Haven Shores Community Church 

After a year long search, Haven Shores Community Church is pleased to announce the appointment of the Rev. Miguel Cruz as the church’s new pastor.   He, along with his wife Brien (Bre) and their daughter Muireann, joined our church family on December 14, 2008.   

Miguel was born in 1978 in New Jersey and was raised in a variety of denominational traditions.  While attending Hope College, he grew to appreciate a Reformed understanding of the Christian faith and enrolled at Western Theological Seminary in Holland.  He was ordained as a minister of Word and sacrament in the Reformed Church in America in 2004, and for three years he served as pastor of Palmyra Reformed Church in upstate New York.  In fall 2007, he left Palmyra to pursue PhD studies in southern California, but he soon realized that was not God’s call.  After one academic term, Miguel and his family returned to West Michigan and began to discern their next call.  During much of this year, Miguel has been a part-time, pulpit-supply pastor at a small congregation in Shelby, Michigan .

The Search Team of Haven Shores was impressed with Miguel’s gifts for ministry, grasp of Scripture, heart for people, commitment to the church, and love for God.  His vision for ministry is passionate, inspiring, fresh, and integrated.  He excels in preaching, memorizing Scripture, developing a sense of community within the congregation, and moving the church to be a missional presence in the neighborhood.  He is articulate, educated, creative, and musically gifted — all while remaining down to earth and humble.

We are excited and blessed to have Pastor Miguel and his family among us and we look forward to our new partnership together.