Some bigger life events could be preparing for the birth of a child or grandchild, a new job or vacation, a new home, or retirement. But after all the excitement and preparation for these comes the next day. Now what? Let’s think bigger, the biggest event of all…when your time on earth is done. One may ask, “Is that it? Is that all there is?”

It all began when she was a teen, and she says, “She was not in a good place.” She had lost hope in finding a place to fit in. She even, at times, felt she needed a reason to live. When she ran out of things to try, she decided to try church.

If an expert medical team in an ICU can’t offer any hope, then what hope is there? A comforting verse from the Bible eluded me, but what did suddenly come to mind was the first question and answer in the Heidelberg Catechism. “What is my only comfort [hope] in life and death?”

After taking the bread and "wine," we stood and the congregation recited the Apostles Creed...I began to say it along with everyone else. And the tears began to flow like a river down my face. This was it! This was everything!

Several years ago, our youngest son, Cai, was diagnosed with autism…I’d like to share some lessons we’ve learned.

No, it can't be! I'm too young! Twenty-nine and I've been diagnosed with breast cancer. We have a two-and-a-half-year-old son. And so begins a journey that we knew nothing about, at a time when nobody talked about it…It also begins a journey of pain and suffering that will go on for years to come.

We say the wrong things to people; we can’t express ourselves clearly; we misrepresent someone or something with our words; we hurt peoples’ feelings…and the list goes on. But God forgives and still wants our best words offered back to Him and in service for His Kingdom.

“I want our young people to learn the value and beauty of a demographic they may not encounter regularly…I hope they will realize the blessing and Christian service they can bring to people with disabilities.”

So feed the poor and hungry - do. But feed one another in difficult times too, and send cards, and most of all pray with and for a person in need - in these ways, and many more, we are Christ to those among us. - Margaret Broersma

It was a nice evening of music and fellowship. Then it happened: during the last group’s performance, the power went out…what happened after that was truly an expression of joy and worship. - Bob DeWeerd

God brought us to Hillside for many reasons and many blessings, the ones we have already experienced and the ones in the future. We are part of a new family. May we go in peace and share the good news of Jesus with others on this journey as we together head home. - Steve Beukema

We take a few moments each time we meet to remember the Lord through a brief devotional from the Word. We pray together. We have fun together! And in all we do, we never forget that we are the Lord’s. - Margaret Broersma

“The impact the church has had on my life is one of freedom…Having seen chaos and dysfunction pre-adoption, the stability of the church has shown me what structure looks like.” - Shamber Brown

For us, it is easy to pray for big things; however, God calls us to pray for all things. It is in the day to day where we can find God through prayer, and when we are faced with any type of situation, we should pray.

In January 2021, Morné’s friends told him about an opening for a worship leader at Hillside. That appealed to Morné and Louise, but think of the disruption to their family at having to move from South Africa to West Michigan…But God had planted that seed and when God plants a seed, it germinates despite our unsureness.

We could call him Commander Roger Bouma, US Navy, retired; but most military people just call him Chaplain. We at Hillside usually call him Roger. He may be retired from the military, but he has risen to the occasion of our need and filled the void for a visitation pastor.

Every child is a gift from God and every child has their own unique set of gifts. It was great through the years to see how we could try to develop some of those gifts and at the same time provide Biblical teachings to the children.

If Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, for such is the kingdom of heaven,” how could I possibly tell a child not to run in the place where one day we pray that he is running straight to the Savior who loves him?

The KLBC mission is sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ with elementary aged children wherever they are. KLBC partners with churches like Hillside to sponsor Bible Clubs in West Michigan public and charter elementary schools and other places where children gather, such as neighborhood homes, mobile home parks, and apartment buildings.

This year, God touched my heart and convicted me to restart the Bible Club at Townline…When Covid-19 had everything shut down, Hillside mentors, Kids Hope, and Bible Club weren’t allowed in our building. It pained me, until I heard the Holy Spirit say, “I need you to tell them about me.”