Presbyterian Church in America – Grand Rapids, Michigan
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2500 Breton Road SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546-5630
(616) 949-9630
FAX: (616) 949-7347
E-mail:
christchurchpca@sbcglobal.net
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Presbyterian Church in America – Grand Rapids, Michigan
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2500 Breton Road SE (616) 949-9630 | ||||||
| Sunday Morning Worship | 9:30 AM |
| Sunday School | 11:00 AM |
In the summer of 1965, three couples met to renew their friendship from a former church. Their conversation moved to discussions of what a truly Biblical church should be. Other friends expressed interest in these discussions and in the fall of 1965, 30 to 40 people began meeting regularly every Saturday night to explore these questions and search the scriptures for answers. Reverend James Kiefer was invited to become the moderator and counsel the group.
In November, 1965, Rev. Kiefer led the group, in its first Sunday worship service. With encouragement and guidance from Dr. Robert Rayburn (Covenant College), in the spring of 1966, the group affiliated with the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod. Dr. Donald Wilson (Calvin College) and Dr Charles Pfeiffer (Central Michigan Univ.) were appointed by the Presbytery to be co-moderators of a temporary Session and gave considerable counsel and guidance to the church during this very formative period.
In the fall of 1966, the charter membership roll was closed and Christ Church was admitted into the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod as full-fledged member of the denomination. Dr. John M.L. Young, former missionary to Japan, was appointed as stated supply pastor and moderator of the Christ Church Session.
At the recommendation of Dr. Francis Schaeffer, the church chose a staff member from L'Abri, Allan McDonald Baldwin, for the first pastor of Christ Church in March, 1967.
In 1984, after 17 years of ministry Rev. Baldwin resigned as pastor of Christ Church. In the months following his departure, Dr. Charles Young served as interim pastor, guiding the congregation through an inevitable period of adjustment.
Following many months of effort, a pastoral search committee recommended Dr. Paul Engle as Rev. Baldwin's successor, and he was installed as the second pastor of Christ Church in the spring of 1986. During the three years of his ministry, Dr. Engle provided the church with strong administrative leadership and with solid expository preaching which attracted many new worshippers to Christ Church.
Rev. Walter Lorenz was called to be the third pastor of Christ Church. Pastor Lorenz was installed on September 9, 1991. Under the direction of Pastor Lorenz the church, many families have found a loving and caring church home.