One of the fastest-growing churches in the area is Newton Church of the Way. Pastor Steve Heerema is thrilled about his church’s progress ever since he started his mission from God nearly four years ago to start a church in Newton.

“The Church of the Way is a church that started about three and half years ago,” Heerema said. “We are actually a church plant. We’re a church plant of Third Reformed Church out in Pella. This church that we’re at used to be a church called Community Reformed Church. They were kind of a dwindling congregation, their numbers were decreasing, and they were dwindling. So three and half years ago they decided to join the Way and kind of disband as a church.”

That move has benefited both churches in the long run. The previous church was averaging 60-75 people for service on Sunday. Church of the Way averages around 500 every Sunday for their three services in the church that seats 275 people. For Easter Sunday, they had over 700 people come. Heerema preaches all three services.