History
130 Years of History
Gibson Christian Reformed Church has deep historical roots in the southwest Michigan shoreline community of Gibson nestled between Holland and Saugatuck. There has been a Christian faith community and church in Gibson since 1885, first as a Wesleyan Methodist congregation for many years pastored by a circuit preacher, and then as a Christian Reformed Church ministry beginning in 1958.
Gibson Church has had vibrant ministry in the community, first of all as a Wesleyan Methodist Church, with a strong and dedicated Sunday School presence. In addition, the Gibson Mission Circle began in the 1920’s as a women’s Bible Study which met in various homes on a weekly basis. This group also sewed for missions, including patchwork quilts, woven carpet rag rugs, and embroidered pillowcases and towels.They sold their handiwork and donated all of the proceeds to support missions. The Mission Circle also sent warm mended clothing to a mission in northern Michigan for many years. Serving well into the 1970’s this group of women grew into a multi-communal and interdenominational ministry which touched its community and world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
As a Christian Reformed Church, Gibson Church has continued active ministry programs over the years, including Sunday School, Calvinettes (GEMS), Cadets and Youth Group. These ministries often served as outreach avenues into the community for the Gospel.
Other unique ministries were formed and supported specific to the opportunities of Gibson’s neighborhood and surrounding area. Gibson active supports Christian Neighbors, an ongoing ecumenical ministry of the Saugatuck-Douglas area churches united to share God’s love by providing goods and services to those in need of our community.
From 1978 to its closing in 1991 there was a Michigan Correctional Facility located a few miles away from Gibson Church. The Michigan Dunes Correctional Facility Library Committee was formed at Gibson to supply good books to the prison library. Out of this outreach began a vision also for providing educational and job skills seminars for inmates. Several in the congregation also became involved in the International Prison Fellowship ministry providing Bible studies and caring Christian support of inmates during their incarceration and after their release from prison.
As has been their posture throughout their history, Gibson Church continues to seek the Spirit’s leading for what is next for this group of Christ followers who desire to reach their neighbors for Christ, to be a warm place and a welcoming, enfolding community of God’s people where all people can find loving nurture, restoration, rest, and belonging.
Regathered services have begun July 5!
Join us weekly
1954
Graafschap Christian Reformed Church began holding worship services for the Gibson community at the Laketown Township Hall in 1954. They purchased the original Gibson Church building from the Wesleyan Methodist Church in 1957, and a few months later in January of 1958 Gibson Christian Reformed Chapel came into existence with a full time evangelist.
1970
Gibson Chapel built a new sanctuary to accommodate a growing congregation and active ministry in 1970. The new church building was located next to the original 1904 white clapboard church building with the original building being used for Sunday School, weddings, and other special events.
1978
From 1978 to its closing in1991 there was a Michigan Correctional Facility located a few miles away from Gibson Church. The Michigan Dunes Correctional Facility Library Committee was formed at Gibson to supply good books to the prison library. Out of this outreach began a vision also for providing educational and job skills seminars for inmates. Several in the congregation also became involved in the International Prison Fellowship ministry providing Bible studies and caring Christian support of inmates during their incarceration and after their release from prison.2011
In 2011, the original 1904 church building was donated and moved to the grounds of the historic Felt Mansion on the shore of Lake Michigan and serves still today as a wedding chapel, and as a lasting testimony to the history and roots of the Christian faith in the Gibson community.
