NR #1996-009: A Vision for Growth: 110-Member Alliance Congregation Purchases 650-Seat Church Building Bethel Independent Reformed Church doesn't yet have a pastor and its current attendance averages 125, but the 18-month old suburban Grand Rapids church demonstrated its vision for growth by purchasing a building with 625 seats plus an overflow room for additional visitors. NR #1996-009: For Immediate Release A Vision for Growth: 110-Member Alliance Congregation Purchases 650-Seat Church Building by Darrell Todd Maurina, Press Officer United Reformed News Service GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (January 10, 1996) URNS - What church would purchase a building with six times more seats than its current membership? One with a vision for outreach and community service. That's according to Elder Larry Kerkstra, president of council at Bethel Independent Reformed Church in the Grand Rapids suburb of Jenison, which recently purchased the former building of Fairhaven Reformed Church. "We currently have an attendance of about 125; we have about 40 families, 110 members," said Kerkstra, noting that their new building has 625 seats including the balcony but not counting an overflow room for additional visitors. Kerkstra said he hoped all the extra seats would not be empty for long. "We'd like to get into the outreach program and then have other services available to the community and for our members also," said Kerkstra. "Depending on the minister we get there's room for growth." Bethel IRC, which was sponsored by Cornerstone Church in Hudsonville and held its first services in July of 1994, has grown to date under the leadership of its elders without a regular pastor. However, Kerkstra said the church hoped to issue a call to a pastor in March or April of this year. "We would hope to have fifty families by the end of the year," said Kerkstra. Cross-References to Related Articles: #1994-046: Four New Independent Reformed Churches Start in West Michigan Heartland of Christian Reformed Denomination; Local Independent Reformed Churches Using Closed-Circuit Televion, Chairs in Hallways, to Accomodate Growing Crowds Contact List: Elder Larry Kerkstra, President of Council, Bethel Independent Reformed Church PO Box 561, Jenison, MI 49429-0561 * H: (616) 457-6250 ------------------------------------------------ file: /pub/resources/text/reformed: nr96-009.txt .