Each spring, church members are asked to affirm elder and deacon nominees as well as the annual budget. We encourage members to respond online using the 2023 BALLOT link below. Please phone the church office (616-868-7005) if you’d like a mailed paper ballot (to be returned by mail).
Ballots are DUE BY 12:30 PM May 21. Please email Barb Bestrom at bbestrom@adabible.org with any questions.
ELDER NOMINEES
Steve Bristol
New Nominee
Steve and his wife, Alison, have been married for 33 years and have 5 adult children. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 8 years. Alison is currently involved in the Prayer Ministry. Steve has been leading a men’s small group for the past 5 years. Together, they have been involved with a couple’s small group. Steve has as history in ministry, serving in college campus ministry for 9 years, in church pastoral ministry for 18 years, and more recently as a hospice chaplain for 4 years. Steve is currently a clinical counselor with a Christian counseling practice in Grand Rapids helping individuals of all ages, couples, and families overcome their life challenges.
Don Crawford
New Nominee
Don and his wife Kara have three married children. They have been part of Ada Bible Church for 10 years. Currently, Don leads a small group at Lifeline, while both Don and Kara volunteer on the hospitality team, ensuring snacks and coffee are prepared for the morning service monthly. Kara also volunteers to clean the nurseries at Discovery Village every week. Don works as a teacher at Sparta High School, while Kara runs her own cleaning business.
Brent Rudin
New Nominee
Brent and his wife, AnnElise have three adult children and one daughter-in-law. They have attended Ada Bible Church Kentwood Campus for 6 years and been involved with Marriage Mentoring, Sunday Morning Prayer Team, and small groups. Brent is an Account Executive at Gilson Graphics.
Kurt Koster
Renewing Nominee
Kurt and his wife, Linda, have 4 adult children and 8 grandchildren, with one on the way in August. They have attended Ada Bible Church for over 33 years. Kurt has served on the Board for over 20 years and in Discovery village for many years. He and Linda have been Small Group Leaders. Linda has served in Women’s Ministry for many years. The Kosters sold their Family Trucking Company a little over a year ago now and say they are figuring out retirement. They consider Ada Bible as home.
Kirk Kuiper
Renewing Nominee
Kirk Kuiper and his wife Lori have 1 child at Hope College. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 13 years and been involved with small groups. Kirk is currently serving on the Governing Elder Board and Lori in Discovery Village. Kirk is employed as the Senior Business Development Manager, leading a team in the U.S. and key partners around the globe with the Kent Precision Foods Group, a division of the Kent Corporation.
Joe Vloedman
Renewing Nominee
Joe and his wife Sarah have four children. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 18 years and have volunteered in hospitality and Discovery Village. Joe has served as both an elder and a deacon. In both roles, Joe has been a member of the Stewardship Team. Joe is a partner at the accounting firm Plante Moran.
Tim Sweemer
Renewing Nominee
Tim and his wife Deb have been married for 46 years and have 2 adult children and two granddaughters. They have attended Ada Bible Church for over 18 years and serve as leaders for a small group and (Tim) for a men’s group. Tim also has been serving on the Ada Bible Governing Elder Board and the Stewardship Team for the past six years. Tim is a retired senior finance executive and a CPA and serves on several not-for-profit boards of directors.
Brian VanderArk
Renewing Nominee
Brian and his wife Ruby have a son, Will, and attend the Kentwood Campus. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 23 years, Brian serving on staff for 19 years leading Discovery Village and Lifeline, and as interim Missions Pastor. Ruby has served in Discovery Village Preschool as a storyteller and as a Respectfully Yours leader in women’s ministry. Currently, Brian serves on the governing elder board and is a care elder and both Brian and Ruby serve with marriage mentoring. Brian is currently employed as a missionary with SIM International. Ruby is a second-grade teacher at Dutton Elementary in Caledonia.
DEACON NOMINEES
Greg Brouwer
New Nominee
Greg Brouwer and his wife, Amy, have 3 children: Gabe, Ruthie, and Ethan. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 12 years and have been involved with the greeting team, Discovery Village, and Prayer Team. Greg is currently working as the president at West Michigan Janitorial.
