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Mercy & Hospitality

Mercy & Hospitality Contacts

Ardo Draper
Minister & Director, Prison Ministry
adraper@calvarygr.org

Nam Kim

Nam Kim
Minister & Director, International Ministry
nkim@calvarygr.org

Sheri Schmidt

Sheri Schmidt
Director of Adoption & Foster Care
sschmidt@calvarygr.org

Lana Duoibes
Associate Director,
Refugee and Short-Term Ministries
lduoibes@calvarygr.org

Vida Wilson
Associate Director,
Mercy & Outreach
vwilson@calvarygr.org

Sonja Yeates
Neighbors International Coordinator
neighbors_international@calvarygr.org

Lou DeGraaf

Lou DeGraaf
Ministry Assistant, Mercy & Missions
ldegraaf@calvarygr.org

Current Serving Opportunities

  • 40 Days for Life Prayer Focus: Twice each year Calvary participates with other churches and individuals to pray peacefully in front of a local abortion provider facility. To find out when the next opportunity is, to sign up to pray for an hour, or to learn more about how you can faithfully advocate for the sanctity of life, contact Cathy G.
  • Calvary CarePortal
    • Primary Point Person (one needed): This person is the highest administrative level for CarePortal in the church. They are the primary point of contact for our local CarePortal Ambassador. This person will create and oversee response teams within the church and should be comfortable with technology, have strong organizational skills and be a thoughtful communicator. Click here for more information on this position.
    • Calvary Church Response Team Leaders (one or more needed): A Team Leader is responsible only for their individual team and coordinating one or more monthly team responses. Each team may have more than one leader, which allows them to log in to their own CarePortal dashboard, containing the ability to upload, manage, and activate their own Response Team. Having multiple Response Teams within Calvary means a bigger impact on vulnerable children and families in our community. Small Groups may consider forming their own Response Teams, or individuals can sign up as a Response Team member and be assigned to a group.
    • Calvary Church Response Team Members (many needed): Each CarePortal church can add as many responders as they wish to their Response Team(s). When activated, each responder will receive an email notification for the request giving them the options to Pray, Follow, or Respond to the request. Response Team Members may take on a variety of roles, e.g. donating needed items or money, shopping for needed items, picking up and delivering needed items, making meals, providing friendship and relational support, and whatever a situation may require.Take this survey to help us learn more about you and how God is leading you to get involved or contact us for more information.
  • Embrace Grace: This program is for single moms who have chosen life for their babies. Volunteers have the opportunity to encourage a new mom in various ways. Our volunteer slots are for one semester, either for fall (Aug – Dec) or spring (Jan – May). Contact: Christina Leskovar.
    • Meals for new moms.
    • Baby shower gifts.
    • Prayer warriors.
  • International Ministry:We need a few van drivers to continue providing reliable transportation to Calvin students for the 10:45 am Sunday worship service. This is a fun way to serve and encourage students as they adjust to life in Grand Rapids. Contact: Vida Wilson
  • Prison Ministry: We are looking for those who want to join in Sunday worship with Pastor Ardo at a local prison. This ministry is an important opportunity to reach out to those incarcerated who want to grow in their faith and connect with fellow believers. We provide training and support along the way. Contact: Ardo Draper
  • Refugee Care Ministry: Do you have the gift of hospitality? Would you like to be part of a volunteer team showing mercy to strangers and the foreigners who are residing amongst us, serving them with Jesus’ love and compassion? If so, please don’t hesitate to contact us to learn more about the Refugee Care Ministry and ways to get involved in loving your neighbor as yourself. (John 13:34). Contact: Lana Duoibes
  • Renew Crew: Are you handy around the house? Like to fix things or enjoy a day outside tidying up the yard? Then join our Renew Crew! We are looking for volunteers to help with trade work for example electrical, flooring, and drywall as well as more general tasks including fixing doorknobs, painting, yard work, and moving furniture. If you are looking for a tangible way to make a difference in God’s kingdom. Contact: Renew Crew or call (616) 956-5648.

