City on a Hill Welcomes New President!
City on a Hill, the Zeeland ministry center that serves three dozen nonprofits, has announced a new president.
Allyson Velderman takes over as president beginning Jan. 6, 2025. Velderman is a native of Zeeland and graduate of Hope College who returned to West Michigan after a decade serving a 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.”
Velderman said that in her 10 years in Memphis, she worked, lived, and worshipped in the inner city with people in poverty. She now is 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 said she is elated to answer the calling at City on a Hill.
“Even in my very short time learning about City on a Hill, it seems clear that the people of City on a Hill and their love and investment in the mission are her greatest asset,” she said.
“I love the way City on a Hill works as a welcoming hub of resources and reciprocity. I aim to be a champion of that as her leader.”
City on a Hill is a non-profit ministry formed in 2006 to transform the former Zeeland Hospital building into a center providing affordable and collaborative space for ministries.
With shared space and low-cost services, it lets those independent ministries focus more of their resources on their specific missions. Today it houses 35 individual ministries and nonprofits that work locally, nationally, and globally.
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, and Doors of Hope, offering guidance to people in crisis, along with the Leader Renewal retreat room and the Café, a gathering space for ministry partners and the wider community.
“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, hired in 2022, is leaving to serve as executive pastor at Watermark Church in Grand Haven.
Veenstra noted that in two years as executive director, Newhouse updated systems and administrative services, developed a comprehensive strategic plan, and made significant upgrades to facilities.
Since returning to West Michigan in 2022, Velderman worked at Guiding Light Mission and as executive director of Read Ottawa.
“Allyson has a passion for faith-based work, and that passion comes out in her interactions with others,” Veenstra added.
“It's an incredible honor to be given this role at City on a Hill and such a unique opportunity to assume leadership of an organization that exists in such established strength and rich opportunity, thanks to the care of both Shawn and Gary, the board, the staff, the volunteers, the ministry partners, and the community,” Velderman said.
City on a Hill’s new President, Ally Velderman
City on a Hill’s previous Executive Director, Shawn Newhouse (L), City on a Hill’s New President, Ally Velderman (C), and City on a Hill’s First Executive Director, Gary Ellens (R)