Who we are
Our story began in 1969 when a small group of people met at Rich and Rose Stelwagen's home for a Bible study. Soon after, IBM (Independent Bible Mission) helped establish us as an independent Bible church in 1971. God blessed us with a new building to call home and a full-time pastor to shepherd us. Ever since, we've been following God's lead and He's shown Himself faithful in extraordinary ways.
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding."
-Proverbs 3:5
Five senior pastors and three building additions later, we're delighted to be serving God in the same way as our founding members, by digging deep into God's Word and showing His love to the world. We've remained unified through all these years. In fact, a few of our founding members are still actively serving in our church today.
What does "independent" or "non-denominational" mean?
It simply means that we don't belong to any outside organization that dictates what we believe or how we practice our faith. We're protestant, but we don't have ties to any specific denomination, allowing us to operate independently. Without the obligations of a denominational system, we're able to set our own budgets, define our own beliefs, select our own leadership and even send our own missionaries into the world. Simply put, we are free to serve God as He leads.
Naturally, we have members that come from a variety of denominational backgrounds. Don't worry about not fitting in simply because you might not share the same church experiences as someone else. We'd love for you to come and worship God with us!
What we Do
Serving is a significant part of why Jenison Bible was founded in the first place. We want to see people drawn to God in miraculous ways and we're fortunate enough to be able to help!
We place a high priority on reaching people with the Gospel. That's why approximately 20% of our budget is dedicated to mission work and we're thrilled that several of our missionaries were raised right here at Jenison Bible.
Not only do we invest in mission work across the globe, we're grateful for the opportunity to serve our local community in various capacities and provide our attenders with an atmosphere that fosters spiritual growth and a sense of belonging. You'll always receive biblically sound teaching, on Sundays and Wednesdays, and ample fellowship during the week. We exist to lift God higher and to further the Gospel.
Our Former Pastors
Our story wouldn't be complete without recognizing our shepherds. God has used several pastors over the years to guide us on our spiritual journey. Although many are now retired, we continue to look to them as examples of godliness. And we are grateful for the time they invested in helping us to grow in Jesus and make disciples.
