grandawakening

David Blok helped found and is now the Executive Director of a ministry called Plant 616. His ministry journey has been driven by 3 burdens: a love for the city, a passion for church planting, and a fascination with movements. This has led him through 20 years of urban ministry experience, pastoring and church planting in an urban neighborhood in greater Grand Rapids. David received his Master of...

Allen Heneveld has an amazing background! He now is a practicing attorney in the greater Grand Rapids area, focusing on helping small businesses thrive. But he also has prior experience as a CPA accredited accountant. Allen has an undergrad degree from Hope College, an MBA degree from Duke University, and a Juris Doctor (law) degree from George Washington University Law School. Allen is married to...

Nadia Gordinsky is a native from Ukraine. She founded and now runs Save A Life international, a life-saving organization that helps women in crisis pregnancies, and also those who have survived sexual abuse or domestic violence. In the past 10 years, Nadia has shared with many groups in the U.S., Ukraine and Europe her personal story of loss, overcoming obstacles, and fully thriving in her new cou...

Rev. Tim Vink lives in Zeeland, Michigan and is a Disciple Making Movement Catalyst. He has been married to Dana for 37 years and together they have three adult daughters, two sons-in-law and now seven grandchildren. Tim has served churches in southern and central California, Iowa and Michigan. He has been part of starting hundreds of new churches with thousands of new believers grounded in Christ...

Jonah Engle is a graduate of Spring Arbor University, and he now makes his home in the Grand Rapids area. About six years ago, God began to move deeply on Jonah’s heart and he became, in his own words, “passionately in love with Jesus.” This passion grew to the point where he knew he had to share this good news of Jesus with others. So together with some close friends who likewise loved Jesus, the...

Karl House grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He graduated with a Master of Divinity from Calvin Theological Seminary. Karl has planted a Christian Reformed Church near Toronto and a Vineyard Church in Tampa. He is back in Grand Rapids planting The Way MicroChurches—A new family of simple churches in Grand Rapids and beyond. Karl's passion is to pour into a new generation of disciples, leaders and...

Rick Warzywak is the founder and director of Transformation MI, whose mission it is to connect Michigan’s 83 counties in day and night prayer. As one way of accomplishing this goal, Rick hosts a nightly prayer call that began on November 4, 2020 and continues to the present time bringing literally hundreds together nightly at 9PM EST. Believe it or not, this call has been going on for over 1420 ni...

Geoff Eckart lives in Grand Rapids, MI with his wife, Arianna. Together they have 3 daughters. He is the Lead Pastor at Daybreak Church in Hudsonville, MI, and the Founder & CEO of “Never The Same,” a national youth ministry. Geoff is also the Chairman of the Board for the National Day of Prayer Task Force. In this podcast, Geoff talks about how he is God is helping him to juggle his various job r...

Jason and Jennifer Rykse were High School sweethearts. They have been married for 22 years. Together they have 11 children, 7 boys and 4 girls. For many years they were neighbors with Randy and Marcia Hekman. Marcia shared the gospel with Jen who received Jesus in the front yard of their home and was freed from a crippling anxiety. She was led to the knowledge that Jesus loves her children more th...

Clare DeGraaf is truly an amazing person! He is a native of Grand Rapids, MI where he still makes his home. Clare has been married to his high school sweetheart Susan for over 50 years, and they are parents to six children and grandparents to 20 amazing grandkids. Clare is a graduate of Calvin College, and, early in his career, one of Clare’s top priorities was to have a successful business and ma...

Pastor Thomas Wilson, with the support of his wife Pastor Adriane, established Word of Faith-Grand Rapids on December 8, 1996. It is Pastor Tom’s heartfelt passion to spread the gospel of Jesus Christ by “Teaching the Word, Doing the Work, and Touching the World” one life at a time. Pastors Tom and Adriane are both graduates from the Pistis Bible School under the auspices of Bishop Keith A. Butler...

Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine were involved in starting churches, training, giving aid to refugees, and holding a house of prayer in Turkey for 23 years. But that came to an abrupt end in October of 2016 when Andrew was falsely accused of terrorism and arrested. This resulted in him being held without trial for two whole years in various Turkish prisons. However, due to a worldwide prayer mov...

