Georgetown Christian Reformed Church in Hudsonville, Mich., recently transformed its building into an 18-hole miniature golf course.
For one day, that is.
About 100 people braved snowy and icy conditions Jan. 18 to play miniature golf inside the church. It was an opportunity for the congregation to open up its building to the community.
“We wanted a family-friendly community event that would draw people together during the winter,” said Julianna Kempema, Georgetown CRC’s director of community relationships. “We figured this would be a great way to get people out of their homes and still stay warm while playing mini golf and connecting with others in the community.”
It was the first year for the miniature golf event. Kempema brought the idea to the church’s administrative team having seen it in a congregation where she had previously worked. Her role with Georgetown CRC involves connecting the church with its surrounding neighborhoods.
Some of the congregation’s other community outreach ventures include a summer movie night and a recent “Kid 2 Kid” sale where parents could sell clothes their children have outgrown to other parents looking for clothes for their kids. Kempema said these outreach measures have led to some families coming to Sunday services at Georgetown who did not have a home church to attend.
The 18-hole course took up space in the church’s fellowship hall, library, and the hallways between Sunday school classrooms. Organizers used everything from children’s building blocks to old wicker baskets that had been used for collecting offerings, to pool noodles for the obstacles around each hole. Each of the holes featured a placard with a verse from Scripture at the spot where players would tee off.
Kempema said she was pleased with the turnout, considering the weather conditions, and the church might host another such event in the future.
About the Author
Greg Chandler is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. He lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
