Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus on Remembrance Road
Remembrance Church sits at 4575 Remembrance Road NW on the northwest side of Grand Rapids, with entrances off both Remembrance Road and 3 Mile Road. The congregation lives under a simple banner - "Fixing Our Eyes on Jesus" - and gathers to help people become fully devoted followers of Christ, whether they have followed Him for decades or are just beginning to ask questions about faith.
Members describe worship at Remembrance as something that extends well beyond Sunday mornings. The rhythm of the church is shaped by the conviction that what happens Monday through Saturday matters as much as the Sunday gathering, and that the congregation is called to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Grand Rapids and beyond.
Sunday Mornings at 10 a.m.
Remembrance meets for worship every Sunday at 10:00 a.m., both in the building and online. Services run from 10:00 to 11:15 a.m. and include vibrant congregational worship and preaching that interacts directly with God's Word. The livestream is available through YouTube, Facebook, and a Boxcast feed, and the sermon archive stretches back many years.
Recent teaching series have included a multi-week walk through the book of Ruth ("Ruth: Despair," "Ruth: Hope," "Ruth: God's Steadfast Love") and a Lenten series titled "Behold Your King," moving from "Behold the Humble King" through "Behold the Suffering King" to "Behold Your King" on the Sunday before Easter. Pastor John Hines preaches most weeks, with Pastor Todd Schmidt, Pastor Eric Cook (Pastor Emeritus), and Eli Dahl, Director of Worship & Tech, also bringing messages.
First-time guests are invited to stop by the Welcome Center for a brief meet-and-greet and a small gift. Dress is "come as you are" - on any given Sunday some people wear sport coats and dresses, others wear jeans or shorts. An offering is taken each week, but it is intended for members; guests are never expected or pressured to give. Online giving is available through the church center platform.
Remembrance celebrates communion several times throughout the year as part of the worship gathering.
Remembrance Kids: Birth Through Fifth Grade
Every Sunday morning at 10 a.m., Remembrance Kids welcomes children from birth through fifth grade during the worship service. The nursery cares for infants and toddlers through 36 months, with separate rooms for the two age groups. The nursery is locked by a security team member as soon as the service begins, and parents are reached by text message if they are needed. A dedicated nursing room sits inside the nursery with the service livestreamed for mothers who want to continue listening. A spacious Family Room is also available as an alternate worship space for families with babies and young children.
Ages 3 through Kindergarten take part in an age-appropriate program that includes vibrant worship, a Bible lesson, and small-group activities in their classroom. Children in grades 1 through 5 participate in worship, a Bible lesson, and rotate through activity stations from September through May. (During the summer months, the program for grades 1-5 is on hiatus, and only the ages 3 through Kindergarten class is offered.)
Check-in takes place in the lobby before children head upstairs to their classrooms. Each family receives a security number that matches the child's name tag, and the same number is also displayed on the Worship Center screen if a parent is needed during the service. Regular attenders can check in their children through the Church Center App by scanning a barcode at the station.
Wednesday Nights for Kids
On the first and third Wednesday nights from October through March, children age 3 through fifth grade gather from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for an evening built around Lifeway's HyFi curriculum. Preschoolers experience worship, a Bible lesson, and activities built on the monthly theme, while elementary children are placed in classrooms by gender and grade for high-energy worship, a lesson, small group time, and a fun activity. The evening is designed for intentional conversation, safe questions, and learning the Bible together.
Safety is taken seriously. Every Kids Ministry volunteer has cleared a background check and is trained in children's ministry safety protocols. Each classroom and nursery room is staffed with at least two volunteers at a time, and any allergies a child has are printed on the check-in tag worn on the shirt. Snacks are not served on Sunday mornings, and only bottles or drinks brought from home are allowed in the nursery.
A well-child policy is in place for the protection of all children. Children who have had any of the following in the past 24 hours cannot be left in care: vomiting or diarrhea, fever over 100 degrees, pink eye, persistent coughing, skin rashes, runny nose with yellow-green discharge, or parasites.
Remembrance Students: Middle and High School
Remembrance Students is the ministry for middle school (grades 6-8) and high school (grades 9-12), built around the idea of encountering God in a Christ-centered community where students can be transparent and authentic regardless of where they are in their faith journey.
Youth group meets Sunday nights from September through April. Middle school meets from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. and high school from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. Both groups include food, hang-out time, prayer, and teaching through foundational Biblical truths, giving students a place to experience Christian community and have fun together.
Throughout the year students take part in a fall service retreat in the community, a winter weekend focused on spiritual formation, and a summer trip that alternates between spiritual formation and service. A Profession of Faith process mentors students who want to express their belief in Jesus and culminates in a service of faith and joining the church.
Growing as an Adult: Rooted, Small Groups, and Triads
Adult Ministry at Remembrance is built around the conviction that becoming a fully devoted follower of Jesus is a journey, not a destination. The flagship experience is Rooted, a 10-week small group experience that connects participants to God, the church, and their purpose. Groups of 10-15 people gather to explore the Bible, engage in prayer and serve experiences, share stories, and practice rhythms essential to a healthy spiritual life. The cost is $15 per person or $25 per couple, which covers sessions, materials, and childcare; scholarships are available. Free on-site childcare is provided to those who pre-register.
