Cornerstone Fellowship celebrates 25 years of ministry

Cornerstone Fellowship Church of Greenfield celebrated its 25th anniversary of ministry with a special worship service, program and potluck Sunday, Oct. 22.

The church began as a group of like-minded people studying the Bible and worshipping together in homes.

Throughout its history, the church has called the current Los Altos building, the former Corner Coffee Shop building and the Grand Theatre home. Its current building, at 2158 Highway 92 on the west side of Greenfield, opened in 2012.

During the worship service and program, songs were sang that were common in various points of the church’s history, former pastors shared memories and congratulatory messages, and the children of the church’s AWANA and Sunday School programs sang a song to close the service, following the event’s theme of “Remember what God has done, See what God is doing and Imagine what God will do.”

Ken Sidey, the church’s founding elder and one who has served on several occasions as its interim pastor, said there was no “grand plan” in the beginning of Cornerstone.

“We did not begin with any grand plan, other than being faithful to love God wholeheartedly and love our neighbors, being committed to the Bible as God’s Word to guide our lives,” Sidey said. “That hasn’t changed over the 25 years, and we pray it doesn’t change in the next 25 and beyond.”

During the potluck portion of the day, many memories were shared in an open mic format by former and current attendees and members. Bill Piper, who, with his wife Kathi, oversaw a committee that planned the anniversary, said it was really good to see so many people back for the event.

“A thing that really struck me today was the forever relationships we have formed with people we never would have known if not for Cornerstone,” Piper said. “There were so many people I haven’t seen for months, or years, that I sitll have such a connection with, that I can sit down and talk to as though we were just together yesterday. What a blessing that is!”

Piper said he is encouraged greatly by the next generation of younger men and women leaders, with their families, who are growing into being strong, effective leaders at Cornerstone as it reaches the community.

Pastor Mike Norby was installed as the church’s pastor in May. Being new to Cornerstone, he said he has been impressed by the impact the church has made during its history to this point, and encouraged the church that much more is yet to be done in spreading the message of Jesus Christ to the community.

More than 900 family units, including more than 3,600 individuals, have stepped foot in Cornerstone Fellowship’s building during its 25 years.

Norby does not see the aim of the church Sidey shared about changing.

“It’s clear that from the very beginning of Cornerstone Fellowship Church that the focus was about worshipping God and impacting the community with the gospel through the proclamation of God’s Word, relationships, Bible studies and corporate worship. Moving forward, nothing changes, except the old-school worship projector and boombox (that made a brief reappearance in the anniversary service),” Norby said. “We invite anyone to come be a part of our next 25 years as we get to know more about the name above all names, Jesus Christ.”