Third Christian Reformed Church on Winchell Avenue in Kalamazoo is known for its 9:30 a.m. Sunday worship, where traditional hymns and contemporary songs meet with biblical teaching, prayer, and participation by the congregation. Its mission, “Connecting people to Christ, His Church, and His Community,” extends from children’s Bible lessons and youth mentoring to adult study, recovery meetings, a church-sponsored preschool, neighborhood service, and mission partnerships around the world. The church is at 2400 Winchell Avenue, Kalamazoo, Michigan 49008.
A Sunday Morning Blending Heritage and Contemporary Music
Worship takes place every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. at the Winchell Avenue building. The service blends traditional hymns and contemporary songs, while biblical teaching, prayer, and opportunities to participate shape the gathering. This mixture gives the Sunday morning its distinctly blended character.
Third Church can be joined in person or through its YouTube worship channel. A sermon archive also keeps past messages available for later reflection.
Faithfully Following Christ
Third Church centers its beliefs on Jesus Christ and grounds them in the truth of God’s Word. It seeks to live out the gospel with faith, grace, and love while growing together in Christ.
- God: The church believes in one God revealed as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God created all things, including humans, for relationship with him, but sin broke relationships with God, self, others, and creation.
- Jesus: Jesus is affirmed as fully human and fully God. He fulfilled the Old Testament promises concerning the Messiah, and his life, death, and resurrection are grounded in historical fact. Jesus is Lord of all things and will return to make all things new.
- The Bible: The Bible is the authoritative Word of God and contains everything people need for salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God speaks through this book.
- Reformed faith: Third Church is part of the Christian Reformed Church in North America.
Reach Up, Reach In, and Reach Out
The mission of Third Church is “Connecting people to Christ, His Church, and His Community.” Its vision describes a dynamic church whose life moves in three directions.
- Reach Up: Seek spiritual transformation through worship and prayer, seeking God’s will as members of his kingdom.
- Reach In: Participate in church life, invest spiritual gifts, care for one another, and grow in faith and friendship.
- Reach Out: Serve and bless the wider community through talents, resources, and witness, so people can experience the church as a place to be loved, to belong, and to taste and see that the Lord is good.
Six shared commitments shape this life. The Gospel places the good news of God’s grace at the center. Authentic Worship joins the historic and global church in responding to God. Transforming Lives pursues growth through prayer and studying God’s Word. Genuine Community means doing life together and bearing witness to the reconciling power of the gospel. Generous Serving works toward the good of individuals, neighbors in Kalamazoo, and the wider world. Attractive Witness seeks to draw others to Christ, start new churches, support local mission, and serve the global church.
Children Moving from Worship into Faith
At baptism, the church family promises to receive a child in love, pray for the child, help in the faith, and encourage and sustain the child in the fellowship of believers. This communal commitment is the foundation of Third Church’s Children’s Ministry.
Children’s Worship and Faith Formation
Children ages 3 through fourth grade meet for Children’s Worship during the 9:30 a.m. service. After leaving the sanctuary worship gathering, they meet for a Bible story and related activities. Students in grades 5 through 8 join small-group Faith Formation classes at 10:45 a.m., using games and activities to consider social topics from a biblical worldview and apply the Bible to daily experience.
GEMS and Cadets
GEMS serves girls in grades 2 through 6 and meets twice monthly on Wednesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. during September through March. Its activities combine spiritual mentoring and guidance with fellowship, Bible study, community service, and projects.
Cadets serves boys in the same grades with a similar schedule. Its activities include building and launching rockets, woodworking, Bible study, and special outings.
Vacation Bible School
Vacation Bible School is a one-week summer outreach for children ages 4 through those entering fifth grade. Each evening begins with dinner for the whole family, followed by music and activities designed to teach biblical truths in a relaxed and enjoyable setting.
Young People Known, Accepted, and Discipled
Third Church’s youth ministry follows a relational model. Young people are to be known, accepted, loved, and discipled through relationships with adult leaders and the church, helping them understand that they are an important part of the Christian community.
