About The Center for Church Renewal
Serving Leaders Who Renew Churches
Equipping leaders for Gospel impact.
Provide North American church leaders the tools and training necessary for increased Gospel impact in a rapidly changing world.
Helping congregations live missionally.
To develop intentional missional congregations that make more and better disciples who transform lives and communities for Christ.
The posture behind our work.
Leadership focused. Gospel-centered. Passionately committed to making more and better disciples. Culturally aware. Hope-filled. Servant-oriented.
Quick Overview
What makes the Center for Church Renewal unique?
As we spend more time talking to pastors and church leaders and offering our services, we have come to see that the work we do is unique. There are many consultants and even more resources for churches. What stands out at CCR is not just what we offer, but how we walk with churches over time.
Our Story
The Story of the Center for Church Renewal
CCR began as a renewal journey for congregations and has grown into a broader ministry serving leaders, churches, cohorts, conferences, coaching relationships, and renewal partnerships across North America.
Church Renewal Lab begins
CCR began at Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan as the Church Renewal Lab. The Lab gathered cohorts of congregations for a two-year renewal journey.
A two-year renewal journey takes shape
Participating congregations gathered in cohorts of 5–10 churches for quarterly learning labs, coaching, assignments, peer learning, and accountability.
Churches begin showing signs of renewal
A multi-year pilot involving churches from several regions showed promising results: renewed hope, fresh vision, and greater capacity for outreach and discipleship.
The vision grows beyond one lab
As the work expanded, it became clear that churches and leaders needed additional renewal tools beyond the flagship Lab experience.
CCR finds a wider ministry home
CCR partnered with Sunlight Community Church and the Multiply 222 Network, while also affiliating with Vibrant Congregations.
Serving renewal leaders across North America
Today, CCR continues to offer the Church Renewal Lab alongside assessments, coaching, training events, conferences, resources, and seminary partnerships.
Our Team
Leaders serving leaders.
CCR is shaped by practitioners, coaches, teachers, and ministry leaders who care deeply about helping churches move toward renewal with clarity, courage, and hope.
Executive Director
Kris Vos
Kris Vos serves as Director of the Center for Church Renewal and a Florida campus pastor, helping churches deepen discipleship, pursue renewal, and engage their communities with the Gospel.
Church Renew Legacy Champion
Keith Doornbos
Keith Doornbos is a seasoned church renewal leader and turnaround pastor with over 30 years of experience helping congregations navigate change, strengthen leadership culture, and pursue lasting renewal.
Administrative Champion
Scott Vander Ploeg
Serving Sunlight Community Church in Florida, he is devoted to preaching God’s Word, making disciples, and developing ministries that help people grow in faith and mission.
Resource Champion
Bob Crowe
Bob Crowe is passionate about church renewal, disciple-making, church planting, and Christian education, helping develop partnerships that strengthen churches and expand Kingdom ministry through the Multiply 222 Network.
Renewal Champion
Larry Doornbos
Larry Doornbos is an ordained minister and church renewal leader with over 30 years of pastoral experience helping congregations pursue spiritual renewal, adaptive change, and missional clarity.
Renewal Writer
Bill Whitt
Bill Whitt is a pastor, church renewal leader, and certified consultant passionate about helping churches navigate renewal through preaching, leadership development, communication, worship, and collaborative ministry.
Partnerships
Our Partners
The Church Renewal Lab partners with many different people and organizations in order to assist churches and leaders through the renewal journey. Through these relationships, we hope to continue participating in God’s renewing work through the Church.
Seminary Partner
Calvin Theological Seminary
Equips church leaders through theological education, spiritual formation, and ministry training rooted in the Reformed tradition.
Denominational Partner
Christian Reformed Church in North America
A Reformed denomination supporting congregations through discipleship, mission, church planting, justice, and renewal efforts.
Formation Partner
Faithwalking
Helps leaders and congregations grow in emotional health, spiritual formation, missional living, coaching, and transformational practices.
Conference Partner
More and Better Conference at Sunlight Community Church
Encourages churches and leaders toward evangelism, disciple-making, leadership development, and congregational renewal.
Renewal Ministry
Presbyterian-Reformed Ministries International
Equips churches and leaders to grow in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit through training, gatherings, and ministry networks.
Denominational Partner
Reformed Church in America
Supports congregations through mission, discipleship, leadership development, church planting, and renewal-focused ministry.
Assessment Tool
REVEAL Survey
Provides churches with insight into spiritual growth and discipleship through congregational assessment tools and research-based reporting.
Leadership Search
Rukes Search Group
Assists churches and ministries with executive search, leadership placement, succession planning, and organizational consulting.
Community Ministry
Volunteers In Service
Mobilizes churches and volunteers to respond to practical needs in local communities through compassion, service, and partnership.