CRAIG REES

I am the Lead Pastor of Central Wesleyan Church of Holland, Michigan.

Before moving to Holland, I served as the Lead Pastor of South Tampa Fellowship, a multisite church in Tampa, Florida (2008-14). Common to both the Holland and Tampa churches is a passion for the Gospel and a commitment to missional generosity.

Before moving to the USA, I served as Senior Pastor of the International Baptist Church of Hamburg, Germany (2001-2007), an English speaking church, drawing people from over 50 nations reflecting various Christian traditions and socio-economic groups. I held multiple leadership positions with the International Baptist Convention including terms as Vice-President and President.

  • Greatness is found in simply pointing people to Jesus
  • The needs of the world are met, one person at a time, one life at a time.
  • Yes, this world outside is different. But if we truly embrace it, people are for us, not against us.
  • There is no room for condemnation in the church. And if we don't get this right, we will lose this next generation.
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I have been extremely active in the mission field, speaking at international missions conferences as well as leading hundreds of people on weeks-long mission trips.

Craig is married to Wibke (vib´kä) and through the course of their marriage they have been privileged to call Bridgend, Loerrach, London, Hamburg, Tampa, and now Holland (Michigan) their home. They have six children: Allysa, Alec, Jonas, Jordan, Anmerose, and Jayden.

Wibke was born in Schoenau, Germany. She serves as Director of Recovery Ministries at Central Holland, a thriving ministry she began with a team of Central Holland leaders.

Craig was born in Bridgend, Wales and holds a Diploma in Evangelism, Bachelor of Arts in Theology (with Honors) and a Master of Theology Degree from the London School of Theology. Craig serves as Lead Pastor of Central Holland and the Water’s Edge Network, a unique multi-church, multi-site family of churches launched in 2016.

Craig has proven himself to be an innovative and adaptable Christ-follower with a lead role calling. He is passionate about leading the local church, a living organism, to fulfill the Great Commandment and Great Commission in generous, sacrificial ways. A love for the Scriptures and a passion for missions drive him. He is also dedicated to managing the local church, a dynamic organization around processes that maximize missional effectiveness.

With Proverbs 29:18 always in view, inspirational leadership (prophetic vision) and process discipline (keeping the law) are equal pursuits in Craig’s ministry. His goal is to use his visionary leadership, teaching gift, strategic wisdom, and passion for the local church to mobilize believers across the world to live as spiritual pillars and social entrepreneurs.

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