Children and Youth

Craig has been involved in local church ministry for over 35 years. He served as a youth pastor for almost 5 years, and as a senior pastor for 14 years in a number of churches in the Chicago area. He began his ministry at FirstCovGR in May, 2004. Craig and his wife Susan are both natives of the northern suburbs of Chicago. They have two children, Scott and Alita. Scott works in the Grand Rapids area and Alita is a college student in Atlanta. 

Craig studied political science at Wheaton College, before getting his Master's degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, IL. He has done further study at North Park Theological Seminary (the Covenant seminary) in Chicago and at Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, CA.  He loves to run and work out, and enjoys traveling and hiking…and reading, music and movies. Most of all, he loves Jesus and his wife and kids…and FirstCovGR.

Ginny began serving at First Covenant on April 1, 2020. She previously served and led for 15 years at First Covenant, Rockford, IL in a variety of capacities ranging from Director of Children’s Ministry to Pastor of Spiritual Formation. Ginny received a B.A. in Christian Ministries from Oak Hills Christian College and a M.A. in Christian Ministry from North Park Seminary. She was ordained to Word and Service through the Evangelical Covenant Church in 2017. Her role as Pastor of Congregational and Staff Development engages her passions for organization, congregational vitality, systems, personal development, spiritual practices, and transformational spiritual formation.  Her hobbies include solitude and silence, journaling and great conversation.

Ginny has been married to Dave for 39 years. Dave is also ordained to Word and Service through the ECC and serves as a chaplain, after serving as a Covenant Youth Pastor for 25 years. They are parents of Rachel and Hannah, who married Adam in summer of 2022.

Josh has been involved in local church ministry for over 15 years.  He served as the Director of Youth Ministry and Young Adults in Byron Center, MI, prior to joining the staff of First Covenant in July 2017.  He is a graduate of Kuyper College in Grand Rapids, MI and has graduated with a master’s degree from Western Theological Seminary in Holland, MI.

Josh and his wife Emelie met in West Michigan.  They have three children, Paxton, Hazel, & Soren.  Josh loves hiking, playing soccer, chilling at the cottage, & spending time with family and friends.  He loves to see students changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Michelle and her family started attending First Covenant Church in 1990. After serving in various aspects of children's ministry for many years, she officially started working for the church the summer of 2005 as our Children's Ministry Director. Michelle has a background in child development and worked in management for a company you may remember, Witmark, for over 10 years. In 2021, Michelle received her ministry license and is now one of our pastors! She is an enthusiastic and energetic member of our staff and loves to have fun and be around people. She is passionate about Children's & Family Ministries and building relationships with students and their families.

Michelle and her husband Eric grew up in West Michigan and were high school sweethearts. They love to spend time with their family and are especially enjoying time with their two granddaughters. Spending time with family and the kids at FirstCov keeps her busy, but when time allows she loves to head to Portage Lake Covenant Bible Camp, read a book or go for a hike!

Roberta and her family started attending First Covenant Church in 1998.  Roberta and her husband Mike became members in May 1999.  Roberta’s educational background is in accounting.  She has worked for over 40 years in various accounting roles in the Grand Rapids area.  In 2008 she helped start the SCRIP program (gift card fundraising) and ran the program until 2022, helping to raise over $20,000 for families to earn money for church related trips, camp, etc.  Roberta is now the Financial Manager at church, handling the financial reporting of donations and expenses and provides the necessary information for the Leadership Team to make informed decisions.

Roberta has 2 grandchildren living in California with her daughter and son-in-law.  Mike and Roberta share a blended family all living in the Muskegon area, currently consisting of a daughter & son with their spouses, 12 grandchildren which includes spouses, and 4 great grands.  In her free time, she enjoys sewing and knitting, spending time in Ludington, and wishing she could see all the grands and great grands more frequently.

Kate, her husband Jared, and children began attending FirstCov in 2018 after moving to the NW side of Grand Rapids from Chicago. Finding a church home can be hard work, and she has appreciated the kind and generous church family at FirstCov. She joined the staff in July 2022. Kate has a background working in both church and educational settings in a wide range of settings and populations. She enjoys the administrative side of organizations and opportunities to improve systems in support of a mission. A New Jersey native, she studied psychology at Calvin College and then completed a graduate degree in Clinical Psychology from Wheaton College.

