Pastor Norm Thomasma

Norm Thomasma is a transitional pastor endorsed through the Office of Pastor Church Resources in the Christian Reformed Church.  He is married to Ellen and, together, they have three children and seven grandchildren.  Norm attended college at Calvin and Grand Valley.  His seminary experience included Calvin in Grand Rapids and Trinity in Deerfield, Illinois.

 

Norm enjoys outdoor activities, home remodeling and time with friends.  His work experience included serving two churches for a total of twenty years, a year as a hospital chaplain and then sixteen years as consultant to pastors and churches with Pastor Church Resources, a position from which he retired in March of 2018.

Chris van Balen

(Ministry Assistant)

Chris van Balen started as the Ministry Assistant in April 2017 after her retirement from Western Michigan University in 2016.  Chris is a life long member of Covenant Hope Church.  Outside the office she serves as a church Deacon, on the fellowship committee, and is a family group leader.  She also participates in two women's Bible studies.  In her spare time she serves as a Day Manager of the Bibles for Missions Thrift Store and participates in the Operation Christmas Child project.  Her other interests are her family that live in Traverse City, including her three grandchildren.

Gail Berkompas

(Worship coordinator)

Gail is both the Worship Coordinator and a 24/7 Youth leader at Covenant Hope Church.  In addition to serving in these roles, she is a full-time high school Spanish and English teacher and a graduate student at Western Michigan University.  In her spare time, Gail enjoys reading, playing the piano, and learning about anything and everything.

Troy Vanden Heuvel

(Technology Director)

Troy has been the Technology Director and a 24/7 Youth Leader at Covenant Hope Church since 2017. Before that he served in a ministry called YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in Brisbane, Australia for 6 years teaching youth how to become stronger Disciples.  When not helping out at the church, Troy loves to play board and card games and getting outside to do things like Ultimate Frisbee, Football, Hiking, and Kayaking.