Browser Title Goes Here

Newman Chapel was started in the early 1950s when two men from the New Era Christian Reformed Church started a Sunday school in the one-room Newman country school. Some of today's middle-aged leaders were young children who attended at that time.

When the country schools were consolidated, the New Era church bought the Newman School. This was in 1959. In 1970 three rooms were added to the west side of the school-house building to accommodate Sunday school classes. Many lay people from the New Era church were involved in teaching and picking up children for class. A morning worship service was added with the help of students from Reformed Bible College.

Since 1971 evangelists or pastors have ministered at the Chapel. During the ministry of evangelist John Zuidema (1971-1978) a kitchen and two class rooms were added to the east side of the building. Mrs. Zuidema was instrumental in starting the Joy Circle women’s group.

During the dynamic ministry of Rev. George Mossel (1979-1985), the Chapel outgrew her limited space. In 1983 a new sanctuary, foyer and rest rooms were added to the south of the original building. The old meeting place became the fellowship hall. At the same time the first steps for self-support and self-government were taken with a steering committee composed of members of the Chapel.

Rev. Charles Uken accepted the call to serve at the Chapel in the fall of 1986. People continue to be added to the fellowship. Improvements have been made to the parking lot and the building. In 2007 the Chapel was organized as a Christian Reformed Church. The elders and deacons who were part of the Steering Committee are now part of the first church council. Land has been purchased and plans have been drawn up for a new church building.