About Us
History
It was November 5, 1967 when pastor James E. Bugg along with 34 others met in a conference room of the By-Pass Motel in Grandville and held the first service of what would become Resurrection Life Church. This fledgling congregation, then called the People's Church, started as a place to connect and grow with fellow believers who found the Holy Spirit to be a reality in their lives, and to encourage others in this same relationship with Christ.
After moving into a small chapel at 2687 Ivanrest Ave. in 1968, the growing church continued to see families develop in their relationships with Christ. By 1975 the congregation was bursting at the seams of the chapel and construction began on a new building near 44th and Canal. In the new location, the congregation continued to grow.
In 1984 Pastor Bugg turned the reigns of the church over to Pastor Duane Vander Klok who had recently returned from serving on the mission field in Mexico.
Under his leadership, the church has continued to grow and provide a place where the Word of God is preached and lives are changed. In 1984 the congregation was about 400 people. In 1985 the church was re-named Resurrection Life Full Gospel Church with a focus on the Word, Worship, Children & Youth, and Missions.
By the 1990s, the church was holding five services each Sunday to accommodate 1,500 people. On October 13, 1991, a groundbreaking ceremony was held in a field on the corner of Ivanrest and 52nd Street in preparation for new facilities. At this site, Resurrection Life Church has continued to grow and expand as more families connect and grow in their personal relationship with Jesus. After 40 years of growth, the church averages 7,000 during four weekend services and two services at the Holland, Michigan extension campus.
ResLife, as it is called by many who attend, includes an array of children's ministries, youth services, small groups, and hundreds of volunteers who participate in making Resurrection Life Church a community of every color, position, or past that welcomes everyone and builds a common focus on developing and encouraging each other toward Christ.
