Why Michigan?

erhaps the greatest achievement of the Confederation Congress, the Northwest Ordinance established the pattern by which new states would be formed from the vast territories won in the War for Independence. From that vision emerged Michigan—a land of Great Lakes, fertile farmland, abundant natural resources, and extraordinary innovation.

Though no single tour can capture all of Michigan’s rich history, our journey explores a remarkable region stretching from Grand Rapids to Muskegon and the farms of Oceana County. Once considered among the most Christianized areas in America, western Michigan was shaped by Dutch and German immigrants whose faith gave rise to hundreds of churches, Christian colleges and seminaries, influential publishing houses, and a culture that reached far beyond the state’s borders. It also produced one of America’s most respected presidents, Gerald R. Ford.

Join Landmark Events and historian Dr. Bill Potter October 1-3 on the Third Coast Tour as we discover God’s providential hand in the people, institutions, and communities that helped shape both Michigan and the nation.