The beginning of Sherman Street Christian Reformed Church began on Sunday evening, October 14, 1907. Then the Word was preached to a group that had decided to leave the Eastern Avenue Church to establish an English speaking church. The services in the densely packed upstairs hall at the northwest corner of Eastern Avenue and Sherman Street were inspiring, the group enthusiastic. Forty families and twenty individuals were organized as a congregation on December 4, 1907. They made immediate plans for the erection of a church building which they completed and dedicated on November 19, 1908. Except for the addition of the parish house on the east side, the external appearances of the building is today exactly the same as it was when erected.

The first pastor, the Reverend J. L. VanTielen, was installed on August 13, 1908. He and the ministers who followed him, served us and their Lord, whom they represented, faithfully – each one in his own unique way.

All of them, except the Reverend VanTielen and the Reverend Martin Van Dyke, who are no longer living, share the joys of this anniversary with us.

The congregation numbered more than 100 families when the Rev. J. J. Weersing came in 1912. Fourteen of these families and one individual had their membership transferred to the new Neland Avenue Church when that was organized on November 8, 1915. When Rev. Weersing left in 1916 the number of families had increased to almost 200. This rapid growth continued under the leadership of the Rev. R. B. Kuiper, whose period of service began in 1917. During his ministry some twenty families left the congregation to help organize the Fuller Avenue Church ( December, 1918). Because the church building was then too small to house the congregation comfortably, the gallery was added in 1919. At the coming of the Rev. H. Schultze in 1924 the number of families was approximately 255. This rose more than 280 by the time he left us in 1925.

The period of service of Doctor Martin Van Dyke, 1927-1931, spanned the last years of the prosperous twenties and the first years of the great depression. When Rev. William Van Peursem (1932-1940) accepted the call to Sherman Street in 1932 he had 240 families in his care. During his ministry, however, and those of three men who followed him after he left in 1940, the number of families again increased rapidly. For a period of some two decades, therefore, the congregation was faced with the question whether or not to build a new church and, if so, where. This problem continued to perplex us even after some twenty families left in 1946 to join with others in the organization of the Calvin Church. It was not solved until 1955-56 when the church was remodeled and the parish house added.

The Reverends George Goris (1941-1944), Lawrence Veltkamp (1946-1949) and Frederick Van Houten (1950-1953) came to us in that order. Their periods of service covered the years from 1940 to 1953, each being with us only some three years. These short periods of service, and the relatively long periods of vacancy between them, have brought the query to many whether we as a congregation have always been sufficiently aware of our blessings and whether we have contributed sufficiently in return. During all of these years we were a large congregation. We were indeed at one time the largest English speaking church in the denomination. For the most part we led a peaceful, almost complacent existence. We did have differences on occasion, on the matter of building, for example, but we were always one on the most significant matter, that of our calling to be true and active members of the body of Christ.

Missionary zeal for city, home and foreign missions has characterized us from the beginning. We are well established in our mission work at the Jail and on the West Side. We have our representatives on the Indian field and in foreign countries. Doctor L. DenBesten now represents us in Nigeria.

We have a completely renovated and enlarged church building and a congregation which can more than fill it. We have in the Rev. J. A. Mulder (1955-) a young minister who came to us just as we were completing our building project. As one part of the church of Jesus Christ we present a sobering yet inspiring challenge to him. With this background of fifty years of history the challenge to us as members should now come to expression as it never has before. To us as congregation and as pastor that is the real significance of this anniversary celebration.

Professor Henry Ryskamp

The interest in missions began in 1911 when the Mission Society was organized. Our first endeavor in mission activity was at the Michigan Soldiers’ Home. As mission interest progressed, efforts were put forth in another venture, which was Sunday School work carried on in the eastern limits of Grand Rapids. Meetings were originally held in an upstairs dwelling, and later transferred to a portable building which was purchased by our congregation and placed on a lot at Rosewood Avenue.

Our church furthermore became active in Indian Missions in the southwest part of this country by supporting Doctor E. H. Beernink as physician at Rehoboth, New Mexico in 1924.

In 1934 we received an invitation from the Neland Avenue Church to work with them in connection with a mission project at Comstock Park, which we gladly accepted. We did extensive personal mission work, making contact with families and individuals in their homes. We also took an active part in connection with services which were being held on Sundays as well during the week.

This work continued at Comstock Park for a period of about two and a half years, and then it was taken over by the Grand Rapids Mission Board. In 1936 we took part in evangelistic work at the Kent County Jail.

Open-air Sunday School services were held on Dewey Avenue during the summer months as a direct result of our follow-up work at the jail. From the response, it was apparent that we should obtain a building in which we could have our meetings. This was the beginning or our work at Sixth Street, which was carried on from 1940 until 1945 at which time we relocated at 342 Bridge Street. We rented the second and third floors to hold our meetings. Later in 1945 we purchased the building and continued holding meetings there until 1951 when we merged with the West Fulton Street Mission, now called the Gold Avenue Back To God Chapel.

Our full time workers at the Sixth Street Mission consisted of Miss Dina VanDyken, Miss Margaret Bonnema, and Miss Lillian Bode. Miss Bode is now active in evangelistic work in Formosa. During Miss Bonnema’s service, an infant child, not wanted by its parents, was taken by Miss Bonnema, assisted by Miss Mary DeBoer. From this action began the establishment of the Bethany Christian Home.

Shortly after locating at Bridge Street a decision was made to do mission work in conjunction with the Broadway Avenue Christian Reformed Church. This joint effort began in 1946 with Harry Wierenga engaged as full time superintendent. He remained with us until 1949. Miss Bode assisted Mr. Wierenga from 1944 to 1947 and was succeeded by Miss Alice VanderZwaag. In 1950 Elias Dykstra was appointed as superintendent.

Henry Buikema was our missionary in the Indian field from 1944-1946. Rev. George Yff accepted the call in 1947 at camp pastor at Rehoboth, New Mexico and served until 1957.

As well, we sent Doctor and Mrs. Larry DenBesten as medical missionaries to Africa in 1957.