OUR MISSION
American Reformed Church is a community that gathers together to be transformed by Jesus to transform the world.
OUR STORY
American Reformed Church is about belonging and transformation.
From the beginning, our church community has been a place to belong for people who feel like outsiders. “American” is part of our name because we offered the first English-language worship services in our historically Dutch community.
That act of hospitality and togetherness set the stage for who we are today: a place where anybody (and we mean anybody) can find welcome, acceptance, and love. Feeling broken? Having doubts? Us too. We’re comfortable with your messiness if you’re comfortable with ours. It’s church—bring your baggage. You belong here.
OUR VALUES
ACCEPTANCE. We welcome and invite all who seek Christ. We celebrate our differences and our essential oneness.
GRACE. We suffer one another’s brokenness and embrace God’s transforming grace.
WISDOM. We passionately pursue the heart and mind of God revealed through the Word and world.
LOVE. We seek to meet spiritual and practical needs among our neighbors, both local and global.
ROOTED. REFORMED. RELEVANT.
We are part of the Reformed Church in America (RCA), which has its beginnings in the Protestant Reformation of the 1500s. As a church, we are focused on the centrality of Christ, grace, faith, and the Bible. We are continually re-formed, ever re-forming—rooting ourselves in Jesus and worshipping, serving, learning, and living in ways that demonstrate the gospel’s relevance for today.
CHURCH LEADERSHIP
Rev. Bryce Vander Stelt
Pastor
Pastor Bryce Vander Stelt began serving at American Reformed Church in September 2024, following 13 years of ministry in Illinois and Michigan. A graduate of Western Theological Seminary, Bryce is passionate about creating a church community where everyone feels they belong and where open, honest conversations are welcomed. He and his wife, Erin, along with their three children, one dog, three cats, and a crested gecko, call Orange City home.
Lizzy Rice
Director of Children’s & Middle School Formation
Through education and activities, Lizzy develops relationships with the youngest members of our church and their families—connecting them to God and each other as they learn to embrace God’s claim on their lives. She earned a degree in Christian education and youth ministry from Northwestern College (IA) and lives in Orange City.
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Mary Abels
Office Assistant
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Meagan Wallinga
Media Specialist
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Philip De Koster
Choir Director
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Nate Huyser
Facilities Coordinator (event setup)
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Rusty Marincovich
Facilities Coordinator (maintenance and cleaning)
ELDERS
Jeff Tolsma, Vice President
Scott Culpepper
Sharon Foughty
Teresa Sampson
Jennifer Lambert
Rebecca Koerselman
DEACONS
Kelsey Callens, Chair
Michael Wallinga
Doug De Zeeuw
Mark Beltman
Mary Fernow
Jan Vandermeulen
MINISTRY COORDINATORS
Jan Vandermeulen - Community Garden
Jill Haarsma - Food Pantry
Victoria Karssen - Meditation Garden
Jeff Tolsma - Share Team