A look ahead to the 2015 convention city...

River City Revue

By Stephen Nelson

Grand Rapids lies on the Grand River, from which it gets its name, 25 miles east of Lake Michigan. The city is founded on the former location of an Ottawa Indian village. The United States government acquired the land, including the site of modern-day Grand Rapids, as part of the Treaty of Chicago in 1821. Over the next few years, missionaries and traders recognized the rich opportunities in the area and migrated east. Detroit native and wealthy fur trader Louis Campau purchased a 72-acre tract of land that eventually became a large area of the city. He called the purchase “Grand Rapids.”

Before long, others began to move into the area. It quickly became known for bustling lumber and furniture industries, so much that it eventually earned the nickname “Furniture City.” Even today, Grand Rapids ranks among world leaders in office furniture production.

Grand Rapids Today

Today, nearly 200,000 people live in the city, with just over a million in the greater metropolitan area. Many conventioneers will be happy to know that on Wednesday afternoon of the 2014 convention, while temperatures reached humid triple digits in Fort Worth, Texas, the high for the day in Grand Rapids was 77 degrees.

When needing a break from competition, business meetings, and seminars, convention goers will find Grand Rapids has much to offer in the way of family fun, entertainment, and more. The Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum gives visitors a unique opportunity to explore Ford’s life, from his childhood in Grand Rapids to his presidency.

The city also houses John Ball Zoo, home to over 2,000 animals. Golfer? Grand Rapids is the place for you, with 36 courses located within a short drive.

Though it probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind, Grand Rapids is only 45 minutes from some of the world’s finest beaches on the western shore of Lake Michigan. Crystal-clear fresh water stretches to the horizon, with beautiful sugar-sand beaches and unforgettable sunsets. Condé Nast Traveler recently listed the shoreline among the 25 best in the world.

Heart of the City

The National Association of Free Will Baptists will converge on Grand Rapids July 19-22, 2015. This will be a historic meeting, as the convention will take place in the “River City” for the first time. Speakers will address the theme “The Word of God.”

The Grand Rapids convention center, DeVos Place, is situated in the heart of downtown and surrounded by restaurants and shops. Rooms have been blocked at three downtown hotels for the 2015 Convention in Grand Rapids. The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, the JW Marriott Grand Rapids, and the Courtyard by Marriott Downtown Grand Rapids.

A housing form with information including reservation information, rates, and a downtown map will be published in the February-March issue of ONE Magazine. Make plans now to head north for next year’s convention. For more details as they become available, visit www.nafwb.org.

About the Writer: Stephen Nelson is publications editor for Welch College, copy editor at Randall House Publications, and was convention press assistant at the 2014 meeting in Fort Worth.

Important Updates About 2015 Convention Housing

Several major changes are coming to the reservation process for the 2015 convention. Here are the three important things you need to know about making reservations this year:

• Online reservations will open Monday, May 4, 9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. ET). No phone reservations will be accepted on this day. Links to online reservations will be provided at www.nafwb.org.

• Phone reservations will open Tuesday, May 5, 9:00 a.m. CT (10:00 a.m. ET).

• Internet reservations are highly encouraged by the Amway Grand Plaza Hotel. Due to limited reservation staff, call-in reservations to the hotel will experience wait times in excess of an hour on opening day. Calls will be answered in the order received. The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel is not responsible for dropped or lost calls, or if the block sells out prior to speaking to an agent.

Due to individual reservation limits imposed by each hotel, groups making eight or more reservations should contact convention manager Ryan Lewis (615-731-6812) between February 1 and April 24 for information on making group reservations.