Our Staff
JIM BAAR, RETIRED MINISTER OF CONGREGATIONAL LIFEjbaar@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 19
I came to Fellowship Church in 1981 as Minister of Youth and Education. Since then, I have "morphed" into the Minister of Congregational Life and Mission. I work with the Care Leadership Council addressing pastoral care and church life needs and issues. For the past ten years, I have also lent leadership to the mission efforts of the church. I attended Central College in Iowa and Western Seminary. I am married to Sue who is a reading specialist with West Ottawa Schools. We have three grown children, Kent, Drew and Tori. In my free time I enjoy golfing, fishing, reading and caring for my yard.
GAYLE BORGMAN, MINISTER OF ADMINISTRATIONgborgman@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 11
Mostly serving "behind the scenes," Gayle has been on staff at Fellowship for 24 years, the last 20 years as Minister of Administration, managing the various details of an active church. After working in law firms and attending Davenport College, she discovered she enjoys administration and accounting over law. "I feel blessed to serve at Fellowship Church and to be part of such a great team!" In her spare time, she enjoys outdoor activities like biking, boating and swimming and watching college football and basketball (go MSU!) in the fall and winter. Gayle is married to Randy and they have three children and five grandchildren. Being able to watch grandchildren in their sporting events is also a lot of fun. A favorite Bible verse is John 14:1-2.
JORDAN CLEGG, MINISTER OF CREATIVE ARTS AND WORSHIPjclegg@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 15
Jordan has been serving as Minister of Creative Arts and Worship at Fellowship since August of 2007. In 2008, he graduated from Calvin College in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a B.A. in Music in Worship. While at Calvin, Jordan served as a Chapel Worship Apprentice, studied voice under Dr. Keith Brautigam and was a member of one of the school's elite choirs, Capella. Jordan grew up in Wyoming, Michigan where his parents, Rev. Will and Joni Clegg, still reside while his younger brother, Justin, lives and works in Hollywood, California. His wife, Anne, whom he married in July of 2007, is also a member of the Fellowship staff. Jordan is a movie lover, likes playing softball in the summer, enjoys time with close friends and sings lead for a local cover band.
KAREN DONKER, KIDS HOPE USA AND HAND2HAND MINISTRIES DIRECTORkldonker@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 13
Karen is the KIDS HOPE USA Director and Hand2Hand Ministries Coordinator. She has been involved in the life and ministry of Fellowship Reformed Church since 1985, becoming the director of KIDS HOPE USA in 2001. Karen and her husband, Bob, have been married for 28 years and have two children, Rebecca and Matthew. Karen grew up in Shelby, Michigan and graduated from Hope College with a degree in Special Education. She taught at Blue Star Elementary School in Hamilton school district for 7 years before having children of her own. "Becoming involved with KIDS HOPE USA and working with the gifted and talented team on staff at Fellowship has truly been a blessing in my life," says Karen. A favorite Bible verse is 1 John 4:7-8, "Beloved, let us love one another; for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God... for God is love."
MEGAN HODGIN, MINISTER OF DISCIPLESHIP AND MISSIONmhodgin@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 14
My heart beats for the truths and mysteries revealed in Sciptures, the glimpses of God's Kingdom present even in our broken world, and opportunities to walk alongside God's people in some of their most precious moments. With an undergraduate degree in Theatre and a Masters in Divinity, I feel blessed to have united my two strongest passions in life - story and faith. In the waters of baptism we are named as Children of God, our faith is affirmed and we are invited to participate in God's story as it unfolds all around us. This is the journey of discipleship and the richest gift we will ever receive. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer reminds us, "Discipleship means joy," and I find it a tremendous joy to minister with God's people at Fellowship in the mountains and valleys of this journey. Because discipleship is a lifestyle, I imagine with others how we might look more like Jesus as we spend time together, break bread, praise and serve together (from Acts 2:46-47).
LINDA HUTCHISON, PARISH NURSElhutchison@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 22
Linda is the Faith Community Nurse at Fellowship. She is a registered nurse with her bachelor's of science in nursing in 1984 from Illinois Wesleyan University. She attended a certification training class at Calvin College for faith community nursing. She started her nursing career on the medical/oncology floor of the hospital and has numerous years of home care experience. A note from Linda: "I feel very honored to be selected as your FCN. It is a calling from God to be chosen to serve you. Along with the health ministry team, I am eager to work with you in this important ministry." "Beloved, I pray that all may go well with you and that you in good health, just as it is as well with your soul." 3 John 1:2
BRIAN KEEPERS, MINISTER OF PREACHING AND CONGREGATIONAL LEADERSHIPbkeepers@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 12
Brian grew up in northwest Iowa and received his B.A. in Humanities from Northwestern College in Orange City, IA. He received his Masters of Divinity from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI. Prior to coming to Fellowship Reformed Church in 2005, Brian spent four years serving as the pastor of Bethel Reformed Church in Sheldon, IA. He is married to Tammy and they have two daughters, Emma and Abby. Brian is currently working on a Doctorate of Ministry on the subject of preaching and the missional imaginiation from Western Seminary. His primary responsibilities on the staff include facilitatating a vision for what it means for Fellowship to be both a Reformed and missional church, encouraging the staff and lay leadership, preaching and equipping the body of Christ for ministry and mission in God's world. Among his favorite things are books, art, theology, listening to good jazz, spending time with people and eating fresh sushi.
NANCY PRINS, MINISTRY ASSISTANT
info@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 10
DENNIS AND JULIE ROELOFS, FACILITIES(616) 399-9280 ext. 28
LESLIE RUSSELL, YOUTH MINISTER
lrussell@fellowshipreformed.org (616) 399-9280 ext. 16
Leslie has been a member of Fellowship for 18 years and has been involved with many areas including youth ministries, children's choir, Young Life, Wyld Life, Praise Team, VBS and Care Leadership Council. She started volunteering with Middle School Ministries when her triplet daughters were in 6th grade back in 2003. For the past three years, she has been on staff working with both Middle School and High School youth. Leslie has a degree in Music Education from Olivet College, so she still loves to sing during worship. Her biggest passion in working with youth is to affirm and encourage them to believe that God has a plan for their life, and that they are valued. When she's not hanging out with kids, Leslie likes to travel with her husband, Craig, explore antique shops and enjoy the summer months. Leslie's favorite verse is 1 Timothy 12:4, "Do not let anyone look down on you because you are young, but be an example to the believers in speech, life, love, faith and purity."
ANGELA TRACY, MINISTER OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIESAngela Tracy is a wife and mother. Those are her favorite and most meaningful responsibilities. Angela has always loved children and has over time developed an interest in and passion for families of all kinds. She has a bachelor's degree in special education from Hope and a master's dregree in elementary education from Western. After college, Angela worked as a Resident Director at Hope College, taught elementary school in Jenison, MI, and a few graduate classes at Grand Valley. Following the birth of their second child, she and her husband decided that she would focus her energies at home for a time. In 2008, Angela was led to apply for the position she is in now. This job is a perfect fit for Angela's passions, interests and skills. She gets to educate and empower parents to nurture their own families' faith and impact the world through their home and family, participate in children's faith development through program development and implementation, work collaboratively with a gifted and skilled team, and have the flexibility to volunteer in her children's schools and be home when she needs to. She still can't believe they pay her for this!