Jared Blauwkamp is the young adult's pastor at Resurrection Life Church here in West Michigan. He has a degree in Exercise Science from Grand Valley State University and will be graduating this December with a bachelor's degree in ministry from the International School of Ministry. Jared has a deep hunger and desire to know Jesus and make Him known, to fight for a deep relationship with the Holy S...

Vernon Spears was born in Louisiana, but his family moved to the Kalamazoo, Michigan area when he was four years old. There they attended the Second Baptist Church until, when Vernon was in 9th grade, they switched to a First Assembly of God church. Two years later, his family moved to Wyoming, MI, which is a suburb of Grand Rapids. After relocating to Wyoming, Vernon’s family attended The First A...

Andrew Brunson and his wife Norine were involved in starting churches, training, giving aid to refugees, and holding a house of prayer in Turkey for 23 years. But that came to an abrupt end in October of 2016 when Andrew was falsely accused of terrorism and arrested. This resulted in him being held without trial for two whole years in various Turkish prisons. However, due to a worldwide prayer mov...

Judith E. King was raised in Canada, but is now a Christian therapist in Grand Rapids, MI. Her interests include women’s issues, substance abuse, and caring for professionals in ministry. She has traveled extensively in her ministry of teaching, counseling and music, as she applies sound psychological principles, spiritual concepts, and a very biblical worldview. Presently, Judy works in her own p...

Sydney Faber has worked as a pastoral administrator and writer at ResLife Church in Grandville, MI for the past five years. After graduating from Grand Valley State University with a degree in Literature and Writing, she joined the Missions Department at ResLife and enjoys working with over 70 missionaries from around the world. Recently, she has had the honor of witnessing a massive move of God i...

Jadon Fowler is now a teacher and film director from Grand Rapids Michigan. After spending eight years in Mortgage Finance and Real Estate area, Jadon decided to pursue his life passion of film making. He then started and now owns a film academy for kids called the Children’s Theater Company. Jadon previously attended Word of Life Bible Institute where his passion for God was really strengthened....

Aaron Bolduc is currently an evangelist with Ambassadors for Christ International (AFCI). Previously, Aaron served as a pastor in West Michigan for nearly 15 years. He has also served with Dare2Share, a national youth evangelism ministry. Aaron’s current ministry of Ambassadors for Christ International has a vision of bringing revival in the church, evangelism through the church, and training for...

Byron Paulus is the Founder of OneCry, a nationwide call for revival and spiritual awakening. For over three decades, Byron served as President and CEO of Life Action Ministries. As an author, speaker, and proven leader, he is passionate about mobilizing God’s people to seek Him for another revival and spiritual awakening. Byron is married to Sue, and they have three married children, and 13 grand...

Greg Dempster is the director of ChristLife ministries. He's married, has two boys, and has served in full-time pastoral ministry for the past 23 years. He's been a senior leader, elder, ministry director, and has played an instrumental role in developing the ChristLife experience and vision. In this podcast, Greg begins by sharing the amazing story of his own conversion to Christ as a teenager. W...

Dr. William "Bill" Brownson Jr., was a long-time voice of the West Michigan-based radio ministry "Words of Hope" and was a former seminary professor. While he passed away at the age of 93 in 2022, I was able to get to know Bill and greatly appreciated his love of the Lord and his desire for revival and spiritual awakening. A little more about Bill Brownson: following his own seminary training, Bil...

Jay Jones is a church planter, speaker, author, and senior pastor of the Pentecostals of Kentwood Church in West Michigan. His training included studying at the Christian Leaders Institute, and he has instructed at the Purpose Institute. Jay is a passionate worshipper of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a father. He has a genuine heart for fervent prayer, for selfless service, and for seeing the Gospe...

Hany Ammanoeiel leads a ministry focusing on discipleship and leadership training events in Egypt and Spain. He and his wife Natalie now reside in the U.S. with their two children. He has a college degree in business. His passion is for the global church to receive God’s heart for the millions of the sons of Ishmael scattered around the world so they will be drawn to Jesus. In this podcast, Hany t...

Jason Botbyl currently serves as the Minister and Director of Men’s and Marriage Ministries at Calvary Church of Grand Rapids, MI. Jason was raised in Muskegon, Michigan, growing up in a single-parent home where he regularly witnessed physical abuse, alcoholism, and brokenness. By God’s grace and the loving input of a Christian neighbor, Jason came to know Jesus as a young adult. A few years later...