Daren Penwell

Daren Penwell is our Lead Pastor.  He has been married to Lisa, our Children’s Minister, for 29 years.  They had their first real conversation while dancing at a wedding, and it  was then that he learned about Lisa's heart for missions and ministry and began to realize that he might just have found the one! Since then, God has led Daren and Lisa  through 25 years of full-time ministry and, along the way, to a number of mission experiences around the world. Their proudest accomplishments, however, are their two daughters, Brittany and Madison, and their husbands, Josh Strickler and Kyle Reynen. They all love Jesus and have a heart for ministry and Christ's church.  


Besides Daren’s love for his family and the church, he also has several other loves: Notre Dame football (Go, Irish!), lifting weights and....flowers! He loves the Notre Dame campus in October during football season, and loves a beautifully landscaped lawn in the summer, bursting with color. He also enjoys reading theology books…oh, and walks on the beach!


When asked what his dream is for BCC, Daren answered, “One thing I love is to dream and to envision what is possible if only God will show up. I believe the best days of BCC aren't in our past. They are yet to come! Church specialists will tell you that most churches reach their peak about 25 years out. From that point on churches often peak and simply seek to maintain status quo. However, I believe that Jesus' Great Commission (Matthew 28; Acts 1:8) for His church isn't just to maintain or stay the course. It is to forge ahead into new and unreached (or under reached) areas. I get so excited about the thought of God using us to raise up more missionaries and preachers and leaders for the church and world!”

Lisa Penwell

Lisa Penwell is our Children’s Minister and oversees our children’s ministries from birth through fourth grade.  She is married to our Lead Pastor, Daren Penwell and together they have been serving in ministry for 25 years.  Lisa and Daren have 2 daughters and 2 sons-in-law and love spending time with them.  Both of their daughters have a heart for ministry and serve with their spouses in ministries in Michigan. Lisa and Daren also have a cat, named Pepper and a Golden Retriever, named Sage.   


Lisa’s love for ministry began at an early age. During middle school she had amazing youth leaders that were a great influence on her and made her want to be like them.   

After making a decision to full-time Christian service in Middle school, Lisa went to Great Lakes Christian College where she found an interest in missions.  She met Daren and together they wrestled with whether to do ministry abroad or in the states.  After the birth of their children, they decided to stay in the states, closer to family and found a church to serve in.  Later they were contacted by someone from Bailey Christian Church asking if Daren was interested in the Lead Pastor role.  They said "yes" and we are blessed that God has used them here for 20 years and counting!  


Lisa and Daren enjoy serving together at Bailey Christian Church but when they are not serving at Bailey, they enjoy going for walks, seeing movies, reading a good book together, and spending time with their children, family and friends. Lisa enjoys swimming and is looking forward to swimming at their new home located on a beautiful lake. Lisa also enjoys snow, sledding and building snowmen and being young at heart!  She’s truly a kid at heart which makes her the perfect fit for our Children’s Minister.  


When asked what her dream is for BCC, Lisa answered, “To provide for the community we live in and be the place they go to for answers, hope, healing, salvation, and acceptance.”  

Curt Nordhielm

Curt Nordhielm is our Administrative Minister.  He started working at Bailey in August of 2016. Curt and his wife, Linda, have been married for over 40 years and have 2 daughters and 3 granddaughters.  Although they wish they could spend more time with their grandchildren in Wisconsin and their other daughter in Denver, Curt and Linda enjoy living in Bailey and serving at Bailey Christian Church.  On Sunday mornings, Curt and Linda can both been seen around the church.  Linda serves in the cafe area during our fellowship time and Curt covers many different administrative areas and normally ends the service from the stage giving our weekly charge and closing prayer.      

Curt’s love for ministry started over 40 years ago and he has been involved in full time ministry settings throughout his adult life.  He has served in many places around the world including preaching in England, teaching at two Bible Colleges and helping churches with church planting.

Besides loving Jesus and his family, Curt  thoroughly enjoys woodworking--but sees himself very much a novice (but still has all of his fingers!). 

When asked what his dream is for B.C.C., Curt answered, “For it to become a stronger regional church with a huge influence.”


Ricky AltMiller

Ricky Altmiller is our Youth Minister and newest staff member at Bailey Christian Church. Ricky was born and raised in Columbus, IN which is in between Indianapolis and Louisville, KY. Ricky discovered a love for ministry in middle school and after high school went to Johnson University located in Knoxville, TN in the hills of the Great Smoky Mountains.  He graduated from Johnson University in 2010 and during his time there he completed a six month internship with Ghana Christian Mission in Ghana, West Africa. After graduation, he moved to Springfield, MO to be the youth minister at Glendale Christian Church. After serving in Missouri for seven years, Ricky answered the call to join Bailey Christian Church in the Fall of 2017 and is ready to be apart of God's plans for this congregation and community. 


Family is important to Ricky and even though he has not started his own family yet, Ricky has two wonderful parents that are major influences in his life. He enjoys spending time with his parents and extended family.  Ricky also has around 100 teenagers that he invests in, so he does have his hands full!


When not serving at the church or working with the youth, Ricky likes to do just about anything outdoors, see plays/musicals, attend sporting events and travel.


When asked what his dream is for B.C.C., Ricky answered, “To develop B.C.C. into a hub for turning out Kingdom Movers who are making disciples no matter where God takes them!”

Karen Vanderzanden

Karen VanderZanden is our Worship Minister and has officially been in that role for the past 3 years.  However, she has been working in this area with choir, worship organizing and holiday services for 10 years.  Karen has always had a passion for music and producing events and feels blessed to be able to use her music and administrative backgrounds to serve God this way.  She loves worshiping God through music but also through prayer, spoken word and different types of art and decor on stage.  She enjoys being creative with the music and Sunday services and hopes to help usher people into a time of worship with our God.


Karen and her husband, Dave have been attending Bailey Christian Church for 23 years. They have raised their two boys, Jacob and Graham, at Bailey and have been blessed to be able to serve in many different areas of the church.  All members of the VanderZanden family can be seen on stage sharing their musical talents.  Dave is also an Elder at Bailey and is a full time organic farmer and part time writer/musician. They love farming and believe in an organic lifestyle. Both boys are in college and come back to serve as part of the Bailey worship team.  


When Karen is not serving at Bailey,  she also works for the West Michigan Symphony as the Director of Education and places a priority on keeping music alive in our area schools and bringing families in to live symphonic performances.  She loves to take trips with her husband and boys, and they try to take one nice vacation every year...if they can all coordinate schedules.  Karen loves to hike, play drums, tend the yard, and do all kinds of outside 'active' things like whitewater rafting, zip-lining, skiing, boating and driving. 


When asked what her dream is for Bailey, Karen answered, “To be able to reach as many youth in the area for Christ. We are bursting at the seams, and if we could find more physical space for programs during the week, such as after school programs, and more space for Upward, it could draw more people into the church. People that have never entered a church before don't know what to expect, but by opening our doors to things they already feel comfortable with, like sports, they see we are just like them and it opens the possibility for them to come to church on Sunday or Wednesday with their family.”