From the first classrooms above a house on Hancock Street to the vibrant community we are today, our story has always been written by faith. Like the saints in Hebrews 11, we are part of a generational call to follow, to teach, to prepare, and to serve not by sight, but by faith in the One who calls us forward.
By Faith is our next strategic plan, shaped through a year of listening, learning, and prayerful discernment. Our mission remains unchanged: preparing students to be effective servants of Christ in contemporary society.
Missional Commitments
To carry that mission forward, we have defined four missional commitments, enduring priorities that express our mission in action, guide our decisions, and focus our work so that every student is equipped to live faithfully and serve God’s world.
Deepen Faith and Learning
Equipping students to follow God faithfully, serve others with generosity, and heal what is broken.
Support All Students
Welcoming and empowering every child with hospitality, honoring their gifts, and cultivating their growth as God’s beloved image-bearers.
Invest in Our Educators
Strengthening our mission by developing, equipping, and sustaining our educators—for students to flourish so must our staff.
Remove Financial Barriers
Opening doors to a Christ-centered education by expanding access, and reflecting the communities God has called us to serve.
Strategic Priorities
Our actionable plan to achieve our missional commitments.
Deepening Faith Formation and Student Learning
Renewing our call to Christ-centered education, committing to both faithfulness and excellence in all aspects of student learning, as we prepare students to serve Christ in contemporary society.
Coming soonOptimizing Enrollment
Expanding access and aligning capacity to ensure every GRCS campus thrives today and is prepared for tomorrow.
Learn moreInvesting in Our Educators
Developing mission-driven educators whose example and expertise form the hearts and minds of students, because flourishing staff lead to flourishing students.
Coming soonAdvancing Stewardship
Removing financial barriers and building long-term sustainability so Christ-centered education is accessible for generations.
Coming soonEnhancing Communications
Strengthening trust and connection through clear, consistent, and mission-aligned communication with families and community.
Coming soon
Optimizing Enrollment
This priority focuses on expanding access to Christian education and aligning capacity across all grades—from 18 months through 12th grade—to ensure each of our five campuses thrives today and is prepared for tomorrow.
Key Realities
- Demand for Christian education is growing—our Olivia Haverkamp Early Learning Center has a waitlist, our preschool enrollment is growing, and last year we welcomed our largest kindergarten class in 20 years.
- Since opening in 2010, our preschool through 4th grade Iroquois campus has been a remarkable success story. Enrollment growth has filled every available space, leading us to repurpose rooms and relocate classrooms in recent years. Today, the campus is out of space, creating challenges in student support spaces, modified classrooms, and neighborhood traffic.
- Enrollment continues to rise at Rockford Christian, requiring more classrooms and program space in the years ahead.
- At Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, space has already run out. Due to deed restrictions, expansion is not possible.
- Nearly every Grand Rapids Christian Middle School student continues on to Grand Rapids Christian High School, and projections for future enrollment at the high school are strong. This strategic alignment will allow us to fully realize capacity at the high school—creating a clear and thriving pathway from preschool through graduation for every student called to GRCS.
Key Actions
- A Giving-Driven Initiative – Once fully funded, this plan will be set in motion, beginning with the Evergreen preschool renovation and continuing through a series of steps that strengthen every GRCS campus.
- Evergreen Campus Renovation – Transforming space in the Evergreen building into a dedicated preschool with vibrant classrooms and nature-inspired playgrounds, improving pick-up and drop-off logistics, also allowing us to expand early learning access at The Olivia Haverkamp Early Learning Center.
- Iroquois Campus Transition – Shifting Iroquois preschool classrooms to Evergreen allows us to keep 5th grade students on campus, creating a dedicated K–5 school that aligns with the K–5 school at Evergreen.
- Middle School Capacity – As GRCMS becomes a 6–8 campus, capacity will increase, alleviating space needs and strengthening the pathway of students moving into Grand Rapids Christian High School over time.