For the next 11 months these residents will be learning and serving while helping us accomplish our mission as a church to follow Jesus and Fearlessly make Him known. Their leadership development is crucial to the successful achievement of our vision to plant hundreds of churches locally and around the world. We are preparing them today to be our pastors for tomorrow. Will you pray for them, encourage them, and although we are already supporting them as a church with a stipend, will you consider how God may want you to financially partner in meeting their personal fundraising needs.
YEAR ONE RESIDENTS: Team FOURtify
Whitney Housenga – Community Life and Worship Arts
I am a 20-something from Zeeland, Michigan. I love running, hiking, and playing beach volleyball, because I also love to eat! I know that this residency is 100% a God thing for me, because it literally (okay not literally, but you know what I mean) fell into my lap. This is God’s handiwork, not mine, and I am so excited to see how He uses and challenges me!
Secqunda Grigsby – Worship Arts and Community Life
I’m very outgoing and I like to sit by the lake reading. There is so something so peaceful about that for me. I also love taking trips with my cousin Tracy, who is my best friend. Small trips, big, mini trips; whatever, as long as we’re together. God is helping me become the best version of myself. I’m finding out about me through Him. Slowly being transformed!
Pedro Martinez – Community Life and Worship Arts
I am a Hope Grad from Holland and love music. My favorite thing ever is to make memories and go on adventures. God is working in me by opening my eyes and heart, showing me His love like I’ve never seen before.
Jaysen Perkins – Worship Arts and Community Life
I am blessed with an amazing family, my wife Ruth and our three children, Stella, Elliot, and Joan. I enjoy music, listening to and performing, as well as film photography and the arts in general. Through the restoration and healing that God has brought to Ruth and I in our lives, we have felt called to be obedient to God and let Him replicate that through us. The Residency at Ridgepoint, we believe, is the just beginning of that calling.
YEAR TWO RESIDENTS: The Quad Squad
Matt Furrow – Community Life and Operations
I originally graduated college with a teaching degree but as I applied for jobs I felt a call to ministry. Through my time at Ridge Point so far I have discovered that I am wired in a way that lends well to thinking through and implementing systems and processes, and that I love using my God-given teaching gift to share messages from the Word. When I am not at church I usually spend my free time talking to or visiting my fiancé who currently teaches 7th grade English down in Indiana and planning our upcoming wedding.
Justin Beidler – Worship Arts and Hamilton Church Plant
I have been married to my wife Meredith for 8 years and have 2 children, Addyson age 6 and Jackson who is 6 months. In my spare time I love to play golf and watch movies. I am entering my second year in the Residency Program and am focusing on Worship Arts. God has been really working in my life and the life of my family. He has been revealing to me the importance of leading with a genuine heart of worship and creating and environment for people to encounter Christ. This last year was one of the best years of my life and I am looking forward to what I will learn in this next year!
Stephen Irish – Worship Arts and Young Adults
I grew up in the Holland/Zeeland area. I enjoy music, hunting, fishing, and playing hockey. I have spent the last 12 years helping on worship teams at different churches. However, I felt that God was calling me to step out and take on more. God led me to this residency and I have been amazed at what He has done in my life.
Chris Reuschel – Student Ministry and Hamilton Church Plant
From starting my Year 2 residency, to helping Cory with the Hamilton church plant, and waiting on my daughter to enter this world, life has been crazy. God is doing amazing things amidst all of this. He is teaching me more about myself than I ever thought possible. He is shaping me and preparing me to lead my own ministry at Hamilton, but also preparing me to be a loving father.