Ada Bible Church

God's Vision Begins

What started in 1978 as eleven people in a living room has grown into one church across six locations, with over 7,800 people attending every weekend. From its early days in southeast Grand Rapids to campuses reaching communities across the area, Ada Bible's story is one of God's faithfulness every step of the way.

This is our story.

In early 1978, Ada Bible Church began with eleven Christ followers crowded into a small house, united by a shared vision to spread Christ's message in southeast Grand Rapids. Pastor Joe Smith led this growing group in 1980 as they built and began meeting at Alta Dale Drive. In 1983, Pastor Jeff Manion answered the call to serve as interim Senior Pastor.

Through Pastor Jeff's gift for making the Bible come alive for everyday people, the little church grew to over one hundred regular attenders. The congregation soon outgrew Alta Dale Drive, and the Elders, in a bold leap of faith, sold the first location and purchased a three-acre parcel on Ada Drive. While the new building went up over the course of a year, the church met at a local high school—and God kept bringing people through the doors.

God’s Leading

The church grew a reputation for dynamic children's ministry, foundational small groups, and transformational teaching. Sunday mornings expanded to three services, with one meeting off-site at a nearby high school. By 1998, attendance had reached around 900 men, women, and children. Once again, God faithfully led and provided. The Elders sold the Ada Drive building, and the congregation moved into a temporary space while they dreamed bigger. They purchased 61 acres at the corner of Cascade Road and Quiggle Avenue and built what is now known as the Cascade Campus.

God’s Continued Blessings

When the Cascade Campus opened in 2000, over 1,500 people were regularly attending three services. As numbers continued to climb, an expansion to include more children’s classrooms, office spaces, and additional video venues was made to meet the growing demand.

As wonderful as the growth and expansion were, Ada Bible was still feeling the pressure of limited space. Weekend services were full, children's programs had no extra room, and inviting others became complicated. But the same God who had grown the church was faithful to provide solutions—several, in fact.

2008

Ada Bible launched its first off-site campus, the North Campus, which met temporarily at Cornerstone University for over three years. More than 1,000 people walked through the doors on the very first Sunday. In 2012, the North Campus moved into its newly constructed home and was renamed the Knapp Street Campus.

2010

Ada Bible purchased a church building in Caledonia and launched the Kentwood Campus.

2015

Ada Bible purchased 29 acres on East Paris Avenue. Named the East Paris Campus, this fourth congregation moved into its new building in January of 2018.

A New Season of Leadership

After 40 years of faithful, fruitful service as Senior Pastor, Pastor Jeff Manion transitioned in December 2023 to a new role focused on teaching and mentoring—a fitting next chapter for a gifted communicator, author, and shepherd who poured himself into this church and its people for four decades. His legacy is woven into everything Ada Bible is today.

In that same month, Aaron Buer was appointed Senior Pastor. Aaron is not new to Ada Bible—he has called this church home for 15 of his 20 years in ministry, serving as Student Ministries Pastor, Teaching Pastor, Weekend Services Director, and Executive Teaching Pastor. He steps into this role with deep roots in the church, a passion for collaborative leadership, and a clear vision for what God has ahead.

2024.

In September, Ada Bible launched the West Satellite, meeting inside Tri-Unity Christian School on the west side of Grand Rapids. Serving the Wyoming, Grandville, Jenison, and Hudsonville areas.

2025.

Ada Bible opened its fifth location, the Bella Vista Campus, further north of Grand Rapids. The campus was born from a remarkable act of generosity—the congregation of Bella Vista Church donated their building to Ada Bible, entrusting it to remain a place where the gospel would continue to be proclaimed. Merging with Ada Bible’s North Satellite, the Bella Vista Campus carries forward the legacy of one faithful church, welcoming a new community into the family of Ada Bible.

God’s Faithfulness Continues

From eleven people in a living room to one church across six locations with an average weekend attendance of over 7,800 people, this has always been a story about faith—and about a God who shows up. He has grown Ada Bible Church and provided the means to sustain that growth, time and again. By the generosity of this congregation, all our locations have been paid off, a testament to what God can do through a faithful and giving people.

The story isn't finished. May Ada Bible continue to hold tightly to what God has done and lean expectantly into what he has planned. May this church remain a place where lives are changed, communities are served, and the message of Jesus continues to spread—faithful to God in all that he entrusts us to do.

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