INTRODUCING OUR PASTOR AND HIS FAMILY!   (return to home page)

Rev. Ken Vanderlaan begins his 16th. year this July at Mears Community Methodist Church.  Ken will celebrate 40 years of pastoral experience serving churches in 2 states (Michigan & Missouri) this September.  He is an ordained minister in the Church of God - Anderson, IN where he served for 7 years as Director of Church Planting and Development for the Missouri Ministries of the Church of God, as well as serving as a church plant pastor himself. 

He attended Grand Valley State University, Jefferson College, Webster University and Grand Rapids School of the Bible.  Ken is a bi-vocational pastor here in Mears - also owning Ken Vanderlaan Consulting - a computer consulting firm in Muskegon. 

Dawn is a Registered Nurse and is employed by Visiting Nurse Services in Muskegon working out of Hackley Hospital.  Dawn brings her skills as a musican to our church joining Ken in singing and also playing the piano for our services. She is a member of Mears Community Methodist Church and serves on the worship/music committee. Ken and Dawn will also celebrate 40 years of marriage this November and have 2 married children, Jeff and Jill. 

Jeff and his wife Heather are the parents of 3 children - Jackson (10) and Ainsley(7) and Olivia (5).   Jeff directs the technology department of the Lansing Public School System.  Jeff and Heather attend Grand Ledge Baptist Church where they sing in the choir, Jeff is an Elder and Heather heads up the "MOM'S and More" - a group of Moms from the church and community.

Jill and her husband Scott are the parents of 2 children - Erika (12) and Ethan (10).  Scott is a funeral director for Sytsema Funeral Homes of Muskegon and Jill works for Detloff Insurance Company.  Scott and Jill attend Mears Community Methodist Church where Jill serves as our Minister of Music and Worship here at Mears UMC and Scott serves on our Board of Trustees and Audio/Visual Chair.

During Ken and Dawn's ministry, Mears UMC has seen it's average attendance grow from 32 per Sunday in 1993 with a high attendance of 65 to 125 per Sunday in 2006 with a high attendance of 232.  God has been so good. The church has also been blessed to add a fellowship hall, kitchen, rest rooms and narthex as well. (click here to see pictures).