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Historical Overview: Sunshine Community Church

Grand Rapids, Michigan

Sunshine Community was sponsored by Mayfair and organized in 1971. A number of members left when Rev. Vander Meer resigned his pastorate, left the Christian Reformed denomination, and began New Community Church in 1991.

Names

Sunshine Gospel Hall, 1923-31
Belmont Mission, 1931-49
Sunshine Back to God Chapel, 1949-71
Sunshine
Sunshine Ministries
Sunshine Community

Locations

1219 Bradford St. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (1923-49)
918 Benjamin Ave. NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (1949-79)
3295 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (1979-89)
3300 East Beltline NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49505 (built 1988)

Pastors

Edwin Visscher, evangelist, 1961-65
Lewis R. Vander Meer, 1972-91
H. J. Teitsma, 1979-82
T. J. Berends, 1986-87
Matthew Heard, 1993-98
Thomas Mayo, 1995-99
John Wilczewski, 1997-98
David S. Huizenga, 1997-present
Brian Bosscher 2000-present

Membership

Sunshine may be the largest congregation in the history of the Christian Reformed denomination; it is definitely the largest in metropolitan Grand Rapids.

Green (lower) line shows membership in families; blue (middle), professing members; red (top), total members; and magenta (thin), non-professing members. Note large drop in membership following departure of Rev. Vander Meer, who then founded New Community Church.

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

View more membership data. View a map of these locations: Bradford Street, Benjamin Avenue, 3295 East Beltline, 3300 East Beltline, or one page showing all four locations.

Send e-mail to Rev. Thomas Mayo.

Go to Grand Rapids geographic index or chronological index.

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