Historic Holland church to celebrate its history, bring neighbors together for MAM Fest
In a city historically defined by its deep Dutch immigrant roots, one local congregation has spent over a century quietly dismantling cultural and denominational walls.
HOLLAND — In a city historically defined by its deep Dutch immigrant roots, one local congregation has spent over a century quietly dismantling cultural and denominational walls.
Maple Avenue Ministries, affectionately dubbed "The Mamily" by its members, has evolved from a small 1913 neighborhood plant into a vibrant, multi-ethnic, multi-generational hub. Today, the church stands as a rare cultural mosaic in Holland, celebrated for its progressive leadership and community-first outreach.
To honor this rich history and connect with its surrounding neighborhood, the church will host its annual "MAM Fest" on Saturday, June 13, featuring community fellowship, a 5K race and a preview of its new "Greenspace" pocket park project.
From immigrant roots to cultural autonomy
The church's penchant for charting its own course dates back to its founding. Established in 1913 under the guidance of Pastor Peter Hoekstra of the 14th Street Christian Reformed Church, the new congregation was tasked with serving the expanding population on Holland's west side.
In a bold move for the era, the founders chose English as their default language rather than Dutch. This decision — making them only the second congregation in the CRC Classis Holland to do so — implicitly aligned the church with broader American culture rather than the insular immigrant traditions of the city's 1867 founders.
The early years were defined by traditional Reformed worship, anchored heavily by the Rev. Daniel Zwier, who shepherded the congregation through the economic boom of the 1920s, the hardships of the Great Depression, and the home-front anxieties of World War II.
Navigating flight, finding new purpose
The post-war era brought existential challenges. As the neighborhood demographics began to shift in the 1950s and 1960s, traditional congregants abandoned the core city, triggering a stark decline in membership.
Despite the dwindling numbers, the remaining congregation chose to double down on their location. After initially considering a move blocks away, leadership instead demolished their original 1913 wooden structure and erected a new brick sanctuary on the exact same corner of 18th Street and Maple Avenue.
By the late 20th century, a succession of forward-thinking pastors shifted the church’s focus outward to survive and thrive:
- Rev. Eugene Bradford (1974-1980): Challenged the church to engage directly with its changing neighborhood and integrated women into church committees for the first time.
- Rev. Peter DeHaan (1991-2005): Launched "MAC-REC," transforming the church’s parking lot into a supervised weekday recreational space for neighborhood youth.
- Rev. David Sieplinga (1996-2003): Championed "Jubilee Ministries," an initiative aimed at economic empowerment, family healing, and youth employment. Sieplinga officially introduced the name "Maple Avenue Ministries" to reflect this broader, holistic mission.
Breaking racial, denominational barriers
Maple Avenue Ministries also established itself as a trailblazer for racial diversity in leadership. In 1998, the Rev. Eric Gray was ordained as the very first African-American pastor in the CRC Classis Holland, serving as Maple Avenue’s first Black pastor.
To foster a more inclusive worship experience, Sieplinga and Gray introduced contemporary praise music and diverse liturgies. The church’s growing reputation as a welcoming space for communities of color made it a vital training ground for seminarians.
The Rev. Denise Kingdom-Grier later made history as the church’s first female pastor and second African-American leader, serving alongside her husband, Music Minister C.J. Grier, whose gospel choirs toured internationally. This legacy of diverse leadership continues today under the current senior pastor, the Rev. Winfred Burns, who took the helm in 2022 after interning under Kingdom-Grier.
The church also made ecclesiastical history in 1998 by partnering with Christ Memorial Church to become a "union church" — holding formal membership in both the CRC and the Reformed Church in America (RCA). This unprecedented move paved the way for other historic local institutions, like Pillar Church, to bridge the denominational divide.
Celebrating the present: MAM Fest
This weekend, the congregation is opening its doors — and its parking lot — to the wider Holland community to celebrate its journey and its future.
Event at a Glance
- What: MAM Fest & 5K Run
- When: 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, June 13 (5K begins in the morning)
- Where: Maple Avenue Ministries, 427 Maple Ave., Holland
- Admission: Free (lunch plates are $10)
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Festival attendees can expect live music, family-friendly games, prizes, and a dedicated Velo Kids Bike Course with bicycles provided. Longtime community organizer Dave Kool will be grilling up neighborhood fare from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The event will also feature guided tours of the historic church and an exclusive look at the progress of the Greenspace project — a new community pocket park designed to provide a gathering space for the neighborhood, ensuring that the church with "the city in its heart" remains firmly rooted in its mission.
— Submitted by Maple Avenue Ministries. To submit a news tip, email newsroom@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
