Historical Profile: Zion Reformed Church

Grandville, Michigan

Even though First Reformed of Grandville had planted Olivet Reformed as its first daughter church in 1947/48, by the summer of 1954 it had become very crowded again - so crowded that latecomers would be seated in the basement. A small group began meeting to look at options, and with the support of First Reformed and the South Grand Rapids Classis, a new congregation was organized on Dec. 16, 1954 with Zion as its name.

The first service was held on Jan. 2, 1955 at Bursley School with 235 in attendance. The congregation called Rev. John Maassen in July and broke ground on its own building in August. After attending the groundbreaking, Rev. Maassen accepted the call. The cornerstone was laid on April 20, 1956, and the first service was held in the basement on May 6, 1956 with 280 in attendance. On July 1, 1956, the first service was held in the sanctuary, and the completed building was dedicated on Sept. 25, 1956.

Zion helped launch Fair Haven Reformed in Jenison, and 38 families from Zion joined the new congregation on May 4, 1961. That month Rev. Maassen accepted a call to Hingham, Wisconsin.

The congregation added a chapel and 10 classrooms in 1964, and additional property was purchased in 1968. A bus ministry began in 1970, and the congregation paid off its mortgage in 1974.

Zion began its radio ministry in Sept. 1976 and also began a tape ministry, which made tapes of sermons available to members and shut-ins. The congregation began video broadcast of its services in 1990.

An expansion project was approved in May 1979, and ground breaking for the new addition took place on Oct. 14, 1979. The sanctuary was remodelled and the narthex enlarged at the same time. A pipe organ was donated and installed in 1981, and the building expansion was paid off in 1992.

All three pastors accepted calls to other churches in 1993: Rev. Geschwendt went to First Reformed of Grand Haven, Rev. Harney became senior pastor of Corinth Reformed in Byron Center, Michigan, and Rev. Jelsma left to pastor in Waupun, Wisconsin. Rev. Rick Veenstra came as interim pastor in Nov. 1993, and at this time the congregation went back to a single morning service.

The consistory drafted a building proposal in 1997/98, but it was voted down by the congregation. Also in 1998, Trinity CRC asked to use Zion's facilities while its building was being remodelled. This was approved, and the congregations also had joint evening services until the end of the year.

Location

4457 36th St. SW

Pastors

John H. Maassen, 1955-61
Lloyd A. Arnoldink, 1962-68
George Kroeze Jr., 1968-74
Harris J. Verkaik, 1974-87
Gerald R. Mahler, parish life, 1977-80
Ronald L. Geschwendt, 1988-93
Donald R. Jelsma, associate, 1982-93
Kelvin G. Harney, associate, 1989-93
Rick Veenstra, interim, 1993-94
Gene Voss, 1994-2002

Fair Haven, 1961

Membership

Green (lower) line shows membership in families; blue (middle), professing members; red (top), total members; and magenta (thin), non-professing members.

Source: Acts of Synod of the Reformed Church in America. Dates are year prior to publication date since data is gathered at the end of one year and published in the next.

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