Celebration Fellowship Christian Reformed Church (CFCRC) is more than just a prison ministry; it’s a living testimony that faith can transform lives, break down walls, and rebuild communities.
For years, Celebration Fellowship has held services inside Michigan correctional facilities, creating worship communities where incarcerated members are leaders, not just attendees.
Their motto, “Bound but Free,” speaks to the paradox of incarceration: while people may be confined physically, their spirits can still be liberated through fellowship, scripture, and connection.
A Church Led by Returnees
Now, Celebration Fellowship is taking its mission outside the prison gates. Through a new congregation in Grand Rapids, led by returning citizens themselves, the church offers a spiritual home for those reentering society after incarceration.
This is where faith meets reality. Coming home after prison can be overwhelming; housing, work, stigma, and reconnection with family all collide. Celebration Fellowship creates a safe, welcoming space for people navigating reentry.
The flyer for their Grand Rapids church says it best:
“We’ve been where you are. Welcome home.”
What They Offer
- Worship & Fellowship: Services twice a month bring people together in community.
- Food & Sharing: Because breaking bread is as sacred as prayer.
- No Judgment—Only Acceptance: The congregation is built on lived experience, so compassion isn’t just preached, it’s practiced.
📍 121 Sheldon Blvd SE, Grand Rapids, MI
🕑 1st & 3rd Sundays, 2:00 – 4:00 PM
📧 For a ride: celebrationfellowshipoutside@gmail.com
Why This Matters
The return to society is often the hardest leg of the journey. Stigma, isolation, and systemic barriers push many back into cycles of poverty or prison.
Celebration Fellowship proves that community and belonging are the antidotes to recidivism.
This isn’t charity; it’s empowerment. It’s a model for how faith-based communities can partner with those most affected by incarceration and invite them into leadership, not just into the pews.
Your Call to Action
- Show Up: Join a Sunday service. Presence matters.
- Spread the Word: Share their mission with returning citizens who need a spiritual home.
- Support the Work: Volunteer, donate, or simply listen, every bit of engagement chips away at stigma.
- Be the Bridge: If you’re part of a faith community, ask how you can build connections with people impacted by incarceration.
Celebration Fellowship is proof that churches don’t just live behind walls; they break them down. In their world, being “bound but free” is more than a slogan. It’s a lifeline.
🖤 Love what we do? Support Clutch.