Jason Jenison
Renewing Nominee
Jason and his wife Tamani have two children and have been attending Ada Bible Church for over 20 years. They currently serve in Discovery Village and Prayer Ministry. Jason has been employed in sales at Greatland Corporation for over 18 years.
Bob Evenhouse
Renewing Nominee
Bob and his wife, Cindy, have five children, June, Clara, Bobby, Emily, and Henry. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 22 years, and currently attend the Knapp Street Campus. They have been involved in the Discovery Village, and Men’s and Women’s groups. Bob currently serves as a benevolent deacon. Bob has been employed with Greatland Corporation for the last 18 years.
Ryan Kyes
Renewing Nominee
Ryan and his wife Amara have been married for 23 years and have 7 daughters, 1 granddaughter, and 2 grandsons. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 15 years and have been involved with Lifeline, Discovery Village, and enjoy serving where they can. Ryan owns Alliance Financial & insurance and has been in insurance for the last 22 years. On my free time I enjoy playing basketball and walks.
Craig Shepherd
Renewing Nominee
Craig has two adult children and five grandchildren. He has attended Ada Bible Church for 17 years with his wife, Janet, who passed away last year after 54 years of marriage. Craig has been involved with Discovery Village and is currently employed in Facility Support at the East Paris Campus of Ada Bible Church. Craig also does many volunteer hours with Meals on Wheels and Mel Trotter Ministries.
Bob Storrer
Renewing Nominee
Bob and his wife Amy have two grown daughters and two grandsons. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 18 years. Amy serves with the hospitality team and Bob is an usher and has been a deacon since 2018, both are small group members. Bob works at Independent Bank as a mortgage consultant.
Kevin VanDyke
Renewing Nominee
Kevin Van Dyke and his wife Laurel have two children, Harrison, and Anna. They have been attending Ada Bible Church for 15 years and have been involved in security, budget counseling, and care deacon. Kevin is currently employed as a Business Lead of Engineering with E3M Solutions.
STAFF ELDER NOMINEES
Andy Austin
New Non-Voting
Andy and his wife, Gena, have three children, Jon, Caleb, and Nathaniel. They have attended Ada Bible Church since April 2023 when Andy was hired as Small Groups Director for Knapp Street Campus. Andy and Gena enjoy spending time together as a family, hiking, watching football (Go Blue!), Mexican food, traveling, playing games, and most currently house projects.
Joe Hays
New Non-Voting
Joe and his wife, Emily, have three children, Deacon, Theo, and Cohen. They attended Ada Bible Church several years ago when Joe was on staff as Young Adult pastor before moving to California to serve Mariners Church. Joe returned to staff as Director of Weekend Services in October 2023.
Kevin Baker
Renewing Non-Voting
Kevin and his wife, Kari, have two adult daughters. They have attended Ada Bible Church for nearly 30 years and been involved in various ministries over that period. Currently Kevin serves as the Campus Pastor of the Knapp Street Campus and Kari is employed as an Executive Assistant with PRC Grand Rapids.
Jeff Manion
Renewing Non-Voting
Jeff & his wife, Chris, have served Ada Bible Church for over 40 years. Jeff covets the opportunity to train and encourage leaders and is a strong believer in the power of slow and steady faithfulness. Jeff and Chris have three adult children and are proud grandparents.
Phil Niekerk
Renewing Non-Voting
Phil Niekerk and his wife Janice, have three grown children and two grandchildren. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 38 years and Phil has been a Group Life pastor for 23 years. Phil is currently serving as the Director of Men’s Ministry and Men’s Ministry Pastor at East Paris Campus.
Jason Ross
Renewing Non-Voting
Jason and his wife, Megan have three children, Jurnee, Jaleah, Jericho. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 7 years and are serving in Discovery Village. Their kids are
actively involved in Lifeline as well. Jason is currently employed as the campus pastor at our East Paris Campus.
Edward Shepard
Renewing Non-Voting
Edward Shepard and his wife, Christie, have 2 sons and 4 (soon to be 6) grandchildren. They have attended Ada Bible Church for 30 years and are currently serving in Discovery Village. Edward has worked for Ada Bible Church for 22 years as the Director of Operations.