Grace Christian Reformed Church in Kalamazoo, Mich., a congregation with a storied history, celebrated 100 years of ministry in September. Its first 20 years were as a breakaway church from the Christian Reformed denomination.
Established in 1925 as the Protesting First Christian Reformed Church, it was a breakoff group from First CRC of Kalamazoo. First CRC pastor Henry Danhof contended that the Three Points of Common Grace adopted by the Christian Reformed Synod of 1924 were false doctrine, and he continued to preach “that God’s grace was for his people alone,” according to a 2009 account of the history in The Standard Bearer.
Danhof was “deposed from office, illegally, by Classis Grand Rapids West … (and) the same classis had appointed another minister to lead the worship services of the First CRC of Kalamazoo,” according to Andy Lanning’s account. Danhof and a majority of the congregation formed the Protesting First Christian Reformed Church, which 20 years later rejoined the Christian Reformed denomination.
The congregation renamed itself “Grace” between 1946 and 1947. There have been nine pastors since Danhof, starting with George Gritter in 1947. Adam Eisenga joined Grace CRC as pastor in July 2023.
Eisinga said about 250 people attended the Sept. 4 celebration dinner at the Air Zoo Aerospace and Science Museum in Kalamazoo. Grace CRC’s typical attendance is about 175. The evening included a screening of recorded interviews by 15 church members who spoke about the impact the church has made on their lives.
About the Author
Sarah DeGraff is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. She lives in Madison, Wisc., where she is studying for her Masters in Horticulture at the University of Wisconsin.