(From RCA Today)

When Homewood Reformed Church—now called Living Springs Community Church—moved to a new location in Glenwood, Illinois, 10 years ago, it included a food pantry in the design for a new building.

"The leadership knew that by moving to a busy street, we would be near people in need," says Allen Jongsma, director of ministries and administration for Living Springs.

The pantry hands out one bag of food a week to anyone from the church or surrounding communities who is in need. People fill out a form when they come to the food pantry, and every month the forms are turned over to members of Living Springs' Circle Ministry, which attempts to minister to each person and family to help them meet all of their needs—not just food, but material and spiritual needs as well. The Circle Ministry is led by assistant pastor Ann Bilbrew. She and a group of volunteers reach out to families that are willing to take steps to improve their situations. They work closely with Children's Hunger Fund, which also supplies food boxes for the ministry.

"God has a special way of blessing his children," says Bilbrew.

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(From RCA Today)

Covenant Grace, a church plant in Temecula, California, built a worshiping community of over 200 before holding its first "official" service this past Easter.

(From RCA Communications and Central College)

Wes Granberg-Michaelson will speak at the baccalaureate service at Central College on May 12.

Retired in 2011, he served as general secretary of the Reformed Church in America (RCA) for 17 years. He is the author of five books; his most recent, “Unexpected Destinations,” is a memoir chronicling his pilgrimage and the church’s missional transformation.

Kathleen Sikkema will speak at commencement. A 1984 graduate of Central College and an expert in HIV prevention and mental health, Sikkema is a professor and clinical psychologist at Duke University. Her research has been supported by the National Institutes of Health for 20 years.

Both speakers are leaders in their respective fields and represent major priorities for Central College and for higher education: the health sciences and religious tolerance and fellowship.

“These two professionals and their important contributions have been influential on a global level,” said Mark Putnam, Central College president. “They are shining examples of service and dedication and clear models for our academic community. Their messages are quite powerful in showing students pathways in life with open doors of opportunities along the way.”

Both Sikkema and Granberg-Michaelson will receive honorary degrees from Central during commencement.

On May 12, 323 seniors will graduate from Central College. The baccalaureate service will begin at 9:30 a.m. in First Reformed Church. The commencement ceremony will be held at 2 p.m. in H.S. Kuyper Fieldhouse. Watch the Central College commencement ceremony streamed live online at www.central.edu.