Speaker Bio

A native New Yorker, Paul was raised in an Irish-Catholic neighborhood in the Bronx. At the age of 29 he was confronted with the claims of Jesus Christ. Thinking them foolishness, he sought to refute Christianity with the teaching of secular philosophy. The Lord broke down the barriers of his heart and captivated his life. Like the apostle Paul, this Paul can say “to live is Christ.” Prior to spearheading the founding of Messiah’s Reformed Fellowship in 2003, Rev. Murphy pastored Dutton United Reformed Church in Dutton, Michigan, for 13 years. He is married to his beautiful wife of 34 years.  Their five children are all grown and scattered.

Session Description

The world sees retirement as one big extended vacation, but God’s people are called to be “fruitful and flourishing” even as they age.  (Psalm 92:14)  Pastor Freswick will discuss how mature saints can serve their church and family in a way that glorifies God.

Speaker Bio

Pastor Freswick retired after pastoring local churches for 35 years in January of 2020.  He served the Lord in three congregations during those years. He currently serves in a variety of ways including: preaching, pastoral care, and writing.  He is a member five different synodical, classical, congregational, and educational committees.  He and his wife Bev have 7 children (including 3 by marriage) and 13 grandchildren (the oldest is just 8).  He has always been a backyard farmer and mechanic and hopes to rebuild a Model T from parts gathered in his youth.

Session Description

Family life is becoming busier, even in the church. How much is too much? How do we prioritize our time and energy? Consider the reasons why this juggling act of an over-committed family endangers our lives. Think about the dangers that this busyness brings to the family unit. Listen as he brings in the various counseling experiences where he has seen the world encroach on our covenant families and the aftermath of destruction it causes

Speaker Bio

Kurt is an ACBC certified counselor and a member of Zion PRC in Jenison, Michigan. He has been counseling for over 4 years. He has counseled in a wide variety of areas, including a significant amount of marriage counseling, addictions, teenager difficulties and depression. He has been married to his wife, Ruth, for 38 years. They have 5 children and 4 grandchildren

Session Description

We communicate almost constantly, and in so many different ways: talking, email, text, facial expressions, glances, gestures.  Is God concerned about all of this?  Pastor Barnes will bring the Word of God to the small moments of our communications. 

Speaker Bio

Rev. Doug Barnes is the pastor at Grace URC, in Alto, MI. He has been serving this congregation since 2020. He was previously the pastor of Covenant URC, in Pella, IA and Hills URC in Hills, MN. Reverend Barnes and His wife, Grace, have 6 children. His background is in writing, as a newspaper reporter. He continues to write articles for a variety of publications.

Session Description

Our God and Father is a Holy, just, and gracious LORD. We must devote ourselves to giving Him the glory and thanksgiving He deserves. As individuals who have been saved by His grace, we should daily devote ourselves to structuring our lives around honoring Him. We want our homes to be places that show our faith, respect, love, gratitude, and thanksgiving for all His mighty works.  We can only accomplish this by knowing God’s will for our lives through His Word.  Seeking Him brings us the comfort, joy, and peace that comes from a loving relationship with our LORD.

Speaker Bio

Mark Warner and his wife Sheryl are charter members of Bethany URC. They have two grown children and 6 grandchildren. Mark is a certified counselor through IRBC (Institute for Reformed Biblical Counseling). He has also completed counseling training and was certified by ACBC (Association of Certified Biblical Counselors). He currently counsels at Bethany URC.

Session Description

Fatherhood has come on hard times in the culture.  The world often portrays dads as helpless buffoons.  Men of God are called to be different.  Learn how a man of God can reflect Christ in a loving leadership of his home.  “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all” Mark 9:35

Speaker Bio

Jim and Lori are members of Cornerstone URC.  Jim works in the automotive industry, has served as a deacon and elder, and is a current IRBC board member. Lori is a wife, mom, and ACBC Certified biblical counselor.  They have been married for 23 years and have 5 children. 

Session Description

If we believe that God owns all things, how does that guide us when making decisions about money?  Learn principles for biblical financial stewardship useful for any age or life circumstance.

Speaker Bio

Johnny has a bachelor’s degree in business-finance from Calvin College, with a minor in economics. He attained the Accredited Asset Management Specialist (AAMS®) designation from the College for Financial Planning in 2018.  He has been in the financial services industry for six years, five years as a financial planner at a local financial planning firm. He is currently a member of Hudsonville PRC, where he serves in several capacities, including leading the Young Adult bible study.  He and his wife, Alison, have a son, Theodore.

Session Description

Everybody has parents.  And they are all sinful, just like us.  Does our calling to honor them change as our life’s circumstances change?  We will explore our calling as children of all ages, as stated in the Heidelberg catechism:  to show honor and love and also patiently bear with their weaknesses.  