Ministry Focus

Hospitality and mercy are fundamental to our identity and our lifestyle as Christians. In both Matthew 25 and Luke 14, Jesus reminds us that by welcoming the stranger, or the person in need, we may well be welcoming him, and when we pay special attention to the poor and the disenfranchised, we may in fact be welcoming the most important among us. It is our calling to create sacred places at our tables, for those who are hosts and for those who are guests. When we use the word hospitality at Calvary, it means welcoming everyone and making them feel like they belong. While all our ministries practice hospitality, our First Impressions ministry has the specific focus of welcoming those who are new to the church and helping them to connect to what God is doing in this place.

When we refer to mercy, on the other hand, we are talking about a specific group of people to whom we believe the Lord has called us to pay close attention. In this season, we believe God has highlighted internationals, orphans, prisoners, and refugees as people to whom our church should be ministering and extending a special measure of mercy. Our mercy ministries include our International MinistryForever Hope Orphan CarePrison and Refugee Ministry.

Events

Mar
20

Adoptive/Foster Moms Book Discussion | 9:30am-11:00am

Join other adoptive moms for stimulating discussions. We will be reading Throw Out the First Punch by Beth Guckenberger Location: Family Room Questions: Contact Sheri Schmidt (sschmidt@calvarygr.og) ext. 5524

Mar
20

Unshackled | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Unshackled is a weekly Bible study designed for men who are transitioning out of the jail/prison system and looking to build a firm, biblical foundation to help them grow and maintain their walk with Christ. Location: Room 255 Entrance K

Mar
20

Adoptive/Foster Moms Book Discussion | 6:30pm-7:45pm

Join other adoptive moms for stimulating discussions. We will be reading Throw Out the First Punch by Beth Guckenberger Location: Family Room Questions: Contact Sheri Schmidt (sschmidt@calvarygr.og) ext. 5524

Mar
21

Widows Coffee – March | 9:30am-11:30am

Widows Coffee March 21 | 9:30-11:30am Room 208 (Entrance D) Guest Speaker: Paul Kerr Paula will share ideas on planning, purchasing, and preparing meals on a budget for one.  She may even expand your definition of what you think is healthy!  Be ready to consider your own grocery shopping and eating habits to see if any changes can be made to better nourish yourself. Please RSVP to Lynnell (lbok@calvarygr.org)  Ext 5520 by March 15. Lynnell and four others will be going to Cyprus in April and we can use your help by collecting items to bless refugee babies in Cyprus? We are looking for new items such as: Receiving Blankets, Onesies 0-24 months, Pacifiers, Teething/Small toys and Swaddles.  You can also donate financially for other items that are difficult to transport by making a check out to Calvary Church and on a separate paper write: STM Cyprus 2024. Please bring…

Apr
03

Unshackled | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Unshackled is a weekly Bible study designed for men who are transitioning out of the jail/prison system and looking to build a firm, biblical foundation to help them grow and maintain their walk with Christ. Location: Room 255 Entrance K

Apr
10

Unshackled | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Unshackled is a weekly Bible study designed for men who are transitioning out of the jail/prison system and looking to build a firm, biblical foundation to help them grow and maintain their walk with Christ. Location: Room 255 Entrance K

Apr
14

Financial Bible Study Class | 9:00am-10:15am

This class will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, increase your knowledge of His financial principles and learn to apply them to your personal financial decisions. This process will lead you to a life of meaning, purpose and eternal joy. Location: Room 112 For questions contact Sara Blue (sblue@calvarygr.org)

Apr
14

Financial Bible Study Class | 6:00pm-7:15pm

This class will help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ, increase your knowledge of His financial principles, and learn to apply them to your personal financial decisions. This process will lead you to a life of meaning, purpose and eternal joy. Location: Room 114 For questions contact Sara Blue (sblue@calvarygr.org)

Apr
17

Adoptive/Foster Moms Book Discussion | 9:30am-11:00am

Join other adoptive moms for stimulating discussions. We will be reading Throw Out the First Punch by Beth Guckenberger Location: Family Room Questions: Contact Sheri Schmidt (sschmidt@calvarygr.og) ext. 5524

Apr
17

Unshackled | 6:00pm-7:30pm

Unshackled is a weekly Bible study designed for men who are transitioning out of the jail/prison system and looking to build a firm, biblical foundation to help them grow and maintain their walk with Christ. Location: Room 255 Entrance K