New Ministry Center Dedicated
Fifty or so people gathered on Thursday, May 22, to participate in a special service to dedicate the Christian Reformed Church in North America’s new, 25,000-square-foot Ministry Support Center in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Guided by denominational leaders, the visitors and CRCNA employees prayed, sang songs, recited a litany, and listened to a short sermon on building God’s house as a way to mark a fresh beginning of ministry for the church. After the service, visitors toured the facility.
“We are very thankful for this new space that has been provided for us,” said Dan DeKam, director of U.S. Ministry Operations, in opening remarks at the late-afternoon service.
Standing at a podium in the lobby, DeKam recalled that he’d just started his current job in May 2023 when, on his second day, he was told a big task lay ahead. He needed to help figure out what to do with the old building on 28th Street, which some had referred to as “The Pentagon,” and find a new one.
“So that has been much of our focus for the past couple of years,” said DeKam. “There was some sadness when we left the old building. There were a lot of memories, and a lot of good work had been done there.”
The new building – formerly part of Cornerstone University – replaces the denomination’s longtime U.S. headquarters at 1700 28th Street SE, a 130,000-square-foot facility that served the CRCNA for nearly 70 years. But changes in workflow and other considerations meant the church needed to downsize the footprint of its Grand Rapids ministry offices.
By moving to the new facility at 300 East Beltline Avenue NE, the CRCNA is “embracing a model of ministry that is more flexible, collaborative, and connected to local congregations,” according to a recent CRC News story.
“We redesigned this building with a lot of positive work spaces and a lot of natural light,” said DeKam. “Our focus here will be on the ministry and work of CRC members – and we’ll be doing all of this by serving God together.”
After DeKam spoke, the group sang a couple of stanzas of “Blessed Assurance: Jesus Is Mine,” an apt hymn for asking God's care as a new project gets off the ground.
Shirley DeVries, chief administrative officer of the CRCNA, then led participants in a Litany of Dedication.
Near the end of the litany, DeVries read, from the opening lines of Psalm 127: “Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchers stand guard in vain.”
The people responded: “Lord God, as your church, we dedicate our work to you. May all our efforts be in your name, and may your hand be visible in all we do.”
Zachary King, general secretary of the denomination, then came to the podium and read Hebrews 3:1-6, of which verses 5-6 say: “‘Moses was faithful as a servant in all God’s house,’ bearing witness to what would be spoken by God in the future. But Christ is faithful as the Son over God’s house. And we are his house, if indeed we hold firmly to our confidence and the hope in which we glory.” In other words, Moses helped to build God’s house, and Jesus is the one who planned and brought it into reality – and, in Christ, we are part of God’s house today.
“Moses led the people out of Egypt to build a house in the wilderness,” said King. But even more amazing, he added, is the fact that “Jesus built a house for all of us who are citizens in God’s household.”
Tying this imagery into the dedication of the new ministry center, King said this structure and the people in it will be part of the Lord’s house with many rooms, open areas and spacious grounds. “We will be in God’s house with God’s work to do in God’s fields,” he said.
So “we can use this time to rededicate ourselves as members of God’s house,” said King. “We can ask God to be present here. Let’s lift our hearts up to God and just appreciate and pray for all of the work that will happen here.”
King wrapped up his homily by praying and reminding listeners of the small, yet significant role the CRCNA has and will continue to play in countries worldwide.
“Lord,” he said, “you assembled a people for yourself, the people of Israel, a small people, a weak people, a people who were in slavery and bondage.” So too, King added, “you called another people to yourself. Lord, you decided to call us in the CRC to yourself.”
In a small but concrete way, the new ministry center is part of the Lord’s household, he said, and, raising his hands high, King asked those assembled to give God the glory.
“May this new space give God praise. May what happens in each of these offices be part of the work the Lord does for people everywhere,” said King. “We pray that this space be consecrated and dedicated to you, Lord, and the ministry be done in your name.”
The service – a time together filled with sunlight streaming through the windows – ended as everyone joined in singing the familiar doxology that begins, appropriately for the occasion, “Praise God, from whom all blessings flow; praise him, all creatures here below. . . .”
