“To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge off the Son of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13)
Church Staff — Full Time
Kent Fry Minister of Leadership and Preaching
Extension 105 kent.fry@trcholland.org
Kent became the pastor of leadership and preaching at Third Church in May of 2008. He is a graduate of Central College and Western Theological Seminary and has served in ordained ministry for nearly thirty years. He previously served Greenwood Reformed Church for nine years and Third Reformed Church in Grand Rapids for seventeen years before coming to Third Church. He has particularly worked on the revitalization of local congregations utilizing team ministry and helping local congregations develop bridges to the neighborhood and the community. Kent also has tried to maintain a global Christian perspective, which includes serving in Japan for two years while training for seminary. He enjoys reading, biking, and playing tennis in his spare time. He is married to Joyce, and they have three children, Tim, Andy, and Becky.
Kama Jongerius Minister of Spiritual Formation and Liturgy
Extension 104 kama.jongerius@gmail.com
Kama Jongerius has been a pastor at Third Reformed Church since 1999. She enjoys working with the people of Third who continually exhibit depth of faith, strong intellect, and a passion for service. The aspects of her position she most enjoys: writing prayers and planning/leading liturgy, spiritual formation with congregants, working with seminary interns, and hearing people’s stories.
Kristen Beckner Office Manager
Extension 101 trc@macatawa.org
Kristen began working as secretary at Third Reformed Church in October 1998. Due to recent retirements and job description changes her title is now Office Manager. General duties include: answer phones, production of the weekly bulletin and monthly newsletter, maintain membership records, prepare mailings, and other office duties.
Nate Schipper Youth Director
Extension 113 nate@trcholland.org
Nate serves the youth ministry at Third, which includes students from grades six through twelve. Nate graduated from Wittenberg University with a degree in Mathematics and Business. At Wittenberg, he met his beautiful wife Bekah; they have a daughter, Eva Ruth. Together, Nate and Bekah enjoyed two trips to Africa that have helped shape their callings. Since returning from their first trip to Malawi in 2007, Bekah has nearly completed her Masters in Education and currently serves as a high school teacher. Nate began coursework at Western Theological Seminary and has continued part-time until today. When not studying they both enjoy being outdoors, running, and traveling.
Mark Faga Facilities Manager
Extension 110 mark.faga@trcholland.org
Married to Susan Piaget and son-in-law to Tom and Barb. Mark began working for Third in August 1997. He came from Worden MFG. Group where he spent eight years learning about and then supervising the warehouses. Having always had a knack for cleanliness and organization he fit right into the needs of Third Reformed Church as their new lead custodian. Those very organizational skills and his drive for getting any job done and done right allowed him to move into the new Facilities Coordinator position. Working for and being a member of Third Reformed Church has brought him many joys. Watching all four of his kids grow up here at Third has been a true blessing. Mark not only takes care of Third Reformed Church, but has been active in many of its ministries including: Stephen Ministry, Women’s Softball coach, Jr. High youth leader, singing and acting for various groups including our TASC program and being very involved in Third’s recycling program.
Church Staff — Part Time
Bill Unzicker Calling Pastor
Extension 103
Bill worked for 30 years in Japan as a missionary with the Reformed Church in America. Since 1997 he has worked as Calling Pastor with a special emphasis on ministry to senior adults. This involves calling on the sick and shut-ins in care centers and in their homes as well as hospital calls.
Joyce Fry Director of Children's Ministries
Extension 107 joycefry@trcholland.org
Joyce began her service as the Director of Children’s Ministries in July 2009. Previously she served 12 years as the Director of Children’s Ministries in a Reformed Church in Grand Rapids. Joyce received her Master’s Degree in Social Work with an emphasis in Child Welfare from Western Michigan University in 1989, and her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Central College in Pella, Iowa. She has considerable experience developing programs and writing curriculum used in the local church and outreach ministries. Besides her work with children in church congregations, she has also served as a Childcare worker in Holland, MI, a Preschool Teacher in Grand Rapids, MI, and a Child and Family Counselor at Child Guidance Clinic in Kalamazoo, MI. She has done extensive volunteer work with children in the Kids Hope program in Grand Rapids, and the Headstart Program in Holland. Joyce is married to the Reverend Kent Fry, Pastor of Third Reformed Church, Holland, MI and is a mother of three children (Tim, 28; Andy, 26; and Becky, 20).
Linda Strouf Minister of Music
Extension 109 strouf@hope.edu
Linda Strouf has served as Minister of Music at Third Reformed Church since 1996, where she plays the organ, leads the adult singing choirs, the handbell choir and oversees the youth music program at the church. Linda was born and grew up in Manistee. Linda graduated from Hope College in 1984 with a Bachelor of Music degree, Magna Cum Laude, in vocal and instrumental music education. In 1986 Linda earned the Master of Music degree, Summa Cum Laude, in Organ Performance from the University of Wyoming. Linda is also an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music at Hope College where she has taught a variety of courses since 1988. Each May Linda heads to Europe with a group of Hope College organ students to visit and play some of the most important pipe organs, and she is well known for her long (hopefully not boring) PowerPoint presentations of these trips. Linda shares her home with her dog Zack, a 13 year old Jack Russell Terrier, sometimes lovingly referred to as a Jack Russell Terrorist.
Delores Bechtel Coordinator of Congregational Care
Extension 108 dee.bechtel@comcast.net
Dee has served the members of Third as the Coordinator of Congregational Care for almost 20 years. She describes her work as “doing whatever needs to be done”, including updating the CareLine, coordinating contact with visitors, informing Parish Elders of special needs of members of their parish, and the list goes on. Dee is a part-time staff member and is usually in the office from 8-11+ a.m. during the week.
Morrie Peterson Treasurer
Extension 102 morrie.peterson@trcholland.org
Morrie was born and raised in the Grand Haven area and graduated from Grand Haven High School in 1963. He graduated from Hope College in 1967 majoring in Math and Psychology. His career was in banking where his focus was commercial lending. His wife, Barb, grew up in Third Reformed Church and he transferred his membership from First Reformed Church in Spring Lake when they were married in 1967. Morrie has been a Deacon at least seven terms here at Third, an eighth grade Sunday School teacher, and was very involved with the financing of our addition to Third Reformed Church in 1995. Morrie is currently training to be Treasurer at Third Reformed Church.
Michelle Millen Young Disciples Director
Michelle comes to Third Reformed after teaching Special Education at Holland Christian High School for nearly a decade. She obtained her degree at Calvin College. She is currently a Job Developer for the State of Michigan and Kandu Industries. She is a mother of three boys, Gabriel, Noah and Josiah, and is married to Scott. They both greatly enjoy working with the middle school youth group.
Mary Van Voorst Children's Choir Director
Mary started directing the Children’s Choir the fall of 2000 after moving back to Holland. The next year she added the Youth Choir and the fall of 2010 a Youth Chimes group was started for middle and high school students. Mary is a graduate of Hope College, a former preschool teacher, and continues to give piano and flute lessons.
Susie Vander Kolk Nursery Attendant
Andy Zoerman Nursery Attendant
Jonathan Ytterock Seminary Intern
Edward Leche Seminary Intern
Delwyn Van Dyke Recording Treasurer
Mark Walvoord Church Records Administrator
Tim Hoffman Custodial Assistant
Judy Bosch Kitchen Coordinator
Roger Rietberg Minister of Music Emeritus
Team Ministry
The church is seeking to live into the concept of team ministry with many ministries developed and carried out by a group of people with the pastors or staff as resource people.
