Each summer all children ages four through sixth grade are invited to a week of VBS with a new theme, daily Bible stories, crafts, games, snacks, and songs. Recent themes have included "Twist and Turns" and "Rainforest Falls."
Sarah Broughman serves as the Children's Ministry Coordinator and can be reached at children@martinreformed.org.
Junior High and Senior High Youth
Two distinct youth groups serve middle schoolers and high schoolers. The Junior High Youth Group, for sixth through eighth graders, focuses on fun, growth, and fellowship. It typically meets every other Sunday evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the youth room from September through May, with a relevant lesson, food, games, and fun. Special evenings have included Craig's Cruisers outings, snow tubing, Sky Zone, hayrides, bonfires, scavenger hunts, and service projects such as volunteering at Kalamazoo Gospel Mission and collecting food for local shelters. Each April the group heads north for an annual retreat at Grace Adventures with high ropes courses, zip lining, horseback riding, paintball, and archery.
The Senior High Youth Group, for ninth through twelfth graders, meets most Sunday evenings from September through May, skipping any fifth Sunday of a month. Twice a month the whole group gathers in the youth room for games, food, and a lesson relevant to today's teens. On the alternating weeks, the girls and guys break out into their own small groups for more specific lessons. Every other year a week-long mission trip takes the students to places such as Kentucky, New York, or Virginia, with local mini-mission trips filling the off years. The calendar also includes service projects for the elderly and needy, adopting a family for Christmas, weekend camping retreats, convention-style outings, road rallies, hayrides, bowling, skiing, paintballing, Sky Zone, corn mazes, Craig's Cruisers, and the occasional lock-in. Zach Mingerink is the Youth Director and can be reached at youth@martinreformed.org.
Sunday School for Every Age
Sunday School runs weekly after the morning service from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. during the school year, September through May, and reaches from four-year-olds all the way up to senior adults. Classes gather around Bible stories, crafts, snacks, and memory verses, with teachers who volunteer their time year after year. Mindy Stahl teaches the four-year-olds and kindergarten class; Rick Katje takes the first and second graders; Brian DeMann the third and fourth graders; Dale Doezema the fifth and sixth graders; Mike Timmer the seventh and eighth graders; Curt DeVries the high schoolers; Jim Schipper leads an adult class on various topics; and Gary Timmer and Don VerHage lead an adult class working through the Sunday School Guide. More information is available through the church office.
Women's Ministry, Prayer Shawl, and Senior Adults
The Women's Ministry exists to welcome all women with open arms, to connect with God and one another, and to grow deeper in fellowship as they live out their lives for Christ. The ministry team is made up of Sara DeHaan, Mindy Stahl, and Sarah Broughman. Their gatherings and events are coordinated through womensministry@martinreformed.org.
The Prayer Shawl Ministry is a group of avid knitters, crocheters, and blanket makers whose finished work is given to the needy and hurting. The Seniors Ministry gathers adults ages 55 and older monthly through most of the year, with breaks in the deepest winter months and in summer, for a devotion centered on God's Word, a shared lunch, and meaningful conversation. In the fall the congregation also adopts a list of MRC college students, sending letters and small gifts of encouragement through the school year through the Staying in Touch program.
Pickleball, Volleyball, and Wednesday Prayer
Outside of formal ministry, the gym and the narthex see steady traffic. Pickleball players of all skill levels are welcome to gather in the gym every Thursday evening from 6:30 to 9 p.m. during the winter months for a night of fellowship and fun. Women's Volleyball takes over the gym on Monday nights from 7 to 8:30 p.m. On Wednesdays, brothers and sisters in Christ gather in the narthex for MRC Prays, a simple time of prayer together. Adult Bible Studies run throughout the year, with dates posted on the church calendar. And tucked between the sanctuary and the friendship area, the MRC Library offers books, reference materials, and other media for personal spiritual growth.
