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Mike Simmons Pastor
Originally from Belding, Michigan, Mike is a retired school teacher of over 30 years. Ordained by the Church of God in 2012, he is the lead pastor at Orchard View. He grew up in the Church of God and began serving in the church at a young age. He credits the many saints in the church who encouraged him and fostered his abilities to serve others.
Mike is a teacher at Koinonia Home School, teaching History and English to Junior High students. In his spare time, he enjoys sports announcing for Lowell High School, volunteering at Lowell Middle School with the orchestra program, and helping at Gilda's Club in Lowell.
His wife, April, is a third grade teacher in Lowell, MI, where they live with their son, Nolan, and daughter Gracen. Mike has a BA in Social Sciences and a Masters in Education from Grand Valley State University.
Pastor Mike shares, "God loves you and you can't change that. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. God loves you just the way you are because He created you in His image. But it is the desire of His heart that you would allow Him to be everything in your life that He wants to be."
Mike is a teacher at Koinonia Home School, teaching History and English to Junior High students. In his spare time, he enjoys sports announcing for Lowell High School, volunteering at Lowell Middle School with the orchestra program, and helping at Gilda's Club in Lowell.
His wife, April, is a third grade teacher in Lowell, MI, where they live with their son, Nolan, and daughter Gracen. Mike has a BA in Social Sciences and a Masters in Education from Grand Valley State University.
Pastor Mike shares, "God loves you and you can't change that. There is nothing you can do to make God love you more. There is nothing you can do to make God love you less. God loves you just the way you are because He created you in His image. But it is the desire of His heart that you would allow Him to be everything in your life that He wants to be."
Marc DeRuiter Music leader
Marc is a Grand Rapids native. After high school he served in the US Navy for four years, then came home and attended Grand Valley State College on the GI Bill. He met Micki in 1976, and they were married in 1978. They have five adult children and currently, 11 grandchildren.
After 35 years in the electronics industry and a period of unemployment, Marc attended Cornerstone University and earned a Bachelor's degree in Ministry Leadership.
Marc has played the guitar since age 15, and along the way picked up the 5-string banjo and mandolin, playing in a variety of bands, small venues, and churches. In 2003 Marc founded Eldermusic Ministries, a volunteer non-profit organization that brings live music to the residents of memory care facilities; they are currently serving 20 facilities each month in Kent and Ottawa counties. In 2009, Marc launched the local chapter of another non-profit organization; Guitars For Vets, at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Marc is also currently serving as the board musician for the local DeColores Ministries secretariat.
Marc says "I love to make a joyful noise with my instruments, but real worship happens when the voices of the congregation are united in praise."
After 35 years in the electronics industry and a period of unemployment, Marc attended Cornerstone University and earned a Bachelor's degree in Ministry Leadership.
Marc has played the guitar since age 15, and along the way picked up the 5-string banjo and mandolin, playing in a variety of bands, small venues, and churches. In 2003 Marc founded Eldermusic Ministries, a volunteer non-profit organization that brings live music to the residents of memory care facilities; they are currently serving 20 facilities each month in Kent and Ottawa counties. In 2009, Marc launched the local chapter of another non-profit organization; Guitars For Vets, at the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans. Marc is also currently serving as the board musician for the local DeColores Ministries secretariat.
Marc says "I love to make a joyful noise with my instruments, but real worship happens when the voices of the congregation are united in praise."
Allie Eckelbarger-Youth
Allie is an elementary teacher at Trinity Lutheran School in Conklin, Michigan. She has a passion for young people and brings a wealth of experiences from her many days as a youth camper in the Church of God camp meetings in Michigan. Tin Geiger, from Comstock Park, recently joined the youth team as an assistant. Tin works at HME Incorporated as a Shop Hand. |
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