As Connect Church in Pella, Iowa, (called “First Christian Reformed Church” until 2019) celebrated 160 years since its founding, the first Christian Reformed congregation to be established west of the Mississippi River also wanted to celebrate The Banner’s 160 years.
“Our (church) council thought it might be fun to have The Banner's editor Lora Copley come on that Sunday and join us in worship,” said interim pastor Will Verhoef. Copley lives about an hour away in Ankeny, Iowa.
Copley said, “It was an honor to share The Banner's special anniversary in the place where God does his best work—within and through the local church. What a joy to have journeyed the same 160 years together.”
To the congregation, she remarked: “Both First Pella and The Banner were humble endeavors—one 42 Dutch immigrants on the Iowa frontier in a town less than 20 years old, and the other a 16-page newspaper, paid for out of one man’s pocket. We were mustard seeds really. But we were captured by a vision bigger than our circumstance. The vision was the glory of Jesus Christ: serving him faithfully, no matter what.”
Verhoef said attendance to the Aug. 2 service was boosted by members of nearby Calvary CRC, whose sanctuary was unavailable for use that day. The attendance count recorded 48 members of Connect CRC and 120 additional people. The church gathered for a potluck meal after the service.
Helen Vande Ree, 95, who has belonged to the congregation her whole life, was in attendance.
Copley said, “The worship service’s litanies and hymns brought me to tears a few times, and Pastor Verhoef had a blessed message—clear-eyed about challenges, but hopeful too. He emphasized Joshua 1:9.”
The Banner’s 160 years of publication have been marked by a six-part history column prepared by former news editor Gayla Postma, and a Banner Builders campaign seeking new monthly supporters for the denominational magazine, which will lose ministry share support as of the coming fiscal year next June.
Verhoef is one of six interim pastors to have served Connect CRC since the church became vacant in 2022 after pastor Brad Meinders left for a role with Resonate Global Mission. Meinders returned for the 160th celebration.
According to a Central Plains classis report in February 2026, Connect CRC went through a discernment process in the fall of 2023 and in September 2024 approved a renewal proposal developed over the previous nine months by a council-appointed task force. Verhoef’s interim post runs until November 2026. The church is still seeking its next full-time pastor.
“I would say that some are discouraged that we don’t have a pastor, yet many continue to work hard at the responsibilities that they carry out. There is a concern about what the future of Connect Church will be,” Verhoef said. “There were others who said that the (anniversary) service really gave us a shot in the arm.”