Our History

It all began with some hungry believers who lived here but attended Resurrection Life Church in Grandville (near Grand Rapids).  They had a passion to bring RLC a little closer to home.  They loved the passionate worship and life-changing, relevant, solid biblical teaching of Pastor Duane Vander Klok.  They were willing to do whatever it took to bring Christ to Mid Michigan in the new Rez Life style they had found.  One of our first meeting places was at the humble Pine River Township Hall (just a tiny building in 1990).  Every Thursday, that little place was teeming with life as families came together to seek God and to learn how to live the lives they were born to live.

Pastor Randy & Jodie began to come and help with the weekly teaching; they were fresh out of Bible school and newly married.  At that time, they were attending another "new" RLC church plant in Grand Haven; the pastor there was also very instrumental in the early months of the Bible study.  After helping with whatever was needed, they were asked to consider becoming the senior pastors of this new endeavor.  After praying and waiting on God's direction, they both had peace with taking on this exciting group of families that so eagerly wanted to become a church.  In December of 1990, the Bible study purchased what was then the new Moose Lodge in St. Louis, and Resurrection Life Church Mid Michigan became official.  Our first service was held on January 7th, 1991.

It was a unique combination -- a very young, energetic couple joined with very new Christians who ended up in the heart of Michigan for one purpose: to help the people in their communities live the lives they were born to live.  Life got a whole lot better for all the families involved, and their enthusiasm and love for God began to spread.  "Really, we all just grew up together.  We experienced all the bumps and blessings of birthing a new church; we basically did life together.  That is what made us a family," says Pastor Jodie.

Families have been a strong focus from the beginning, with special attention on very specific and dynamic ministry for those from newborn to high school.  Young people will always remain at the center of our vision and hold one of the primary focuses at Rez Life.  The church has not held much back when it comes to expressing to young people that they matter to God and He desires to bring them into action in these last days.  They, too, are pivotal in what we do here at Resurrection Life as a church family.

Since 1991, we have certainly experienced the grace, the goodness, and the glory of our ever-living King.  He has surrounded us with favor and given us a tremendous passion so see His Kingdom come to this region.  Even though we have been around for a while, we feel we have only just begun all that God has in store for Mid Michigan.  


Click here to visit our parent church, RLC-Grandville: www.reslife.org.