Allyson Velderman (center), the new president of the City on a Hill ministry center, poses with her predecessors, Shawn Newhouse (left) and Gary Ellens (right). Velderman took over as president of COAH in early January.
By Greg Chandler
The Zeeland Record
A Zeeland native with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector has been named the new president of City on a Hill.
Allyson Velderman began her new role at the Zeeland-based ministry center Jan. 6. Her experience includes 10 years serving at an inner-city Christian community development agency in Memphis, Tenn.
“I'm drawn to place-based, person-first, thoughtful, strategic work that makes a real impact today and with a strategy for the future,” Velderman said. “I loved the work I did in Memphis and left hoping to find such work here in West Michigan. I believe City on a Hill is that work.”
In her experience in Memphis, Velderman worked, lived and worshipped alongside people who were in poverty. She is now an ambassador with The Chalmers Center, whose work focuses on changing how Christians and ministries approach poverty alleviation.
“I see many of their tools already in place in the details of Doors of Hope and the City on a Hill Health Clinic, a testament to the extraordinary leadership within each of those organizations,” she said.
Velderman returned to West Michigan in 2022, and had recently worked at Guiding Light Mission in Grand Rapids and was executive director of Read Ottawa, an organization that provides one-on-one literacy tutoring to adults in Ottawa County.
“The search committee and the board were impressed by Allyson’s background and passion for faith-based organizations,” COAH Board President Henry Veenstra said. “We are confident that she will be able to continue the outstanding leadership of City on a Hill that started with Gary Ellens and has continued with Shawn Newhouse.”
Ellens, the founding director of City on a Hill, served 16 years before retiring in 2022. Newhouse, who succeeded Ellens, left after two years to serve as executive pastor at Watermark Church in Grand Haven.
City on a Hill was founded in 2006 to transform the former Zeeland Community Hospital building at 100 S. Pine St. into a center providing affordable and collaborative space for ministries.
With shared space and low-cost services, COAH lets those independent ministries focus more of their resources on their specific missions. It currently houses 35 individual ministries and nonprofit organizations.
In addition, City on a Hill itself operates four community service ministries. Those include the Health Clinic, providing free medical care to the uninsured or underinsured; Doors of Hope, offering guidance to people in crisis; the Leader Renewal retreat room and the Café, a gathering space for ministry partners and the wider community.
Velderman is a 2006 graduate of Hamilton High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hope College in 2010.
The Zeeland Record
A Zeeland native with extensive experience in the nonprofit sector has been named the new president of City on a Hill.
Allyson Velderman began her new role at the Zeeland-based ministry center Jan. 6. Her experience includes 10 years serving at an inner-city Christian community development agency in Memphis, Tenn.
“I'm drawn to place-based, person-first, thoughtful, strategic work that makes a real impact today and with a strategy for the future,” Velderman said. “I loved the work I did in Memphis and left hoping to find such work here in West Michigan. I believe City on a Hill is that work.”
In her experience in Memphis, Velderman worked, lived and worshipped alongside people who were in poverty. She is now an ambassador with The Chalmers Center, whose work focuses on changing how Christians and ministries approach poverty alleviation.
“I see many of their tools already in place in the details of Doors of Hope and the City on a Hill Health Clinic, a testament to the extraordinary leadership within each of those organizations,” she said.
Velderman returned to West Michigan in 2022, and had recently worked at Guiding Light Mission in Grand Rapids and was executive director of Read Ottawa, an organization that provides one-on-one literacy tutoring to adults in Ottawa County.
“The search committee and the board were impressed by Allyson’s background and passion for faith-based organizations,” COAH Board President Henry Veenstra said. “We are confident that she will be able to continue the outstanding leadership of City on a Hill that started with Gary Ellens and has continued with Shawn Newhouse.”
Ellens, the founding director of City on a Hill, served 16 years before retiring in 2022. Newhouse, who succeeded Ellens, left after two years to serve as executive pastor at Watermark Church in Grand Haven.
City on a Hill was founded in 2006 to transform the former Zeeland Community Hospital building at 100 S. Pine St. into a center providing affordable and collaborative space for ministries.
With shared space and low-cost services, COAH lets those independent ministries focus more of their resources on their specific missions. It currently houses 35 individual ministries and nonprofit organizations.
In addition, City on a Hill itself operates four community service ministries. Those include the Health Clinic, providing free medical care to the uninsured or underinsured; Doors of Hope, offering guidance to people in crisis; the Leader Renewal retreat room and the Café, a gathering space for ministry partners and the wider community.
Velderman is a 2006 graduate of Hamilton High School and earned a bachelor’s degree in political science from Hope College in 2010.
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