Crops for Christ and the Martin Resource Center
Two regular outreach efforts keep the congregation looking outward. Crops for Christ is an annual project in which members come together to farm a field, with all of the proceeds distributed to local food pantries and gospel missions. Each month the church also collects different items of need and delivers them directly to the Martin Resource Center, with a collection cart in the narthex and the month's specific items listed in the bulletin. In the fall, members pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse, sending gifts to children around the world. The church's quarterly Faith Mission focus has included partnerships with Kalamazoo Valley Gleaners.
Vacation Bible School and the Annual Campout
Two annual traditions anchor the summer months. Vacation Bible School draws children ages four through sixth grade for a week of Bible stories, crafts, games, snacks, and songs on a fresh theme each year. And every August the church reserves the entire campground at SON-Life Camp and Retreat Center for a four-day weekend, complete with campsite themes, fishing contests, crafting, blobbing, a Saturday night potluck, and a Sunday morning campsite service led by Pastor Matt.
Martin Reformed Church Preschool
Sharing the building with the church is Martin Reformed Church Preschool, a state-licensed program whose motto is "Every Child is a Gift From God." The preschool focuses on the whole child - spiritual, social, emotional, academic, and physical - and weaves biblical truths into each day through worship songs, devotions, and prayer. Children learn with the Zoo-Phonics program and explore language arts, math, science, motor skills, and social-emotional development through Michigan's Early Childhood Standards of Quality.
Two class options are offered: a Tuesday and Thursday class from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for children who turn three by September 1, and a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday class from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. for children who turn four by September 1. Progressive Extended Afternoons are offered for the M/W/F class from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. when there is enough interest. Tuition for the three-day class is $1,850 per school year and $1,250 for the two-day class, with the extended afternoon program priced on the same basis as the mornings. Jill DeMann is Co-Director and teacher (with the program since 2016 and a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education), Holli Jager is Co-Director and teacher's aide (with the program since 2014), and Sarah Broughman serves as teacher's aide (since 2019). The preschool can be reached at preschool@martinreformed.org or (269) 672-9711.
Tough Questions with Pastor Matt
One distinctive feature of Martin Reformed Church is its Ask Matt Anything ministry, hosted under the heading Tough Questions on the church site. Pastor Matt writes honest, scripture-rooted answers to questions submitted by members and visitors, ranging from whether Scripture condemns cremation to how Christians should think about politics, cremation, A.I., yoga, Halloween, the Nephilim, Melchizedek, the doctrine of assurance, the book of Enoch, the meaning of Zion, dating across religions, modesty, the role of women in church office, and how to engage with beggars as a witness. The tone is candid, confessional, and warm - very much the voice of a pastor who wants his people to think carefully about what they believe and why.
Giving, Live Stream, and the Welcome Center
Giving is available online through Tithe.ly, with the option to include envelope numbers for year-end statements and to set up recurring gifts through a free account. Live stream access is available for both Sunday services and is linked from the home page. The Welcome Center on the west side of the narthex is staffed by greeters on Sunday mornings, and a printable welcome brochure is available for visitors who want to know more before they arrive. A small social team - Sarah, Kelvin, Michael, and Toby - keeps the church's Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube channels fresh, and the church also publishes mobile versions and archives of its weekly bulletin and newsletter.
Staff Who Keep Things Running
Behind the scenes, Jill Wolthuis serves as the church secretary, Curt DeVries directs worship as the Worship Director, Derek Timmerman coordinates video, Doug Geurink heads up security, and Ellie DeMann serves as wedding coordinator. The staff team works alongside the consistory, the children's and youth teams, the preschool, and a host of volunteer teachers, greeters, nursery workers, and small group leaders to keep the ministries of Martin Reformed Church running week by week.
More than a hundred years after the Presbyterian society of Martin reorganized into the Reformed Church in America, the congregation that meets on West Allegan still rings the 1871 bell out front, still celebrates communion from the same Reformed heritage, and still lives by the motto printed at the top of every page: Where Everybody is Somebody, and Jesus Christ is Lord.