Elders:
Rev. Jonathan Landry Cruse, pastor
Pastor Cruse (MDiv, Westminster Seminary California) is a native of Central Pennsylvania, where he grew up in a home that loved sports, movies, and Reformed theology. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia where he studied film for a time before graduating with a Bachelors of Arts in Communication Studies and English. Shortly after graduation, he married his lovely wife, Kerri Ann. They have since welcomed three children: Jacob, Evangeline, and Caleb. Jonathan has been pastor of Community since June of 2017, and is currently pursuing his Doctorate of Ministry through Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC.
Pastor Cruse has published numerous articles, chapters, hymns, and books. He has written for The Alliance of Confessing Evangelicals, Core Christianity, Modern Reformation, The Gospel Coalition, and TableTalk magazine. He is author of Paradox People, Worshiping on the Way, Church Membership, Sing in Exultation!, Glorifying and Enjoying God, The Christian’s True Identity: What It Means to Be in Christ, What Happens When We Worship, and The Character of Christ.
Zac Reeves, Associate Pastor-Elect
Zac Reeves is a native of Central California and spent his college and seminary years in Southern California at Biola University and Westminster Seminary California. By God’s grace, he married Caroline, a Michigander, in 2020. Together they have two children, Zoe and Ezekiel (“Zeke”).
The Reeves family came to Kalamazoo in the summer of 2025 for Zac to serve as a year-long intern at Community, and he was later called by the congregation to serve as Associate Pastor beginning in the summer of 2026. Zac spends most of his free time chasing his children, enjoying a good book, or watching baseball.
Brian Eshuis
Brian Eshuis was raised in a Christian home in the Kalamazoo area and attended an independent reformed church through his teen years and early married life. He is married to his true love, Michele, and has been blessed with three sons who are young men now. Outdoor activities such as hiking, backpacking, hunting and fishing are his chief hobbies, as well as watching and playing sports, but especially soccer which he coached for many years. Brian is employed as a flower grower and greenhouse manager. He and his family started attending Community in the fall of 2019, and after the interruption of covid, became members in 2021.
The law and gospel is his favorite theological topic which is evidenced by his favorite verses found in Galatians 2:19–21 which concludes with the words “if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose.”
One of his favorite hymns is “By Grace I Am An Heir Of Heaven.”
Jacob Martin
Jacob grew up all around the US but has called Michigan home since early 2024. From a young age, he has had a deep love for both classical music and hymnody. He studied music in college and graduate school and met his wife, Katie, during a collaborative project in college. Shortly after graduating, God placed in Jacob a desire to be a pastor. He is under the care of our presbytery and is studying at Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando, and was ordained as a ruling elder in 2026.
The Martins have three girls, Joy, Charity, and Glory Anne, and enjoy hosting fellow church members in their home for prayer, food, and fellowship. Jacob teaches, fills the pulpit, and helps out with a variety of things at Community. He works as a project manager at Buckingham Heavy Transport, and in his spare time he enjoys all things fitness and reading the Puritans.
Peter Morrison
Peter Morrison is a native of Central Vermont. He met his wife Cassie in San Diego and they moved to her home state of Michigan in 2018. He joined Community as an adult convert in 2020. Since then their family has been blessed with two little girls, Flora and Esther. Ordained an elder in 2026, he enjoys reading, weightlifting, following the Red Sox, and anything Scottish.
A favorite hymn is "Amazing Grace."
Tom Vander Band
Tom Vander Band is married to Marlene and they have five children and four grandchildren. He was baptized as a young adult in the Free Reformed Church of Grand Rapids. His heart and ministry were with the neighborhood community of Grand Rapids for 40 years before becoming a member at Community in 2019, and subsequently an elder in 2020. Tom retired in 2026 from a long career in leadership at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek.
His favorite song is Psalm 69, “Thy Loving Kindness Lord Is Good and Free.”
Perry Westerman, clerk of session
Perry Westerman made profession of faith in 1989. He believes that a reformed perspective helps him to focus his worship toward God and away from his own pride and works. It is only by God’s grace and the blood of Jesus that he is saved and this free gift was predestined by God, for which he is eternally grateful. Perry is a psychiatrist and recently retired from teaching at the WMU Medical School. Perry and his wife Jennifer have been members of Community Presbyterian Church since 2011, and he has served as an elder since 2017.
Philippians 4:4–7 is his favorite portion of Scripture.
Deacons:
Bryce Bekius
Bryce grew up in Brazil on the mission field. He served in the marines for several years, and now works as an aviation mechanic. He met his wife Melissa at Kuyper College and they are blessed with three children: Grant, Kinley, and Cade.
He has been a member at Community since 2018, and was ordained as a deacon in 2022.
Derek McElvain
Derek McElvain is a Nebraska native and faithful Cornhuskers fan, but has called Kalamazoo home since 2004. He enjoys barbecuing, alpine skiing, and spending time with his family. Derek and his wife Michal have four children. They began attending Community in 2008 and Derek was ordained as a deacon in 2017.
A favorite hymn of Derek's is "Holy, Holy, Holy."
Nate Meulenberg
Nate Meulenberg moved from Hudsonville to Kalamazoo in 2017 to begin his teaching career, where he now teaches Junior High at Providence Christian School. He and his wife, Megan, became members at Community shortly after getting married in December 2017. They now have three children. When Nate is not at home enjoying time with his family, you can find him hunting or fishing while enjoying being outdoors in the beauty of God’s creation.
A favorite hymn of Nate’s is “Be Still, My Soul.”
Jacob Schumaker, chairman
Jacob Schumaker is a West Michigan native. Jacob grew up in the OPC, and he and his family started attending Community Presbyterian in 2018 when they moved to the Kalamazoo area for work. He and his wife Liz have three children. He was ordained as a deacon in 2022.
One of Jacob's favorite scripture passages is 1 Peter 1:3–5
Seth Verschoof
Seth Verschoof, a Kalamazoo native, is married with six children. His hobbies include music, sports, and helping people. He is thankful for the Father's love, Jesus' sacrifice, and the Spirit's guidance. He attended independent Reformed churches for most of his life, but joined Community Presbyterian in 2014 and became a deacon in 2017.
One of Seth's favorite verses is Galatians 5:1, "Stand firm therefore in the freedom by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again by the yoke of slavery."
Fred Vlietstra
Fred grew up in a CRC in Kalamazoo where he served both as a deacon and an elder. He and his wife Mary joined Community in June of 2023. They have four adult children and 11 grandchildren. He and Mary spent their lives as co-owners, along with his brothers, of a family dairy farm. He now enjoys helping his children and nephew take over the responsibilities of operating that same farm.