Q: Where is Brookside located?
A: Brookside is located at 3600 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, in Grand Rapids, Michigan (49508). This map should help you get to our location.
Q: How do I contact Brookside?
A: Phone: 616.452.3191 --- Fax: 616.452.6932 --- Email: office@brooksidecrc.org --- Prayer Line: 616.452.5953
Q: What's the history of Brookside?
A: Check out the History or Brookside page.
Q: How many members are there at Brookside CRC?
A: Our church family consists of 1000 members of which approximately 300 are children. We are blessed with many gifted members who give countless hours of service to the church, community, and world ministries.
Q: What are the basic beliefs of your church?
A: To answer this, first check out the What We Believe page, then you might also want to review:
Q: Who do I contact to get more information about Brookside?
A: Contact Pastor Paul DeVries either via email -- pdevries@brooksidecrc.org -- or via telephone at 616.452.3191.
Q: Who runs your various ministries?
A: Besides our staff, our Ministry Coordinators lead us in the areas of Pastoral Care, Evangelism and Outreach, Worship and Music, Children and Youth Ministries, and Adult Ministries.
Q: Who provides the support for the other tasks of the church?
A: Our support staff assist us with secretarial duties, custodial services, administrative support, bookkeeping duties, and computer services. Also, we have fifteen Elders and fourteen Deacons. Our eleven Shepherd Elders provide care for God's people. Our ten Service Deacons provide assistance with practical needs of people and financial stewardship. Our four Administrative Elders and four Administrative Deacons provide leadership for ministry and oversee the health of the ministries of the church.
Q: Could you tell me more about the Elders and Deacons? What do they do? What gifts do these people need to bring to these positions?
A: At Brookside there are four specific and distinct roles that Deacons and Elders provide. A brief description and list of helpful spiritual gifts and abilities for each of these roles is listed below. Please note that no one person is likely to have all the spiritual gifts listed, nor all the abilities. Moreover, some individuals may have different or additional gifts not listed and still be an appropriate nominee for office. These brief descriptions and references to gifts and abilities are provided as guidelines to help you prayerfully nominate those who would best fit specific roles.
Administrative Deacons and Elders provide visionary leadership for the ministry of the church. They are responsible for maintaining a good environment for the local body of Christ to operate efficiently and effectively in building the body of Christ. They have the authority to act on all matters consistent within the budgets, policies, and goals approved by the Council.
Among the spiritual gifts that are especially helpful in these roles are administration, leadership and wisdom. Among the abilities, skills and experiences that are helpful are ministry planning skills, business and/or management experience, financial and/or facility management ability.
Service Deacons provide for the ongoing material, financial and service needs of the congregation and community. They are responsible for maintaining and promoting the financial stewardship, diaconal needs, and social concern of the church.
Among the spiritual gifts that are especially helpful in this role are service, encouragement, hospitality and mercy.
Among the abilities, skills and experiences that are helpful are relational skills, financial understanding, a concern for social justice and a heart for the practical needs of people.
Shepherding Elders have the responsibility to "watch" over souls. They must be faithful in visiting the church family, encouraging them in their spiritual walk with the Lord and showing compassion toward those who are experiencing difficulties of various kinds. They must give good counsel and admonition when appropriate for guarding the spiritual safety of church members.
Among the spiritual gifts that are especially helpful in this role are shepherding, mercy, encouragement, discernment and intercession.
Among the abilities, skills and experiences that are helpful are a caring pastoral heart, good listening skills and a rich biblical, confessional, and theological understanding of the church.
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