SUMMIT  2026

Pastor Rich Anjema

Love

What do you consider to be the strongest force in the universe?” Is the answer found in the immutable laws of physics: gravity’s pull, nuclear reactions, or cosmic expansion? Dr. Sterling (a renowned physicist and a Christian) said that the answer does not lie in celestial mechanics or chemical bonds. He answered with one word: “love”. “There is nothing more powerful, more radical, more transformational than love. No other source or substance or force." Dr. Sterling was right, of course! Love, Christ's love, is what gives life its meaning.

Pastor Julius Van Spronsen

Joy

Are you looking for more joy in your life? Is it possible to rejoice in the Lord always? What does joy even look like in the Christian life, especially when sad things happen?  In this Breakout session we define the joy that the Holy Spirit works in our hearts, discuss how it is different than just happiness, and consider how godly joy can change our lives and the lives of those around us.

Pastor Bradd Nymeyer

Peace 

In the 1960’s, the hippies said: “Peace out, man”! The Christmas angels pronounced, “Peace on earth”! And Hindu gurus tell us to, “Find our inner peace.” We use the word “peace” in a wide variety of ways. But what is true peace and where does it come from? What difference would it make if we embraced this fruit of the Spirit? We will look at what the Bible says about peace, “shalom”— what it is, how we get it, and with whom we are to be at peace.

Pastor Joel Dykstra

Patience

What does it mean to be patient? How can we develop patience? These are important questions to ask about patience -- yet we will continue to struggle to exercise patience if we don't first answer this question: Why do we need to be patient? Why is this a fruit of the Spirit? If we answer that question, we will better understand what it means to be patient and how we can cultivate this Christian virtue.

Dr. William den Hollander

Kindness

“In a world where you can be anything, be kind.” Have you ever heard someone say that? Along a highway in South Africa, there is an enormous sign (at least 40 ft. wide by 15 ft high) whose words seem to yell out to passersby: “BE KIND.” Our world wants us to be kind. That's great! But how does the kindness of the world compare to the kindness produced by the indwelling of the Spirit? How does this fruit of the Spirit grow out of God’s “kindness toward us in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7) and the “loving kindness of God our Saviour” (Titus 3:4)? In this session we will explore how to cultivate the gospel fruit of kindness through our deeper abiding in Christ and walking more closely in step with his Spirit.

Pastor Bill Pols

Goodness

What is "goodness"? Is it perhaps the least remarkable, most bland sounding fruit of the Holy Spirit -- the last to be "picked"? After all, "good" is used to describe everything from dogs to doughnuts. Who is moved or excited by goodness? Come and learn about goodness as the biggest, best, most beautiful, and 'Godlike' of the fruit produced in your life by the Holy Spirit. How can you grow such goodness in your life, even to be "full of goodness" (Romans 15:14)?

Pastor Ralph Pontier

Faithfulness

We were created in the image of a faithful God - a God who is constant, reliable, stalwart, trustworthy, and true, a God who keeps his word.  The Spirit is now at work in all who believe, to recreate us in God’s image which includes making us faithful people. Come learn of God’s faithfulness and how we can keep in step with the Spirit’s work in us to make us like our faithful God.

Pastor Ken Wieske

Gentleness

In the Bible, gentleness or meekness is considered to be a Godly virtue. In Numbers 12:3, Moses was called the meekest man on the face of the earth. In Matthew 11: 29, Jesus described himself as someone who is "gentle and lowly in heart." In this session you will learn more about this quiet strength, and how important it is for us to respond to a world of hostility and belligerence with the gentleness of Jesus our Savior. 

Pastor Kelvin Tiemstra

Self-Control

Do you find yourself frustrated by your inability to say no? Do you find yourself lacking self-control in your thoughts, your words, and your actions? Come and hear what the Bible says about self-control. In this session we will learn how Christ equips us by his Spirit to begin to say no to the sins that once ruled over us.

Pastor Hendrik Alkema

Purity - Guys Only

Purity is a wonderful quality, but what or who in this sinful world is really pure? It seems to be heavenly, and beyond us in this life. But Jesus did say “the pure in heart shall see God.” In this session we will consider what it means to be ‘pure in heart’ with application to our hearts, our character and our desires, and with some special attention to our sexuality.

Kristen Kottelenberg Alkema

Purity – Ladies Only

Purity is a wonderful quality, but what or who in this sinful world is really pure? It seems to be heavenly, and beyond us in this life. But Jesus did say “the pure in heart shall see God.” In this session we will consider what it means to be ‘pure in heart’ with application to our hearts, our character and our desires, and with some special attention to our sexuality.

Pastor John Bouwers

Sins Against the Spirit

Did you know that we can sin against the Holy Spirit? What does it look like for us to grieve, quench, or even insult Him? What about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit? Jesus calls that the unpardonable sin, and even Christians are sometimes troubled with the fear: “Is this something I have done? Can I ever be forgiven?” Come to this session to look together at how the Holy Spirit graciously teaches us, warns us, and preserves us.

Pastor Tim Schouten

Praying for the Holy Spirit

Did you know that there are some prayers that God promises to answer with a "yes"? Do you know which prayers they are? One of them is the prayer for the Holy Spirit. God promises to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask (Luke 11:13). This is an amazing promise! Do we take God up on it? Do we pray for the Holy Spirit? In this breakout session, we'll be challenged to think about why we might be afraid to pray for the Holy Spirit, and why we should overcome our fears and boldly "ask," "seek," and "knock" (Luke 11:9).

Pastor Gary Zekveld

The Holy Spirit and Union with Christ

What does it mean to be “in Christ”? How is it possible for Christ to dwell in me? How do I live in union with Christ? These questions lead us to the life-giving ministry of the Holy Spirit, who brings us into a real and living fellowship with Jesus. Without the Holy Spirit, we cannot be grafted into the Vine or bear fruit. Our goal in this session is to expand our knowledge of and praise for the Holy Spirit's work and to grow in our reliance upon him for life in Christ.