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The Sunrise Story


1995
A group of about sixty people, responding to God’s leading, decide to plant a second Christian Reformed Church in Lafayette, Indiana.

The Church officially organizes in the Christian Reformed denomination with the name Sunrise Christian Reformed Church.

Sunrise's first Council

  


1996
Pastor Bob Zomermaand is officially installed as the Pastor of Sunrise Church on January 25th.

Pastor Zomermaand's installation

  

Sunrise Church has its Grand Opening, and begins holding worship services at Amelia Earhart School on April 7th.

Worship at Amelia Earhart school

 

After years of prayer and planning, the church purchases ten acres of land to build a new worship and education facility.

 


2000
Through God’s leading, Sunrise Church trades the first ten-acre parcel of land for an even
more favorable twelve acres at the intersection of South 9th Street and County Road 500, a location near a growing part of the county.

Pastor Brian Williamson joins the Sunrise Church staff as Associate Pastor of Worship, Youth, and Outreach.

The Williamson Family

 

Sunrise Church celebrates its ground-breaking ceremony as work begins on the new church facility.

Sunrise groundbreaking

 

Sunrise building construction

 


2001
Pastor Bob Zomermaand receives and accepts a call to become Pastor of First Christian Reformed Church in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Sunrise Church begins the process of searching for its next Senior Pastor.
 

Sunrise building

 


 
2002
The Sunrise congregation celebrates their first worship service in the new facility.  

 

Pastor Bob Lyzenga receives and accepts the call from Sunrise Church to become the next Senior Pastor, having served eight years in Houston, Texas.  

Pastor Lyzenga's installation 

 



2004
Pastor Brian Williamson accepts a call to plant a new church in Wisconsin.

The Williamson Family

 

  



2005
Sunrise celebrates its 10th Anniversary in November with a weekend-long celebration!

Sunrise 10th Anniversary banner 
 


2007
As Sunrise continues to grow, the congregation approves a proposed building addition that includes additional classroom space and a gymnasium/multi-purpose room.  A Giving Campaign kicks off in December.



2009
In the wake of the economic recession, the congregation votes to raise the remaining funds for the new building addition and build that summer.
 
 
In August, Sunrise holds an official ground-breaking ceremony for the new building addition and construction begins immediately.

Ground-Breaking Ceremony

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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