What if your church building could do more than just host ministry—what if it could actively strengthen it?

At Trinity Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, described by Pastor Benjamin Bruins as “a place for people to gather, to share and embody the story of God’s love for all of Creation,” simple energy upgrades have become powerful tools for deeper service, faithful stewardship, and lasting impact in the community.

Trinity Reformed Church's Pastor Benjamin and Pastor Sarah and the new mini splits - a small heat pump system used for heating and cooling that operates without relying on fossil fuels.

"The comfort level is just so much higher because [the high efficiency air conditioning units] work quieter and they work efficiently." - Pastor Benjamin Bruins

Thanks to Sacred Spaces, Trinity Reformed Church was able to implement a series of energy efficiency upgrades that have significantly improved both comfort and cost savings. The church installed 12 new mini splits, replacing five noisy and inefficient wall air conditioning units that previously struggled to keep up with summer heat. Even though the new system wasn’t installed until late summer, the unusually warm September and October clearly demonstrated the difference—quieter, more effective cooling throughout the building made the space consistently comfortable and more welcoming. Hosting meetings and ministry activities in a cool, pleasant environment became a real gift. In addition to the mini splits, Trinity also installed two hybrid heat pump water heaters and a high-efficiency boiler, all of which contribute to an estimated annual energy savings of $1,444. These upgrades not only enhance the church’s ability to serve its community but also reduce ongoing utility costs and environmental impact.

Transforming community through love and service

Trinity Reformed Church serves its community faithfully as a house of worship and gathering place, and the recent energy efficiency upgrades have strengthened their ability to share and live out the story of God’s love for all creation.

For Trinity, this means not only proclaiming that story but embodying it through action. The church houses the Northwest Food Pantry, which supports families on the northwest side of Grand Rapids, and also provides a shower ministry for people experiencing homelessness—a place where they can get clean, do laundry, and feel welcomed in the middle of their week. Trinity also hosts a Narcotics Anonymous group every Friday, offering space for healing and support. Additionally, the church provides office and meeting space for Together West Michigan, a broad-based organizing group working to lift up voices often left out of decision-making processes that shape the community’s future.

Ordination ceremony at Trinity Reformed

A journey to energy efficiency and increased impact

The energy projects Trinity Reformed Church completed through Sacred Spaces are helping in two important ways. First, they’ve made the building far more energy efficient, which means lower utility bills. This reduction in costs eases the financial pressure of constantly raising funds just to keep basic services—like the refrigerators for the food pantry—running. With lower energy expenses, Trinity can now use more of its resources to expand its community work and respond more flexibly to emerging needs. Second, these upgrades have made the church building itself more comfortable and welcoming. People coming in—whether for a shower, a meeting, or worship—are no longer too hot or too cold. Their physical needs are being met in a space that feels safe, cared for, and intentionally hospitable.

At our recent Witness for Creation event (organized with Creation Justice Ministries), Pastor Sarah Van Zetten Bruins blessed baptized attendees with water from the Grand River (visible in the background). She stood with other leaders, including our director Leah Wiste, to deliver a bold and urgent call to care for Creation. 

Trinity Reformed Church would encourage other congregations to explore energy-saving projects because it’s truly a win-win. Lowering energy use directly reduces utility bills—a practical and welcome benefit for any congregation working within a limited budget. In 2024, the church’s worship centered on the theme of Earthkeeping throughout the grant period, a message that is now reflected in how efficiently the church heats and cools its building.

Beyond the financial savings, energy efficiency is also a faithful act of stewardship. Using less energy means producing fewer greenhouse gases, which not only helps care for creation now but also bears fruit for future generations. It’s a way of aligning mission, responsibility, and sustainability in a way that benefits both the church and the world around it.