New Church Hopes to Use Simple Approach

When Rev. Randy Ledeboer launches a new church near Cutlerville, Mich., sometime next year, he hopes to provide a simple approach to worship. “The world is very complicated, and people want something simple,” he says. “We want to just focus on worship, small groups, and service in the community.”

The new ministry, still in its infancy, will be started with assistance from Christian Reformed Home Missions and churches in CRC Classis Grand Rapids South. Ledeboer, who spent the past five years as pastor of Providence Christian Reformed Church in Cutlerville, seeks to use the new church’s focus on simplicity to draw unchurched people, those who have left the church, and young people.

Realizing that all of those groups may have an aversion to worshipping in a “traditional” church setting, Ledeboer is looking at industrial warehouse spaces in Cutlerville, a suburb of Grand Rapids. “We have to be different if we want to reach people today,” says Ledeboer, who had a career in sales and marketing before going to Calvin Theological Seminary at age 39.

Ledeboer has already had several meetings with people interested in being a part of the church’s core team, and hopes to have a solid team in place in January 2009. He says it’s possible the church will start out worshipping in a local conference center until a suitable warehouse space is found.

Although the ministry’s name and overall format has not yet been decided on, Ledeboer says the vision is clear: “We want to reach out and create a community where we love, accept, and provide encouragement for one another while also growing spiritually in our love for our Lord.”