Groups are formed with attention to age, gender, marital status, and life stage. Sessions are offered periodically throughout the year, and most of the church's small groups form out of Rooted groups.
Beyond Rooted, Small Groups meet at various times and locations throughout the week and study a variety of topics. They are a primary way for men, women, and couples to connect with one another.
Discipleship Triads and Quads take the small-group idea even deeper. These are groups of three or four people of the same gender who meet weekly for about 90 minutes of personal sharing, Scripture study, and prayer. They exist to help participants mature in Christ and learn to make disciples. Groups can be formed independently or with help from Betsy Miedema, the Adult Discipleship Coordinator.
Women's, Men's, and Senior's Ministry
Women's Ministry gathers women for times of fellowship and learning through events like craft nights and IF:Gathering, alongside Triads and Quads and Women's Bible studies. Betsy Miedema is the contact for connecting.
Men's Ministry exists to help men find direction by equipping them to apply God's Word daily in the home, at work, and in the community. Men meet in Triads and Quads, serve together through the New Commandment Ministry, and gather for events throughout the year.
Senior's Ministry is for adults age 60 and older. The group meets monthly for brunch at New Beginnings Restaurant on Lake Michigan Drive on the third Tuesday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., with additional gatherings during the year.
What Remembrance Believes
The church's statement of faith centers on the inspiration of the Bible as the guide for living and understanding life, and on one God who exists in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Remembrance affirms a sovereign loving God who created and planned all things, the deity of Jesus Christ who redeemed sinful people by His death on the cross and bodily resurrection, and salvation by grace through faith alone. The Holy Spirit applies Christ's work to believers and empowers them to serve God. Christ is the head of the church, which exists to fulfill the great commission and demonstrate His lordship in every area of life. The church looks for His return to judge the world and to establish a new creation that reflects the perfection of His original design.
Local Mission Partners
Remembrance describes its mission as showing people Christ, encouraging others to move beyond the four walls of the church and bring Jesus to the community, the nation, and the ends of the earth. The church partners with a number of ministries in and around Grand Rapids.
PRC Grand Rapids has been a partner for more than 20 years. The organization provides compassionate care and resources to men and women in need, relying on Jesus and God's leading.
Matthew's House Ministry is a faith-based nonprofit on the West Side of Grand Rapids that reaches out to neighbors without homes. Its tiny house project builds small homes as part of a program that transitions homeless families into housing.
City Hope Church was planted by Dave VanderWoude, a former Remembrance Worship Director who was called to start a community of people with and without disabilities, growing together in Christ, discovering their gifts, and serving.
The Other Way Ministries serves low-income families without homes on the West Side of Grand Rapids, working to remove barriers and increase access to basic needs. Its work includes youth programs, daycare, a food pantry, a community garden, discipleship programs, and transitional housing.
Global Mission Partners
Remembrance's mission partners in Chad are a couple and their four children serving full time in an unreached nomad area of the desert where the local population is primarily Muslim. They learn the language, cultivate relationships, and share the good news.
Greg Yoder is president of Christian World Outreach, which reaches people in developing countries including Haiti, South Africa, Burkina Faso, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe to help improve quality of life.
Remembrance's India mission partners are a family of seven who live and serve in a closed nation. They know the local language, train local believers, and share the Gospel among unreached people.
Serve Opportunities
Serving is framed around a verse from 1 Peter 4:10: "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms." Remembrance organizes its serving under seven teams: Kids Ministry (age 3 through 5th grade), Student Ministries (6th through 12th grade), Worship/Tech, Guest Services, Hospitality/Care, Mission/Outreach, and Building/Grounds. Applications for each are available online.
RightNow Media, the App, and Message Reflections
Members and regular attenders have free access to RightNow Media, a streaming library of video resources for all ages including Bible studies, topical series, and family content. Apps are available for Apple and Android devices.
The Church Center App connects to Remembrance for online giving, kids check-in, and event registration. Search "Church Center App" in the app store, search by location or "49534," select the Remembrance Church logo, and confirm with a phone number.
Those who want a weekly email summary of the sermon can sign up for Message Reflections.
Pastoral Team
Pastor Todd Schmidt serves as Pastor of Care & Leadership. Pastor John Hines serves as Pastor of Teaching & Discipleship and preaches most weeks. Pastor Eric Cook is Pastor Emeritus. Eli Dahl is Director of Worship & Tech and oversees the worship and livestream ministry. Matthew Van Dongen is Director of Mission & Young Adults. Leah VanDommelen is Kids Ministry Director, and Hayley VanderVennen is Early Childhood Ministry Coordinator. Betsy Miedema is Adult Discipleship Coordinator. Viv Rizer serves as Middle School Assistant. Jen Breen is Prayer & Care Coordinator, and Maria Kober is Guest Services Coordinator.
Getting in Touch
The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The main phone number is 616-453-7700, with a 24-hour emergency line at 616-732-9945. Prayer requests can be sent to prayer@remembrancechurch.org, and the church welcomes phone calls any time to request prayer. Hospital visitation is arranged through the church office.
Membership is introduced through Discover Remembrance, a two-hour lunch gathering offered three times a year where prospective members learn about the church, meet leaders and other attenders, and explore whether God is calling them to join.