“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

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.

There needs to be at least one time in our lives when we are crushed by the burden of our sin and shame…If I hadn’t experienced the pain of my sin, if I hadn't carried a load of guilt for awhile, the joy of salvation would be missing.

As we are immersing from two years of not knowing the future and what’s going to happen next, God is bringing new and exciting talent to Hillside. One of these people is Krista Noyes. She’s our new Director of Children’s Ministries.

When my wife and I announced our engagement at work, they informed us that spouses could not work at the same company. It was a new policy that they were initiating. We had to pray and ask God for help.

Going away as a young married couple to Central America, both as a couple and as believers…We were challenged in our beliefs and pushed to expand our vision of who God is and who His people are.

I’ve learned that I can’t create my own self-worth or security, or earn God’s love and acceptance - even though I’ve certainly tried. The beauty is that I don’t have to try - Jesus has done it all on the cross for me - it’s already done and finished!

In our busy lives, it is easy for us to simply focus on our own individual and family needs…these are all very important! However, we are also called to bless others through service, and acts of service help to take us out of our inward-focused attitudes.

I grew up going to church and when I was in high school I made profession of faith at the church I grew up in. Looking back, I’m not sure how much was “just going through the motions”…Not until meeting my wife did it start to come together.

My parents essentially bribed me to attend Calvin University. Later in my senior year at Calvin, I gave my life to the Lord, after a long road of finding my way. I needed it to be my faith, and not just the faith of my parents.