Speaker Bio

Rev. Bookestein is the pastor of Immanuel Fellowship Church, Kalamazoo MI.  He received his B.A. at Kuyper College and his M. Div. at Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary. He has worked in residential construction and taught at a Christian school for several years.   He has authored several books and publications. In addition to this, he has been a speaker at the Reformed Youth Service’s annual youth convention.   He and his wife, Amy, have four children.

Session Description

Broken families are becoming more common in the church.  Sometimes God’s people struggle to walk beside these hurting families.  Hear a testimony of God’s faithfulness to his promises and be encouraged that you CAN help a struggling family.

Rather than a speech, this sectional will be a conversation between Sue, Meghan, and Jen Eriks.  

Speaker Bio

Sue is a mother and a grandmother who has served as a teacher in Christian schools for years.  She is currently developing curriculum at Heritage Christian.  She has been through an unwanted divorce, and has a heart for oppressed and hurting women.  She is pursuing her Masters in Counseling.  Her daughter Meghan offers the adult perspective of a child of divorce.  Meg served as a Christian school teacher for years, she and her husband Derek have three children.

Session Description

After 8 years of infertility, Pastor Eric and Lori Van Der Molen have experienced many of the challenges that surround infertility; the pain of want, fear, isolation, guilt, waiting, lost identity and hopelessness. These experiences are felt by a  couple without children and often mirrored by their community.

This session will seek to offer biblical hope and personal insight for couples on this road as well as encouragement for those who walk beside them.

Speaker Bio

Pastor Van Der Molen has been serving the congregation of Bethany URC for 3 years. He is a graduate of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.  Lori is an ACBC certified counselor and a hairdresser.  The Van Der Molens do some counseling as a team, and enjoy many opportunities to serve the church.

Session Description

Losing an unborn child can be a lonely and difficult path to walk.  Learn how God calls us to walk through the grief of miscarriage or still birth and the wonderful blessings He promises to sorrowing mothers.

Speaker Bio

Shelly Start is a wife, mom and grandmother who enjoys walking alongside other women in both trials and joys.  She is a member of Georgetown Protestant Reformed Church and is currently pursuing ACBC certification.  She and her husband Doug have 4 adult children, 3 children by marriage, and 2 babies in heaven. 

Session Description

Biblical marriage is designed to be an exclusive, lifelong communion reflecting the relationship between Christ and His Church. Yet, here on this earth, that reflection is at times marred by those who have promised to ‘go down life’s pathway together.’ This reality calls for a continual re-forming of our marriages.

Speaker Bio

Rev. Greg Lubbers is the pastor of Covenant Reformed Church in Pella, IA. He has served this congregation for nearly 2 years. He previously served Covenant URC in Byron Center, MI for nearly 20 years. Both he and his wife Jeni have been involved with a variety of ministries and seek to serve Christ by serving His people with instruction from the Word of God. They have 5 children.

Session Description

When her father came hunting for stolen idols, Rachel hid them under her skirt. As mothers, what things do we hide under our skirts today?

Speaker Bio

Meribeth is a biblical counselor and mother of 3 grown children.  She has been counseling for 3 years through First Byron CRC and has teaching experience through the “StoryChanger” podcast. She and her husband are members of Trinity PCA in Hudsonville, MI and enjoy time with their 2 grandchildren and learning what an empty, more spacious nest looks like. 

Session Description

Addiction can devastate a family.  When a family member is an addict, we are called to love them and help them.  We are also called to obey God in dealing with the sin of addiction. Terri will discuss how these callings can work together.  

Speaker Bio

Terri is an ACBC certified counselor with a special certification in addiction counseling.  She counseled at Lakeshore Pregnancy Center for 18 years, and at the Ottawa County Jail for 6 years. Terri has been a certified biblical counselor for 9 years. She and her husband, Pete are members of Messiah’s Independent Reformed Church.  

Session Description

You never stop being a parent… true words, but our parenting does change as the children grow up and leave the home.   The Gritters will discuss how to balance these changes in our relationships.  As new members join the family by marriage and the birth of grandchildren, the challenge might increase but so does the joy!

Proverbs 13:22 “A good man leaveth an inheritance to his children’s children.”

Speaker Bio

Prof. Gritters has served as professor of New Testament and Practical Theology at the Protestant Reformed Seminary for almost 20 years. He preaches regularly in the churches and also teaches catechism. Lori serves her family and stays actively involved with their church family. God has blessed their 43 years of marriage with 6 adult children by birth, 6 adult children by marriage, and 21 grandchildren.

Session Description

Teenagers.  They have a reputation for eye rolling and backtalk.  How can biblically  parenting your teenagers change you as a parent?  We’ll examine our attitudes as parents and how to honor God as we walk through this stage of parenting. 

