Our Core Values
We have three core values that guide us. These values describe the culture we desire to create at Bauer:
- Persistence in Prayer
- Purpose in Community
- Passion for Biblical Truth
Our Vision
Hope for the world. Rooted in Christ. Kindled from the Bauer Community.
Our Mission
Love God. Love People. Cultivate Family.
Our Staff
Pastor Dave TenClay
Lead Pastor
Dave joined the Bauer CRC staff in November 2019 after spending 14 years doing ministry in the Chicagoland area. He is married to Laura and has four children. Dave has a passion for expository preaching and making disciples. He enjoys spending time with his family, working in the garden, playing and watching sports, target shooting, and playing board games.
Email: Pastordavetc@gmail.com
Sue Pelton
Worship Coordinator
Sue has been a member at Bauer since 1990 and started as worship coordinator in September 2018. She is married to Mike and they have two children; Jamie and Josh, who also attend Bauer with their families. She enjoys spending time with her children and grandchildren Kaine, Avery, Jaden, and Jaxon.
Suzi Lutke
Director of Children’s Ministry
Suzi and her husband, Bob, have been members of Bauer since 2012. She has 3 young children who keep her busy at home. In her spare time, she enjoys creating recipes, photography, reading, and being outdoors.
Bill & Laura Lutke
Youth Directors
Bill and Laura Lutke have been members of Bauer since 2011. They have 3 children who keep them busy at home. Bill and Laura are both teachers. Bill works at Unity Christian High School and Laura works at Allendale Christian School. In their spare time, they enjoy spending time outdoors, creating, camping, boating, hunting and much more.
Andrea Driesenga
Administrative Assistant
Andrea began working in the Bauer church office in the fall of 2016. She married her husband Pete in 2005 and they stay busy with their three boys; Landon, Calvin, and Ethan. Andrea enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family.
Email: Office@bauercrc.org
Judy Elders
Kids Hope Director
Judy became the Kids Hope Director in August 2020. She and her husband, Doug, have been members of Bauer CRC for over 40 years. Judy is a retired teacher and became involved with Kids Hope following her teaching career. She is passionate about the program’s mission to “build life-changing relationships one at a time: One Child. One Hour. One Church. One School.”
Troy Boeskool
Facilities Manager
Troy began work as the Facilities Manager in September of 2022. Troy joined the staff to serve the Lord through working with his hands. He is married to Amy and they have a daughter and son, Brittany and Noah. Troy enjoys hunting, shooting, and woodworking.
Bauer CRC is a growing medium size church with members from the Allendale, Hudsonville, Jenison, and Zeeland communities. The church was founded in 1902, and God revitalized the congregation in 2002 when we constructed the current building.
Our Beliefs
Bauer Church stands firmly within the historic Christian faith as understood by the broad evangelical and reformed family of churches. We believe the Scriptures to be the inspired Word of God, the authoritative source and rule for our faith and life as followers and servants of the triune God–Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
As part of the Christian Reformed Church, we subscribe to three ecumenical creeds and three doctrinal standards. The ecumenical creeds are the Apostles’ Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed. They are called ecumenical (general, universal) because they have been approved and accepted by nearly all Christian churches. The Apostles’ Creed, the most familiar one, is printed below.
The doctrinal standards are the Heidelberg Catechism (1563), the Belgic Confession (1561) and the Canons of Dort (1618-1619). They explain in more detail the beliefs of the Reformed family of churches. Full copies of all these ecumenical creeds and doctrinal statements are available at the website of the Christian Reformed Church in North America– www.crcna.org.
The Apostle’s Creed
This creed is called the Apostles’ Creed, not because it was produced by the apostles themselves, but because it contains a brief summary of their teachings. In its present form it is dated no later than the fourth century. More than any other Christian creed, it may justly be called an ecumenical statement of faith.
I believe in God, the Father almighty,
creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord,
who was conceived by the Holy Spirit
and born of the virgin Mary.
He suffered under Pontius Pilate,
was crucified, died, and was buried;
he descended to hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
He ascended to heaven
and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty.
From there he will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the holy catholic* church,
the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,
the resurrection of the body,
and the life everlasting. Amen.
*That is, the true Christian church of all times and all places