Jan has recently started as Choir Director for FIrstCovGR.  She previously was the music director from 1984-2001 and we are glad to have her back!  Jan has Bachelor and Masters Degrees in Organ Performance (MSU, 1980), and a Doctors degree (DMA) in choral conducting (MSU, 2005). She has been the director, composer and arranger of music at Children’s Bible Hour in Grand Rapids in the 1990s and was an adjunct music professor at Cornerstone University, Grace Bible College and Grand Valley State University, in the late 1990s to 2011. Jan is the composer/arranger/ producer of two Scripture Song CDs, “Shout with Joy,” and “Roots and Fruits,” available on Spotify, YouTube and other public media platforms. Jan is an avid tandem bike rider, tandem kayaker and sailer! She has been married 43 years to her best friend: Kenneth Dudley.

Becky began attending FirstCov with her family in August of 2023. God quickly invited them into the sincere love of this Body and volunteer involvement. Prior to that time, she served as a guest preacher, Hebrew T.A., and the Pastoral Resident for a church in Grandville while completing a Masters of Divinity degree from Grand Rapids Theological Seminary. She holds a B.A. in Psychology from Calvin College and a Prepare/Enrich Marriage Facilitator certification. 
She has served in many settings as a leader and child caregiver and praises God for the opportunity to use all this in service of the discipleship, care, and development of our nursery and preschool community! She has been married since 2017 and has two kids in the Early Childhood stage of life. She also holds a love for dancing, quiet escapes into creation, and getting messy for fun.

Wade Hillen and his wife Denisse have been west Michigan residents their entire lives. In 2017 they moved to a neighborhood right around the corner from FirstCovGR and since then have started a family and are currently raising four boys. Wade studied Political Science at Central Michigan University. He works at the County Road Commission. In his spare time he plays the accordion, aspiring to be the next Myron Floren but will settle for being a poor man’s Frank Yankovic!

Katelyn Bennett has been attending FirstCovGR since 2006. She has been involved in youth ministry her whole life here at FirstCov and has attended Portage Lake Bible Camp since she was young. When Katelyn attended the Senior High Winter Retreat in February 2024, she felt God telling her to work at camp that summer. After she graduated from NorthPointe Christian High School, Katelyn worked at camp in the kitchen and had opportunity to counsel a cabin of 6th grade girls for a week. She also had the opportunity to attend UNITE EAST that summer with other high school students from FirstCov. During one of the worship sessions, she felt God calling her to youth ministry. Katelyn is excited to stay involved at FirstCovGR and intern with middle school students, working alongside Lauren Abrell, Josh Hinken, and the NextGen Team.

Katelyn loves spending time with students and has a passion for showing God’s love to others. This year, she is also nannying for a family in her neighborhood. Katelyn babysits for many families when she is free. Overall, she loves worshiping the Lord through music, going on walks, having game nights, doing Bible studies with friends, and going out for coffee with anyone that would like to chat.

Rachel began serving at the church as a fill-in in the office in the summer of 2024, and then in the fall, she began a one day a week commitment to serve as part-time office administrator. She grew up attending First Evangelical Covenant with her family and then returned in 2007 after moving back to Grand Rapids with her husband, Aaron. Rachel and Aaron have four kids – two boys and two girls, and their family is a very busy one!

Rachel graduated from Calvin College and earned her Master’s degree at Western Michigan University in education. She previously served at First Evangelical Covenant in the capacity of preschool director and teacher at Covenant Kids Preschool from 2009-2016. Rachel is a voracious reader, and her hobbies include writing, photography, baking, hiking, coaching basketball, and homeschooling four of her favorite people on the planet.

Kim, her husband Bill, and their family began attending FirstCovGR in 1993, after moving to the neighborhood. God called them away for 20 years, but brought her back to First Cov after Covid. They have three sons (raised at First Cov), three daughters-in-law, and six grandchildren (who are their treasures). Kim has served in Office/Leadership support roles for the last 3+ decades and is now excited to aid First Cov in the office admin role. Any spare time is spent reading, baking and with grandkids.

Dave has been involved in local church ministry for over 25 years. He served churches in MN, MI and IL as Youth Pastor. He also served as Youth Chaplain for 6 years through a jail ministry in IL. He is a graduate of Trinity College and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He is ordained in the ECC.

Dave and his wife Ginny met at their home church in southern Wisconsin. They have two children – Rachel and Hannah (Adam – son-in-law). Dave loves his family, playing and watching sports of all kinds, walking (centering prayer), and time with friends. Most of all, he is so grateful for how Jesus has changed his life and continues to be faithful in inviting him to grow old in youth ministry.