Speaker Bio

Pastor Eriks has been in the ministry for 23 years.  He is currently serving Unity Protestant Reformed Church in Byron Center, MI and working toward his DMin.  Jen is an ACBC Certified counselor, and has been counseling for 5 years.   Together the Eriks have served in a variety of ministries and have both worked with youth and families. They have 3 teenagers at home as well as 3 married children and 4 grandchildren.

Session Description

Parenting young children (up to age 12) can be exhausting!  If you feel stuck in long days of helping with memory verses and repeating yourself to your toddler, maybe you could use some encouragement.  The Mahtanis will discuss discipline, entitlement, and how to  make your family worship time meaningful when there are small children around your table.  

Speaker Bio

Pastor Mahtani has a heart for biblical counseling and enjoys communicating theology simply and practically.   He is currently pastor at Hope PRC in Walker, MI,  Prior to Hope,  he was a pastor in NW Indiana where he led the IRBC Introduction to Biblical Counseling class.  Keri is a busy wife and mother who enjoys flower gardening and listening to books in small stolen moments.  The Mahtanis have 7 children and share a deep love for helping the church.

Session Description

New relationships, dating/courtship and engagement can be some of the most exciting seasons in life – filled with hope and plans for the future. It can also be confusing, nerve wracking and heartbreaking. But we do not need to navigate these seasons alone! Relationships that are built by the Word and founded in wisdom are crucial to setting the foundation to a God-glorifying life.  In this session we will discuss how to set a strong foundation, expectations, boundaries, and decision making along with many other challenges and questions that are a part of preparing your heart, mind and soul for what the Lord has in store!

Speaker Bio

Pastor Van Der Molen has been serving the congregation of Bethany URC for 3 years. He is a graduate of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary.  Lori is an ACBC certified counselor and a hairdresser.  The Van Der Molens do some counseling as a team and enjoy many opportunities to serve the church.

Session Description

Living in a fallen world with sinful people, we know the potential for great sin in our families. Sin causes disagreements, rifts, and fractured relationships. Is there a way to view these life-altering sins in a way that glorifies God?   How can we respond well to these challenges within our families?  

Speaker Bio

Mark is a member of Immanuel URC in Demotte, IN. He has served as an elder in this congregation for numerous terms. He is an attorney whose practice regularly deals with conflict in families. He and his wife, Margo, have 2 sons. The oldest Adam, and his wife Chelsea, live in Des Moines with their two daughters. His second son, Reverend Eric Van Der Molen, and his wife Lori serve at Bethany URC..

Session Description

Sexual abuse is being uncovered in the church.  This brings heartache and pain to the entire family of the victim and perpetrator.  How can we respond in a way that honors God, helps the survivor and deals justly with the perpetrator? 

Speaker Bio

Dr. Kelderman is the dean of students at Puritan Reformed Seminary, specializing in biblical counseling.  He completed his seminary training at PRTS and received his DMin from Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary.  Donna is a biblical counselor, speaker and has compiled two devotional books that have been translated into various languages.  The Keldermans have 6 married children and 9 grandchildren.  

Session Description

When the shape of our life doesn’t follow the “normal” pattern, it can be difficult to see where we fit in the family of God.  It can be equally difficult for the church family to know how to shape their own lives around those who are “other” than themselves. God’s calling to love and service still applies, and it applies both ways. We are all called to be a part of Christ’s body, built up and building up within his church. Hope will explore this calling interactively, thoughtfully, and sensitively, seeking to give every member of the church family the tools we need to discern how a shift in the pattern gives us opportunities to grow closer together.

Speaker Bio

Hope is a member of Bethany URC, is involved in the Post-High Bible study, in planning fellowship opportunities for the church family, and in directing the choir.  After being single for many years, Hope married Ben at age 40, and they now enjoy raising two daughters.

Session Description

THIS SECTIONAL IS FOR HIGH SCHOOL AGED YOUTH ONLY.

God placed youth in families for His kingdom purposes. Pastor Anema will clarify their privileged calling and powerful resources. He will also recommend practical strategies for impacting their family, church, and community for Christ. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to ask questions during a panel discussion.  He has been married to Renee for 27 years. Their first two children are with the Lord. The last three range in age from 13-20

Speaker Bio

Rev. Anema served as a pastor for 21 years before being called to serve as an instructor with Divine Hope Reformed Bible Seminary. It operates as a prison ministry to make disciples for Jesus Christ. Pastor Anema’s passion for preaching and teaching is for people to meet God through the Bible. His aim is not a religion or a ritual, but a relationship. He sees the Bible as the only trustworthy book about a real God who still connects with real people in a real world.