• WELCOME Team: focused on strengthening our culture of hospitality, from lobby space to seasonal services to greeters, ushers, and systems that help newcomers connect.
• TRANSFORMATION Team: focused on fostering holistic spiritual growth by prioritizing prayer and “soul-training” practices that support personal and corporate transformation.
• REBRANDING Team: focused on the practical side of our new identity: recruiting leaders, securing funding, and aligning our visual and communication strategies with who we are becoming.

We have made significant progress in all three areas—and will continue to build on them in 2026.

With the help of Adeline Park, we developed a new logo and brand book and completed all the denominational and state work required for our new name. We are now fully recognized by our denomination and the Central Conference as The Grove Covenant Church.

Signs of Growth

Our worship life is growing stronger. In 2025, average Sunday attendance rose about 5%, marking our third straight year of growth. Since 2022, our weekly average worship attendance has increased by almost 24%.

We’re also seeing deeper engagement in prayer, intentional soul‑training practices, and greater freedom in worship. These are not just numbers; they are signs of people leaning more fully into life with God and one another.

In 2025, we welcomed 15 new members and celebrated 7 baptisms. These are tangible markers of people taking next steps in faith and commitment to this church family.

At the same time, we also said goodbye to several faithful saints: Maxine Balkema, Matt Helmerick, Mary Pachmyer, Shelly Fishback, Joe Smith, and Carol Shoemaker.

We miss them deeply, and we honor the ways their lives have shaped who we are as a congregation. Peace be to their memories.

A Generous and Encouraging Church

Your generosity in 2025 was remarkable. In a challenging economy, you responded faithfully to the budget needs of the church, gave abundantly to the Christmas Outreach fund, and then—on top of that—blessed our staff and me with the largest Christmas love offering we’ve ever received.

Of course, we are grateful for the financial gift itself. But what I most want to celebrate is what that kind of generosity says about who we are as a church:

• a community that believes in our shared mission,

• that trusts and supports its leaders,

• and that is growing in purpose, passion, and genuine care for one another.

Your giving is a powerful vote of confidence and hope. It speaks volumes, and we receive it with deep gratitude. Thank you for all the ways you support the mission and ministry of The Grove Covenant Church.

A Personal Word

I also want to share something more personal that, to me, is a sign of what God is doing among us.

For nearly 30 years of full‑time pastoral ministry, my habit on vacation Sundays was simple: disappear. Kim and I would go out of town or worship elsewhere. Part of that came from living right next to the church when we were in Cleveland (literally looking out the kitchen window at it!) and needing distance from “work” to rest and stay healthy.

When we moved to Lafayette, I even joked that I wanted to live somewhere I couldn’t see the church building from my house. That says more about my own need for growth than anything else.

But over the past four years—especially since returning from sabbatical in 2021—something has changed. When I’m on vacation now, I miss this place. When I’m in town, I want to be here. And, even when Kim and I are away, we often join you online.

Some of that is about the healing and growth God has done in me personally. I’m in a much healthier place than I was in 2020. But it’s not just about me—it’s also about us.

I love who we are and who we are becoming as The Grove. I am deeply grateful to be part of this particular community of believers in this particular season. I have never enjoyed pastoring more than I have these past few years.

Thank you for the privilege of allowing me to be one of your pastors, and for the joy of working alongside such faithful people—on staff, on council, and throughout the congregation.

God is at work here, and I’m grateful to be on this journey with you.