About Us

Together we are a community of believers. What does that mean, the word community? We believe that together in fellowship we grow closer to God and one another. The Bible speaks about iron sharpening iron. We believe that together we grow stronger. We are a community of believers.

We strive to be a church without walls. Jesus calls for us to go outside the walls to reach the lost and the broken. It is there that the lost will be found. Most churches find it is comfortable to stay within the walls, but we make it an effort to be like the church from the book of Acts, to see our city changed.

We highly value our relationships with one another. We look to grow through fellowship, and ultimately growing closer to God. We value the Word of God, and the leadership of the Holy Spirit. We look to extend grace to all of the lost and broken, and lead those with no hope to the hope of Jesus Christ.

Small Beginnings

Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church is a congregation that welcomes purposeful change. During more than 65 years of its history, many changes have taken place both in society at large and in the church. We have had the courage to resist those changes that we believe are unhealthy for the church and its life; yet we have been willing to incorporate those that we believe will promote our life of service, worship and growth. We pray that we may always be faithful to the responsibilities and opportunities given us.

Plans for a New Congregation

During the decade of peace and prosperity of the 1950′s, plans were made for a new congregation in Hudsonville because the others were crowded and the community promised continued growth. The deadly tornado of April 3, 1956 set those plans aside temporarily by casting our community into tragedy and sorrow. But the interruption was short-lived, and the vision and courage of many carried forward.

The Foundations of Hillcrest

On May 29, 1956 an organizational meeting was held with 40 member families. Rev. Lubbertus Oostendorp began serving as the first pastor in 1957 and the church met in Unity Christian High School’s gym until 1960. Ground breaking for the sanctuary took place on March 19, 1960. Construction was completed in September 1960.

Our Leadership

Hillcrest has been blessed with senior pastors over the years including Rev. Lubbertus Oostendorp, Rev. Henry Van Wyk, Rev. Menno Jorritsma, Dr. Howard Vanderwell, Pastor Larry Slings served as Interim Pastor, and Rev. Brian Bosscher. Rev. Curt Walters joined Hillcrest in October, 2019 and serves as our Lead Pastor.

Youth Pastors and directors have included Rev. Ken Schepel, Rev. Rich Verkaik, Rev. Mark Stephenson, Rev. Bob Vance, Brent Beckett, Kristi Kruithoff, Pastor Kevin Van Wyhe and Erika Doorn. Rev. Cory Nederveld joined our pastoral staff in November of 2020 as our Pastor of Youth, Young Adults and Leadership.

Hillcrest’s members are faithful in worshiping regularly and we have been marked as a congregation with outstanding congregational singing and music ministries.

Expansion

Over the years, Hillcrest daughtered four churches: Messiah CRC, Georgetown CRC, Cornerstone CRC and Evergreen Ministries. In the fall of 1990, double morning worship services began to accommodate all. In April 2001, ground breaking was held for a new addition including the multipurpose room and classrooms. In the spring of 2012, a simulcast morning service was started in our multi-purpose room called The Hill. Today we have an average Sunday attendance of about 350 members.

Word Directed

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that God’s people may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (II Timothy 3:16-17)

We affirm that the Bible is the Word of God.
We proclaim God’s Word with power and integrity.
We seek to know God the Father Almighty, Jesus Christ our risen and ascended Savior and Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God.
We see and learn what it is to be a child of God, a follower and disciple of Christ in the Word of God.

Spirit Led

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

We acknowledge and celebrate the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives.
We are willing to be stretched as led by the Spirit.
We worship in joyful awe of who God is, what He has done and what He is doing out of His love for us.
We use our spiritual gifts in our own personal area of ministry.
We saturate everything in prayer.

Transforming

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2)

We declare to others our complete reliance on God and give Him the glory for everything we have and for who we are.
We impact our sphere of influence with the love of Christ every day.
We support local and worldwide mission efforts.
We refuse to live solely for ourselves by saying “no” to sin and “yes” to God.
We will personally lead people to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord.

Love

“Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. (Ephesians 5:1-2)

We submit to each other in love.
We receive the grace of God in his forgiveness.
We extend the love, grace, and mercy of Jesus to others.
We seek reconciliation in broken relationships.
We ask “what can I do for you?”

Family

“They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.” (Acts 2:42)

We treat each other as brothers and sisters in Christ
We value all generations and defend all life, from unborn, to special needs, to the elderly.
We value healthy marriages.
We nurture our children in the faith and value Christian education as an effective means of discipling our children.
We are open and welcoming to new relationships.
We encourage participation in small groups.
We gather together as God’s family for Sunday worship.

Hillcrest CRC Faith Statement Summary

1. We believe the Bible to be the only inspired, trustworthy and true, without error, Word of God. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

2. We believe there is only one God who eternally exists in three persons - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:19, John 15:26

3. We seek to know God the Father Almighty, Jesus our risen and ascended Savior and Lord, and the power of the Holy Spirit through the Word of God. John 14:6-7, Jeremiah 29:13

4. We believe the acceptance of Jesus Christ and the corresponding renewal of the Holy Spirit are the only paths to Salvation for lost/sinful men and women. John 3:16, Titus 3:3-8

5. We believe in the present work of the Holy Spirit, who lives within and guides us as Christians, so we are enabled to live godly lives.

Galatians 5:13-26, John 14:15-26

6. We believe that declaring to others our complete reliance on God and giving Him glory for everything we have and for who we are, I refuse to live solely for myself by saying “no” to sin and “yes” to God.

Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17

7. We believe in the spiritual unity of believers in our Lord Jesus Christ, that all believers are members of His body, the Church.

Philippians 2:1-4

8. We believe God’s design for marriage is between one man and one woman as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason I believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one man and one woman and that sexual intimacy is only to be expressed in the context of marriage.

Genesis 1:27, Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:6-9,

Matthew 19:4-6, Ephesians 5:22-33

9. We believe that God created all human beings in His image. Therefore, I believe and defend that all human life, from unborn, special needs, and the elderly deserve to be protected and that I must honor the physical and spiritual needs of all people: following Christ’s example and therefore believe that every person should be treated with love, dignity, and respect.

Psalm 139:13, Matthew 22:37-39, Jeremiah 1:5, Galatians 6:10

For More Detail, please look at:

Confessions and Creeds of the CRC

Belgic Confession

Heidelberg Catechism