Education Together Campaign
Centre for Public Dialogue
We know that education works best when the full community owns it, whether that’s through parent-run independent schools, homeschooling, or community support for public schools. The same goes for First Nations schools: Despite years of promises, there’s still a gap: today, far fewer First Nations kids graduate from grade 12 than other kids in Canada because they aren't receiving the proper funding and support needed for a quality education.
This injustice has led the Centre for Public Dialogue (CPD) to produce an Education Together Campaign. This campaigned included releasing a report card identifying how well the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations are being implemented. CPD then asked churches to join them through photos, prayers and postcards. As a result, approximately 1,500 postcards were sent to Canadian officials this year.
Keep an eye out for the next report card and please continue to join us in bringing conscience to our government. To learn more about the Centre for Public Dialogue or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
This injustice has led the Centre for Public Dialogue (CPD) to produce an Education Together Campaign. This campaigned included releasing a report card identifying how well the Truth and Reconciliation Commission recommendations are being implemented. CPD then asked churches to join them through photos, prayers and postcards. As a result, approximately 1,500 postcards were sent to Canadian officials this year.
Keep an eye out for the next report card and please continue to join us in bringing conscience to our government. To learn more about the Centre for Public Dialogue or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Disability Concerns
One Church's Quest To Be Welcoming
Recently, Pastor John Huyser of Fruitport (Mich.) CRC had a conversation with a family who started attending his church. This family has a child with autism and had been asked to leave their previous congregation. The sad reality is that this family is not alone. A study of over 500 families who have children with disabilities revealed that "almost one-third of parents reported having changed their place of worship because their child had not been included or welcomed."
Disability Concerns wants to change this. Each year, Disability Concerns helps Christian Reformed congregations identify people within their church who can help engage people with disabilities. We equip these disability advocates for service in their congregations through tools such as the Network, the Inclusion Handbook, and training events. There is also a CRC/RCA Advisory Committee Guiding Coalition, a bi-national, bi-denominational group (pictured above) that provides advice, support, and encouragement to the staff in all of these areas.
Pastor John's church is well on their way to becoming a place where everybody belongs and everybody serves. They take a simple approach: when a family that has a child with a disability starts attending, they ask, “How can we make this work for all of you to be involved?”
As a result, Fruitport CRC currently has four families who have children with autism. That’s a remarkably high number for a congregation of about 130 members. This means that word is getting around that Fruitport CRC is a welcoming place for all families, including those with disabilities.
To learn more about Disability Concerns or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Disability Concerns wants to change this. Each year, Disability Concerns helps Christian Reformed congregations identify people within their church who can help engage people with disabilities. We equip these disability advocates for service in their congregations through tools such as the Network, the Inclusion Handbook, and training events. There is also a CRC/RCA Advisory Committee Guiding Coalition, a bi-national, bi-denominational group (pictured above) that provides advice, support, and encouragement to the staff in all of these areas.
Pastor John's church is well on their way to becoming a place where everybody belongs and everybody serves. They take a simple approach: when a family that has a child with a disability starts attending, they ask, “How can we make this work for all of you to be involved?”
As a result, Fruitport CRC currently has four families who have children with autism. That’s a remarkably high number for a congregation of about 130 members. This means that word is getting around that Fruitport CRC is a welcoming place for all families, including those with disabilities.
To learn more about Disability Concerns or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Indigenous Ministry
The Road of Reconciliation
Walking the road of reconciliation is not a one size fits all journey.
In Edmonton reconciliation can be found in soup and bannock days at the Edmonton Native Healing Center. Participating in a Standing Stones ceremony with Director Harold Roscher can be a bridge in the journey between understanding Christianity and First Nation traditions.
At the Indigenous Christian Fellowship (Regina) part of the road includes providing refurbished bicycles for community members. In the past 21 years the bicycle program has given away 4,236 bikes.
Reconciliation in Winnipeg is sought at the Indigneous Family Center through hair cuts and youth clubs. Women create a space for reconciliation through detailed beadwork.
For Justice and Reconciliation Mobilizer Shannon Perez it’s encouraging churches to take the first step of doing a land acknowledgement during church activities.
What does the road of reconciliation look like for you? Consider organizing a Blanket Exercise, or using the free small group curriculum ‘Living the 8th Fire.’