From September through May, students in grades 5 through 12 attend Faith Formation classes from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. The classes cover relationships, church history, ethics, and doctrine, with the goal of helping students understand and personally embrace the Christian faith. Each high school student is paired with a congregational mentor whom the student meets seven to nine times a year. Together they explore discipleship and visit another church to observe how Christians worship and consider what is distinctive about Third Church’s worship.
Middle School Youth Group serves grades 7 and 8, while High School Youth Group serves grades 9 through 12. Both meet three times monthly on Sundays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. for games, fellowship, Bible study, and connection with one another and Christ. High school students also have opportunities for trips, retreats, mission trips, and other events.
Adult Learning, Fellowship, and Senior Community
Pastor Agshin Jafarov provides leadership for adult faith formation, Bible study, local outreach, global missions, and the church’s deacons. Adults meet for Faith Formation from 10:45 to 11:30 a.m. during September through May, when they explore varied topics and consider how faith can be lived out. Seminars, courses, and book discussion groups continue throughout the year.
Men’s and women’s ministries organize social gatherings such as a men’s golf outing and a women’s wreath making party. Seniors and retirees take part in the Third Generation social group. They also attend a Wednesday Bible study at 11:00 a.m. from September through May.
Recovery Meetings in the Maple Room
Two Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and one Al-Anon meeting are hosted each week. AA meets Monday and Thursday from noon to 1:00 p.m., while Al-Anon meets Wednesday from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. Everyone is welcome to attend.
All three meetings are held in the Maple Room on the eastern side of the church building. Visitors enter through the door to the right of the slider door under the overhang, then turn down the first hallway on the right.
Small World Christian Preschool
Small World Christian Preschool serves three- and four-year-olds. The nonprofit preschool was established as a ministry for the community by Third Church and is governed by a board appointed by and accountable to the church’s governing board.
The preschool provides a Christ-centered developmental experience intended to help each child recognize his or her uniqueness and strengths, build self-esteem, and show loving concern for others. Social, emotional, physical, intellectual, and spiritual development are encouraged through individual and group activities in a Christian environment.
Three-year-olds attend a two-day program from 9:00 a.m. to noon, either Monday and Wednesday or Tuesday and Thursday. Four-year-olds attend three days from 9:00 a.m. to noon, either Monday, Wednesday, and Friday or Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday.
Mercy, Local Partnerships, and Global Missions
Deacons Pursuing Mercy
Third Church’s deacons pursue a ministry of mercy and compassion by visiting congregants, responding to needs, and helping individuals and communities outside the congregation financially.
Serving Kalamazoo and Winchell
Local outreach is conducted with Open Doors, Kalamazoo Youth For Christ, Winchell Elementary School, Alongside Ministries, Kalamazoo Gospel Ministries, International Campus Ministries at Western Michigan University, and other organizations. Third Church provides volunteers and financial help, shares partner concerns with the community, and visits organizations to encourage them.
The Winchell Neighborhood Association meets at the church, and neighborhood groups and organizations have a welcoming place for meetings and activities. The church also hosts an annual block party as part of its effort to be a good neighbor.
The Winchell Neighborhood Grant supports local, just, open-to-all projects that benefit the community. Eligible applicants can include church members, nearby residents, and organizations close to Winchell.
Mission Support Around the World
Third Church supports missionaries around the world through financial giving and volunteer involvement. Its mission partners include Karin Medical Clinics and Agape Christian School in Uganda, Rescue One Foundation in Haiti, and Wycliffe Bible translators in Brazil.
Pastoral Visits and Counseling
Pastors meet with church and community members to listen with an empathic and calm presence, hear their concerns, and offer biblical insight for understanding their journey toward the kingdom of God.
Giving and the Rhythm of Church Life
Church family giving supports ministries and mission. Members can contribute through secure online giving, place an offering in the Sunday offering plate, drop off a gift at the church office, or mail it to 2400 Winchell Avenue. Weekly email updates share prayer requests, missionary updates, and church and community announcements.
From the blended 9:30 gathering to weekday Bible studies, children’s activities, youth mentoring, recovery meetings, and mission service, Third Church’s recurring life is centered on connecting people with Christ, his Church, and his community.