“This is the biggest church outreach event I’ve ever seen!”
Prom goers in Troy, Mich.
That was one of the comments heard by pastor Randy Engle on the night of his son Jonathan’s prom.
What had begun with a few of Jonathan’s friends gathering on the grounds of North Hills Christian Reformed Church, in Troy, Michigan, for pre-prom photo opportunities quickly became a crowd.
The Engles and a few others had planned to quietly snap pre-prom photos of their teens at the church, but their text-savvy teens spread the word. Before long, over 200 Troy High School prom-goers and their parents arrived, also eager to use the beautiful campus with its abundance of lilacs and spring blooms as a backdrop for their teens’ prom night photos.
That night the Engles heard many comments from parents such as “I’ve driven by the church thousands of times, but never stopped in—this is beautiful!”
The North Hills congregation also reaches out to the community with its child care center and events such as auto shows and 5K races.
Engle reflected, “It was a privilege to share the treasure that is ours and show hospitality to so many of our neighbors on the night of the prom.”
About the Author
Anita Ensing Beem is a freelance news correspondent for The Banner. Retired director of education and outreach at North Hills CRC in Troy, Mich., she now resides in Grand Rapids, Mich., and is a member of First CRC.