God at Work in ‘Ordinary’ CRC Churches

Have you ever equated the size or visibility of a church with “successful ministry”? You see the megachurch in town putting up billboards inviting people to Easter services, and you know they will have thousands in attendance. Or you hear about that new and innovative church plant that gets featured not only in the denominational magazine, but also on podcasts and other media because of the unusual way they embody what church could look like. It might be hard to see the way these churches are growing or inviting new people in and not draw comparisons to your own congregation’s challenges.

In 2024 and 2025, the Christian Reformed Church invited people to attend 10 events called Gather. At each event, CRC members shared stories about their own churches—the struggles and hardships these church communities were facing, but also the successes and joys that each experienced. It became clear at that first event and continued through the last that God is doing wonderful things with and through CRC churches. Every participant had stories to share about how God had used their church—even those that might seem small, ordinary, and “uninteresting” to outsiders—to further God’s kingdom. Here are a few examples.

F Street Neighborhood Church in Lincoln, Neb.

On the corner of F Street and 13th in downtown Lincoln, Neb., a church building hums with new life. Inside, the F Street Neighborhood Church (a congregation of about 150 people) worships together. Their pastor, Rev. Jeff Heerspink, says that what makes this church remarkable isn’t its size, but the way God is moving among people who might never have imagined themselves sitting side by side in church pews.

“We have homeless and wealthy, educated and uneducated, ex-cons and lawyers all together worshiping, serving, and working as one body of Christ,” Heerspink said. “That’s the kind of community God has built here.”

The church began as a church plant in 2014, but became an established, organized congregation of the CRCNA in 2023. After more than a decade of faithfully gathering for worship, the congregation continues to grow in numbers and transformations.

Baptisms are a regular occurrence at F Street, with some individuals coming from homelessness, addiction, or trauma and others simply arriving home after a season of spiritual searching. “Each story reminds us that God is still in the business of resurrection,” Heerspink said.

This sense of renewal also fuels a stream of creativity. One of the latest initiatives is the Art Chapel, F Street’s restored 150-year-old original church building that now serves as a space where art and faith meet. Art Chapel exists as a healthy way for people to unlock their inner world while learning creative skills, building positive community, and having spiritual conversations.

Equipping others for ministry has long been part of F Street’s DNA. In their almost 12 years of ministry, the church has hosted 13 residents who are emerging leaders in areas such as youth ministry, church planting, or media production. Four of those residents still serve on staff today. One of the congregation’s newer initiatives, Transformed Life Coaching, offers free 12-week sessions with certified Christian life coaches who address needs like finances, codependency, or fear. They celebrate seeing people find new freedom and direction through this program.

Next on the horizon is the possibility of F Street Farms, an ambitious project that would bring together two nearby tracts of land (about 110 acres total) for ministry and community development. “We’re dreaming about how the land could provide food, opportunity for work skills development, or a safe place for people leaving treatment or starting over,” Heerspink said.

At its heart, F Street Neighborhood Church remains committed to two core values: acceptance and direction. Those themes shape everything they do, from serving their neighborhood to training others through partnerships with Resonate Global Mission.

“Our call is to be a place of grace in our community,” Heerspink said. “But we are also called to multiply and help plant and support churches in neighborhoods that need to see what grace and truth look like in action.”

Duncan CRC in Duncan, B.C.

On a cool March morning, the sanctuary of Duncan CRC was filled with joyful anticipation. Pastor Dan Schultz stood before the congregation as nine people ages 12 to 90 prepared to enter the waters of baptism.

“It was a day unlike any other,” Schultz recalled. “We celebrated baptisms, professions of faith, and affirmations of members all in one service. The Spirit was moving.” 

That morning, the church family witnessed what Schultz called “a living mosaic of faith.” Among those baptized were students raised in Christian homes, two young adults invited by newer members, and a 90-year-old man who was joyfully “doused” with water in lieu of entering the baptismal tank.

”Every story was different,” Schultz said, “but each one spoke of the same God drawing people in, restoring hearts, and calling them to belong.”

These personal stories of transformation have had a ripple effect on the congregation. “When people encounter Jesus for the first time, their energy is contagious,” Schultz reflected. “It reminds us of what it felt like to first fall in love with Christ. Their wonder reignites ours and changes the way we speak, love, and preach.”

One of the most meaningful worship practices at Duncan is something called Insight Time. Each week, the congregation pauses to hear a short interview. It could be a personal testimony, an update from a ministry leader, or the story behind a special offering, but each insight is a simple but powerful connection point that brings laughter, tears, and a sense that what happens in worship applies directly to congregants’ day-to-day lives.

Faith formation continues to deepen among the next generation, too. Each week during the school year, high school students gather at 7:30 a.m. for catechism and a breakfast of fruit, cereal, and muffins donated by church members.

“It’s early,” Schultz admitted, “but the students show up. We grab food, start with an opening question, look how the answers in the Heidelberg are rooted in Scripture, and ask, ‘How does that change the way we live today?’ After we finish, the students walk across the street to go to school. We meet students where they are and experience Jesus together.”

Covenant CRC in Jersey City, N.J.

In the heart of Jersey City, N.J., Covenant CRC gathers each week as a community of about 80 believers. For Pastor John Sideco, the clearest evidence of God at work is found in quiet circles of conversation around open Bibles.

“What has transformed us most deeply,” Sideco said, “is the simple practice of reading Scripture together.” These small weekly gatherings have become a lifeline for the congregation as a place where God’s Word moves from theory to practice. In each group, participants bring their real lives into the discussion with questions about work, relationships, doubt, or purpose. “We are learning that the Word meets us where we are,” Pastor John explained. “It’s not just information, it is formation.”

In those circles, trust and accountability take root. Over time, people who once hesitated to share now find freedom, honesty, and encouragement. The impact shows not so much in numbers, but in the depth of how members articulate the gospel, live out grace, and incite others into fellowship.

At the heart of Covenant CRC’s identity is a commitment to sovereign grace under Scripture and gospel-formed unity. These values have shaped a renewed sense of belonging within the congregation. Elders, deacons, young adults, and lay members increasingly collaborate to serve and shepherd one another and use their diverse gifts for a shared purpose.

“We’re learning that discipleship happens best in community,” reflected Sideco. “Through Scripture, God is forming Christlike character, strengthening our unity, and sending us out in grace.”

This year Thrive, the congregational support ministry of the CRCNA, is focused on church renewal and equipping all CRC congregations to consider what God might be calling them to in the coming years. To learn more or to talk to a Thrive connector in your area, visit crcna.org/Thrive.