DAVE KOETJE

Married to Jennie Koetje (32 years)
Children: Joshua (married to Lisa), Caleb, and Isaac

We have attended Wellspring Church since 2010.

Solid Rock Investing is the name of my Financial Services business. We give the Lord credit for allowing us to work in a profession that we love. I am privileged to be able to go to work there each and every day the Lord gives me breath.

I came to know Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior in my high school years. I continue each day to commit my life here on this earth to His service. I believe The Lord has each and every one of us here for two reasons: To glorify Him and to bring others to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ as their Savior.

Wellspring’s mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ and I believe Wellspring Church is doing that every day. Our family greatly appreciates the bold biblical preaching of the word we hear each and every week. I am privileged to be a part of the Finance Committee as well as the Stewardship Committee and have a passion for educating the Wellspring congregation in the area of stewardship. What a blessing it is to be a part of God’s family here at Wellspring.

PAUL LONEY

Married to Teri Loney (48 years)

We moved from Alma, MI to Wyoming (Rivertown) in 2019 to be near our 3 married children, 9 grandchildren, and 2 special family members. Mike (Becky) Loney and Mike, Jr., Amelia and Miles, and Chema Carias-Cruz and Kenny Agema; Rachel (Ryan) Kulcsar and Addie, Graem, Elyse, & Rowan; and Becca (Kyle) Garberson and Vaughn and Edison.

I currently do pulpit supply with IMI/SOS, a ministry primarily providing interim pastors for churches who request our services. I retired from Garr Tool, a solid carbide tool manufacturer in Alma, after 27 years.

I was privileged to grow up in a godly Christian home. My grandfather was a pastor and evangelist primarily in Canada, with a several year itinerant kids’ ministry in California. He led me to the Lord when I was 11. After trying too many worldly temptations, I committed myself to the Lord my junior year and attended Baptist Bible College of Pennsylvania. Teri and I were in fulltime local church ministry for the next 13 years. I was actually bi-vocational for a short while. Not wanting to relocate the family, we stayed in Alma working at Garr. What I thought was going to be short term turned into a career. I actually did as much ministry working with our distributors and end-users as I did as a pastor. It just looked different. We always have been active in whatever local church we attended and I also filled pulpits in the central Michigan area.

We began attending Wellspring in 2019, and love the worship experience and solid biblical messages. It has been my privilege to get to know our pastors personally. We are blessed to have such gifted yet grateful and humble individuals leading our church family. Please pray for them. We have been involved in VBS and greeting. I look forward to being an encourager to our pastors and whoever else the Lord brings me into contact with. Romans 10:9-10

TOM TENBRINK

Married to Kerri TenBrink (49 years)

We have four adult married children with four grandchildren and one due during the month of July. Jessica (David) Fry and Elliott; Tyler (Teresa); Trevor (Kelly) and Theo and Parker; Joslyn (Mitch) Ashcraft and Elsie Mae.

I am currently working as an Educational Consultant with Michigan Leadership Academy and as an Associate Professor at Cornerstone University supervising student teachers.

I have been a Christian since I committed my life to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ when I walked an aisle in a small country church when I was seven years of age. My growth in my Christian faith continues to be exciting and rewarding as I trust in my Creator for my very existence every single day. It would be my privilege to serve another term on the Church Board if it is God’s will.

We started attending Wellspring Church around 28 years ago. It has been my privilege to serve on the church board and teach classes during many of these years. I stand in awe and am amazed at what God has accomplished in and through Wellspring during this time. We have experienced the highest of highs and the lowest of lows but there is no question that God has been with us every step of the way. He has proven his faithfulness to us time and time again. The one thing that has been abundantly clear over the past 28 years is that we may be an imperfect church with imperfect people, but God continues to bless Wellspring and use His church for His purposes.

DAVE THURKETTLE

Married to Terri Thurkettle (53 years)

God has richly blessed us with five children: Tami, Staci, Jason, Josh, and Seth. Our children, their spouses, and our 21 grandchildren all live nearby, which is a great joy to us.

I am currently semi-retired, working part-time as a service technician—a role that includes a bit of travel. I took six trips last year and have made four so far this year.

My faith journey began at age 15, when I accepted Jesus as my personal Savior. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of serving Him in many ways, including as a youth leader, sound technician, deacon, elder (past and present), and in other roles the Lord has led me to. He has also allowed me to plant seeds of faith and witness others come to salvation in Christ.

It has been uplifting and heartwarming to see so many young couples with children attending Wellspring—as well as many prime timers, too. As a charter member, it’s been incredible to see where we’ve come from and how the Lord continues to work in so many lives. It gives me great hope for our community.

CRAIG TRAVIS

Married to Amanda Travis (22 years)
Children: Grace, Sophia, Charlotte, and Jack

I work as a High School Social Studies Teacher for Grand Rapids Public Schools, and I’m also the GR Union High School Men’s Swim Coach.

I was raised in church but did not make Jesus Lord of my life till I was a freshman in College. I have been growing ever since and learning what it means to surrender and serve my Savior.

Since 2013, I have had the privilege of watching God rebuild this church. He has developed a church that is growing in staff, board and congregational maturity. This change has happened in the development of the staff, structures and volunteers. God is preparing this church to be able to assist other churches and workers of the Gospel to advance the mission locally and to the ends of the earth. This church is teaching the whole Word of God from the pulpit to toddlers every Sunday. This mission to grow disciples is helping the non-believers and church members to grow in their individual walks with Christ. I am excited to see what God has planned for Wellspring.