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| The idea for planting a church in the Kentwood area was birthed by the Holy Spirit in the hearts of a few people: Vaughn Drummonds, West Michigan District Superintendent for the Wesleyan Church, Dick Wynn, Youth For Christ Regional Director, and a senior in college, Wayne Schmidt. Dick Wynn agreed to be the Senior Pastor if, he could partner with the young Pastor, Wayne Schmidt. The new church would have its beginning with a Bible study in the Wynn’s basement. The name Kentwood Community Church (KCC) was chosen carefully to signal that the new church belonged to the people of the community. KCC is Wesleyan in government and structure, community in method and style. From the beginning, God’s favor would rest upon this new church. |
| The first public service was held on October 7, 1979, at the Greenhouse on Breton Avenue. They were able to set up 90 chairs and 89 people came. On January 13, 1980, the fledgling congregation moved to Valleywood Middle School. In 1981, Pastor Dick Wynn was called to the national office of Youth for Christ and left the new congregation to the emerging leadership of the new Senior Pastor, Wayne Schmidt. |
| During the years at Valleywood, Kentwood Community Church would experience rapid growth and demonstrate four ministry goals: emphasis on outreach, meeting community needs, ministry to the whole family and discipleship training. The congregation would rally around three core values: Adoration, Acceptance and Accountability. |
| In August, 1983, KCC moved from Valleywood into its own building located at 5820 Eastern Avenue. It was believed that a sanctuary seating 270 would be "plenty large" for several years to come. Soon a second Sunday morning service was added, more space was added to the building . . . then came a third Sunday morning service. In 1985, it became obvious that seven acres would not be able to respond to the growth of the church. |
| During the Eastern Avenue days, KCC would focus on the importance of ministering to the needs of children, youth and families. This focus continues to the present day with the development of groundzero for youth, JAM (Jesus and Me) for children and the number one goal of the Vision Path 2020 which stresses reaching children and youth—“the earlier the better.” The young congregation continued to grow and find favor with God and the community. |
| God’s blessings continued to rest upon KCC as 50 acres of land became available for purchase at 1200 60th Street. To meet the needs of the growing congregation, a master plan was developed for the construction of a new facility, designed to grow with the congregation. The congregation on a snowy January 11, 1987, walked from the Eastern Avenue church to the new church on 60th Street and held its first worship service in the new facility the following day. On March 20, 1997, the present day sanctuary, which seats approximately 2200 people, was opened as Pastor Wayne led the congregation in a celebration of praise and thanks for God’s continued blessings. Three weekend worship services currently anchor a ministry schedule that occupies seven days a week. |
| The year 2000 would find KCC facing a new century with a refined mission and vision that focused on reaching out to spiritually lost people and raising up fully committed followers of Jesus Christ (add link to mission and vision). After the 25th Anniversary celebration, Pastor Wayne and the Board of Elders adopted the Vision Path 2020. The Vision Path 2020 (add link) includes specific strategies that will enable us to accomplish our mission and vision. Vision Path 2020 speaks to KCC’s passion for reaching children and youth, connecting people to small groups that are relational, transformational and missional, planting churches and reaching out with compassion to our neighbors across the street and around the world. |
| 2009 would prove to be a year of major changes. The year began with the national economy being in the grips of a deep recession. President Barak Obama was sworn into office as the first African-American President of the United States. In December of 2008, God would begin to unfold the next chapter in the history of KCC as we prepared to celebrate our 30th Anniversary. God spoke into the lives of Pastor Wayne Schmidt and Pastor Kyle Ray as they announced to the congregation that God was calling Pastor Kyle to be the next Senior Pastor of KCC and releasing Pastor Wayne from his commitment to KCC. After Pastor Wayne had announced he would step down as Senior Pastor, without knowing where he would be going, God rewarded that trust and obedience. Indiana Wesleyan University during this same year, was preparing to open a new seminary, Wesley Seminary. When IWU heard that Pastor Wayne had stepped down they approached him about accepting the position of Vice President of the new seminary, Wesley Seminary. Pastor Wayne accepted their offer and early in 2010 began his new duties at IWU. During the weekend of October 3 and 4, we celebrated our 30th anniversary by declaring that God was indeed “God of the City.” On December 6 we lovingly roasted Pastor Wayne and shared our appreciation for his faithful wife Jan. On January 10, 2010, Pastor Wayne opened the installation service and Pastor Kyle Ray, our Outreach Pastor, was installed as our new Senior Pastor. The congregation gathered afterwards at a reception with Kyle, his wife Petra, their sons, and extended family to celebrate God’s faithfulness and the power of his story unfolding here at Kentwood Community Church. |
| Our current Senior Pastor, Kyle ray along with the Board, staff, lay leaders and congregation are committed to permeating our region with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. With excitement, we anticipate multiple opportunities to reach out to spiritually lost people and raise up fully committed believers who love God completely and others unconditionally. |