Meet Jessica Gregory

Today we’d like to introduce you to Jessica Gregory. 

Hi Jessica, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
Growing up in beautiful West Michigan with its many lakes, forests, and farmlands, I developed a passion for the natural world at a young age. I am also a Christ-follower who firmly believes we’re called to love God and love others. What people don’t often realize is that taking care of our physical world is a way to love our neighbors as we protect the health and resources of future generations. In 2018, I launched the Creation Care ministry at my local church as a way to connect both of these areas. Using my experience as a college biology professor and environmental educator, Creation Care has been a way to help others in the faith community learn to love and care for God’s creation. 

‘Creation Care’ is a term that refers to when people of faith take intentional steps to care for the natural world because of their belief in its Creator. The purpose of Creation Care at Berkley Hills Church is two-fold: 1) educate church members about the biblical directive for Christians to be stewards of our natural resources, and 2) serve alongside community members already engaging in conservation efforts. At Berkley, we have worked to accomplish these goals in a variety of ways. 

First, we have implemented and improved recycling efforts within the Berkley community and beyond. Working with the Kent County Department of Public Works, we added new recycling bins within the church building in 2019. Since that time, we have also educated community members on recycling through social media campaigns and scheduled tours of the Kent County Recycling & Education Center. For the past two years, we’ve hosted a Christmas string light recycling drive throughout the holiday season, collecting over 100 pounds of lights to be recycled instead of tossed into the landfill. 

We’ve partnered with Lincoln Developmental Center (part of the Kent Intermediate School District) to recycle certain items that are not currently accepted for recycling in Kent County, simultaneously donating funds to the students through their TerraCycle program. By collecting returnable cans and bottles over the last few years, we’ve raised hundreds of dollars to support conservation and social justice causes in our local community and beyond. 

We have also collaborated with the Kent Conservation District and the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks on several occasions to host educational seminars and invasive plant removal workdays at Huff Park and Ball Perkins Park – both of which are located adjacent to Berkley Hills Church. In 2021 we partnered with the Creston Neighborhood Association to ready their community garden for the summer growing season by sponsoring the purchase of organic compost and gardening gloves. We’ve organized annual neighborhood cleanup events to collect and dispose of roadside trash. Dozens of volunteers from both the church and the surrounding community have participated in these events! 

In the spring of 2022, we co-sponsored a water quality monitoring and education program aboard the D.J. Angus Science Ship in Grand Haven, Michigan. We believe that stewarding our land allows us to care for the people who inhabit it, and we’re grateful for the opportunities we’ve had so far to partner with and serve our local community! 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Any new initiative takes time to become established, and Creation Care at Berkley has been no exception! The current political climate has turned environmental stewardship into a troublesome topic. Many people prefer to separate church and science and don’t see how they can work well together. Environmental conservation is a subject area that often meets with opposing views and skepticism, including among people of faith. The pandemic over the past few years has also proven challenging in terms of recruiting volunteers for various programs and service opportunities. 

Personally, I’ve had to refocus and readjust my expectations as I’ve led this ministry. I have learned to slow down and realize that the relationships formed along the way are often more important than the actual work being accomplished. I’ve also realized that there is typically more than one way to attain a goal, and just because obstacles are present doesn’t mean we should stop pursuing something worthwhile. This is an ongoing process for us as we continue dreaming up different ways to ‘steward creation out of love for our Creator’! 

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I (Jessica Gregory) am a West Michigan native who, from an early age, demonstrated a passion for nature. Years of chasing butterflies, raising Monarch caterpillars, and catching frogs in my backyard pond as a child have led to today serving as an advocate for nature conservation in a variety of ways. 

After earning degrees in Environmental Biology (B.S.) and Ecology (M.S.), I worked as a naturalist for Ottawa County Parks and Recreation and Ada Township Parks and Recreation for several years while also teaching biology as an Adjunct Faculty member at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). I utilized my connections with Ottawa County whenever possible to take my students to area parks for hands-on learning opportunities like invasive species removal workdays with parks staff. 

In 2019 I founded ‘mi EcoBUZZ’ (pronounced ‘MY–eco—buzz’) as a way to reach a wider audience with environmental conservation topics through social media videos. Since its inception, mi EcoBUZZ videos have reached thousands of people through partnerships and support from the Ottawa County Parks, Ottawa County Parks Foundation, GVSU, the Kent Conservation District, West Michigan Conservation Network (WMCN), Ottawa Area Intermediate School District, and most recently the Rogue River Watershed Partners. 

I’m also passionate about uniting my faith with my work as an environmental educator through advocating for Creation Care. This led to my founding the Creation Care ministry at my local church in order to educate people of faith on the importance of caring for others by caring for the natural world. 

Using both mi EcoBUZZ and Berkley Creation Care as platforms, I’ve led a variety of community programs and supported various community initiatives alongside the Kent Conservation District, Grand Rapids Parks, and Recreation, the Friends of Grand Rapids Parks, Kent Garden Club, Ada Township Parks and Recreation, and the Ottawa County Parks Foundation. In April 2022 I co-sponsored an educational program along with Berkley Creation Care and GVSU to teach community members about water quality monitoring and watershed health. 

My goal is simple – to help people form personal connections with nature through education so they will be inspired to care for it and others as a result. 

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out.
My recommendation would be to approach a new initiative such as Creation Care with the expectation that there will be roadblocks at some point, but you don’t need to let those become a discouragement or hindrance to moving forward. Be flexible enough to change your plan of action when needed, and don’t be afraid to try new things! Take time to build relationships, have conversations, and appreciate those who believe in and come alongside you on the journey! 

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.berkleyhills.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/berkleycreationcare/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BerkleyCreationCare/
• Other: https://www.miecobuzz.org/ 

Image Credits
Jessica Gregory
Karen Pimpo