Jon Sherrill, Lead Pastor
Jon was born and raised in Dayton, OH and is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH (degree in organizational behavior) and Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI (graduate degree in theology).
Before seminary, he had a short, first career in the hospitality industry, and before coming to Grand Rapids, he served Meredith Drive Reformed Church in Des Moines, IA as Pastor of Outreach. Jon and his wife Krystal have been married since 2009, and they are the proud parents of a son named Jackson.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 15)
Leadership
Jon provides overall leadership to the church, including leading the staff and the Administrative Board (a group of 3 Administrative Elders and 3 Administrative Deacons who serve as the primary strategy and governance team for the church). He also serves as the primary teaching pastor for Fifth.
Bruce Mulder, Pastor of Care and Equipping
"Finding joy and life in Jesus Christ."
Born: Muskegon, MI
Raised: St Petersburg, FL
Hope College 1984
Western Theological Seminary 1999
Married to Jean
Interests:
Theological wonk: I love reading about John Calvin and the Reformation; Crossword puzzles, Classic Rock, The Closer, Homer Simpson, Law & Order
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 16)
Leadership
I oversee our Pastoral Elders, Equipping ministries, I also preach and officiate weddings and funerals.
Favorite Links:
https://www.rca.org/sslpage.
http://www.hermitagecommunity.
http://www.westernsem.edu/
http://www.mgoblue.com/
http://pittsburgh.pirates.mlb.
Jim Henderson, Executive Director
Jim and his wife Jackie have been married for 25 years and have two children in college: Brooke and Brett. A native of South Holland, IL, Jim moved to Grand Rapids in 1984 to finish his undergraduate studies at Calvin College, and later earned an MBA from Central Michigan University. Jim spent 20 years in various lay-leadership roles at Sunshine Community Church before he and his family joined Fifth in 2006.
Leadership
Jim oversees all our administrative practices at Fifth. He also heads up our LIFE Groups, check them out!
Renae Kindle, Office Manager
Renae was born and raised in the Grand Rapids area. She and Patrick were married in 1996 and have a daughter Jeanie. In 1997 they ran their own Bait & Tackle Shop for 2 ½ years and enjoyed meeting all the people who walked thru the doors. Renae started working at Fifth Reformed Church in 2001 as Administrative Assistant and loves having a front row seat to see and experience what God is doing. In August 2007 Renae’s position changed to Office Manager, adding to her duties finance matters and office oversight. When Renae’s not working, she’s usually camping, drawing, or taking pictures. Before joining the staff at Fifth Church, Renae worked at Old Kent Bank in their operations department for almost 10 years.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 11)
Leadership
Renae oversees the operations of the church office including all communication, financial matters and making sure the office operates to the best of its ability.
Janna Kooi, Worship Arts Director
Janna is thrilled to have been led to serve at Fifth as Worship Arts Director since Fall of 2008. She was raised primarily in the Muskegon, Michigan area and has 3 children, Ryan - a student at GVSU and Molly and Emily. Prior to ministering at Fifth Church she was a public school music teacher in the Chicago area. (B.A. Music Education, Central College, Pella, Iowa, 1985) and since moving back to Western Michigan she has worked primarily in worship ministry in area churches. Janna enjoys attending her children's music events, traveling, doing mission work in Yucatan, and cooking.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 20)
Leadership
- Worship Bands
- Chancel Choir (adults)
- Celebration Choir (seasonal and event focused)
- King's Kids Choir
- Jubilation Ringers (Handbells)
- Dance Team
- Drama/Scripture Reading Team
- Visual Arts Team
- Media Team
Krista Batdorff, Children's Ministries Director
Krista oversees all of the ministries for Children at Fifth. She is a teacher by training and has taught kindergarten and first grade in Grand Rapids.
She loves her family and is married to Darrin. They have two wonderful kids—Wyatt and Quinn.
She enjoys cooking, running, reading and spending time with family.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 12)
Leadership
- The Lambs (Baby nursery)
- The Pasture (Toddler nursery)
- The Gate
- King's Kids
- Kingdom Kid's
- Boyz Club
- GEMS
- Vacation Bible School (Summer)
- Walk Out Worship (Summer)
Christian Verwys, Student Ministries Director
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 23)
Chad Farrand, Young Adult Director and Website Coordinator
Chad, along with his wife Melody and their two daughter's (Kailey and Molly) joined Fifth in the summer of 2006. A year prior, Fifth had officially became the "parent" church to their church plant called "Tapestry," which is a network of organic churches that meet all over the state of Michigan.
Chad was born in Detroit, but spent much of his life in Owosso, MI. He met and married Melody at Spring Arbor College. Chad spent the next six years as a youth pastor before launching "Tapestry" in 2003.
Chad is overseeing a new college ministry here at Fifth, and is soon to graduate from Western Theological Seminary with his Mdiv.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 14)
Leadership
Chad heads up the college-age/young adult ministry at Fifth, oversees the website and is an active participant in our missional life together.
Greg Wilkins, Facilities Director
I was born and raised within 1 mile of Fifth Reformed Church and now live across the street with my wife Marianne, what a blessing. I have a son serving in the Army.
I am an artist, inventor, and have been called " MacGyver."
A business owner since 1996, I felt God leading me to other things. Coming to Fifth in 2008 I felt led by God and could see how God had been preparing me all my life for my role here at Fifth.
When we are using the talents and gifts God gives us we have the opportunity to be used by God to bless others.
I am so thankful to be on staff at Fifth Reformed Church and thank our Fifth family for the support and encouragement given to me as I fulfill my call to serve.
Email • Phone (616) 245-9247 (ext. 22)
Leadership
Greg does everything. He maintains a beautiful landscape in and around the church, as well as at the Greenhouse property. He oversees the set up and tear down of the different ministries at Fifth as well as to make sure that special services (weddings, funerals, etc.) run professionally. Greg adds his artistic gifts throughout the facility and during various programs like our annual VBS. On top of this, Greg is a welcoming man of God who loves to serve others. We appreciate him and his gifts every single day.
Verlyn Verbrugge, Woodland Drive-In Church Pastor
During the week, Verlyn reads Bible commentaries as a senior editor at Zondervan Publishing. On Sundays, the longtime pastor uses that book knowledge in the sermons he preaches to an assembly of automobiles at the Woodland Drive-In Church. Verlyn has been leading drive-in churchgoers for 20 years, and sees it as an important ministry that must continue.
The son of a preacher who helped Dutch immigrants settle in Canada, Verlyn spent much of his childhood north of the border. He was educated at Calvin College and then Calvin Seminary before pastoring Christian Reformed churches in Iowa and Kalamazoo. Then, while he was pursuing a doctorate degree at Notre Dame, Verlyn started preaching at the drive-in church. He has juggled editing and sermons ever since.
"There is a carry-over from the books I work on to the preaching that I do," Verlyn says. "The fact that I'm constantly reading books and commentaries, my own personal knowledge of the scriptures is growing all the time."
The drive-in ministry attracts about 150 people to worship each week, and although that number excites Verlyn, he also knows it presents challenges. The most difficult thing is "getting to know the people" and "creating some sort of continuity with an audience that changes every Sunday," he says. "There are times when I get prayer requests for certain needs and I have no idea where they come from."
Verlyn lives in Comstock Park with his wife and their 11-year old daughter. He also has four children from a previous marriage, and two grandchildren. Verlyn enjoys reading, gardening, soccer and hockey. Verlyn teaches New Testament studies at Reformed Bible College on a part-time basis.