To learn more about the CRCNA's Indigenous Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
In Edmonton reconciliation can be found in soup and bannock days at the Edmonton Native Healing Center. Participating in a Standing Stones ceremony with Director Harold Roscher can be a bridge in the journey between understanding Christianity and First Nation traditions.
At the Indigenous Christian Fellowship (Regina) part of the road includes providing refurbished bicycles for community members. In the past 21 years the bicycle program has given away 4,236 bikes.
Reconciliation in Winnipeg is sought at the Indigneous Family Center through hair cuts and youth clubs. Women create a space for reconciliation through detailed beadwork.
For Justice and Reconciliation Mobilizer Shannon Perez it’s encouraging churches to take the first step of doing a land acknowledgement during church activities.
What does the road of reconciliation look like for you? Consider organizing a Blanket Exercise, or using the free small group curriculum ‘Living the 8th Fire.’
To learn more about the CRCNA's Indigenous Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Office of Social Justice
Justice at the Border
Thanks to a partnership with the Reformed Church in America, the CRC Office of Social Justice contracts regional organizers in five areas around the U.S. to help congregations deepen their understanding of immigration through education, worship, advocacy, and building connections with immigrants. The regional organizers traveled to San Diego and Tijuana in August for a training on how to better engage congregations and to meet with the pastors and leaders of a church in Tijuana that has a ministry to asylum-seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Pictured above from left to right: An intake psychologist that meets with asylum seekers at the church to help them work through their trauma; Rose, organizer for Pella, Iowa; Peter, organizer for Chicago; Pastor Luciano; Vanessa, organizer for southern California; Melissa, Justice Mobilization Specialist for the OSJ; Paola, Communications Specialist for the OSJ; and Pastora Lupita; not pictured: Jason, organizer for Northwest Iowa and Marissa, organizer for Denver, Colorado.
“I found the Sunday trip to Tijuana to be very meaningful and impactful. I also found the training sessions with our guests allowed me the opportunity to rethink what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. I’ve already implemented some things from our training,” Jason, organizer for Northwest Iowa reflecting on the trip.
To learn more about the Office of Social Justice or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Pictured above from left to right: An intake psychologist that meets with asylum seekers at the church to help them work through their trauma; Rose, organizer for Pella, Iowa; Peter, organizer for Chicago; Pastor Luciano; Vanessa, organizer for southern California; Melissa, Justice Mobilization Specialist for the OSJ; Paola, Communications Specialist for the OSJ; and Pastora Lupita; not pictured: Jason, organizer for Northwest Iowa and Marissa, organizer for Denver, Colorado.
“I found the Sunday trip to Tijuana to be very meaningful and impactful. I also found the training sessions with our guests allowed me the opportunity to rethink what I’m doing and how I’m doing it. I’ve already implemented some things from our training,” Jason, organizer for Northwest Iowa reflecting on the trip.
To learn more about the Office of Social Justice or to see financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Safe Church Ministry
Responding to Abuse of Power
Abuse—whether physical, sexual, emotional, or spiritual—has lasting impacts on those involved and should be actively prevented, especially in church. This was the sentiment behind several decisions of Synod 2019 as it responded to recommendations from the Addressing the Abuse of Power Committee report.
Synod delegates also spent time in a service of lament and worship. Hearing and reading from a litany written by Sharon Fennema, delegates and gathered visitors lamented together. Those present were also welcomed to bear witness to stories of abuse they themselves carry or stories they know of by taking and placing stones in a pile.
“In the Old Testament stones were used by Jacob, Joshua, and Samuel to serve as witnesses and a physical testimony to both what has happened in the past but also to reaffirm their reliance and faith in the sovereign Lord,” said Rev. Carel Geleynse, in words of introduction.
To learn more about Safe Church Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
Synod delegates also spent time in a service of lament and worship. Hearing and reading from a litany written by Sharon Fennema, delegates and gathered visitors lamented together. Those present were also welcomed to bear witness to stories of abuse they themselves carry or stories they know of by taking and placing stones in a pile.
“In the Old Testament stones were used by Jacob, Joshua, and Samuel to serve as witnesses and a physical testimony to both what has happened in the past but also to reaffirm their reliance and faith in the sovereign Lord,” said Rev. Carel Geleynse, in words of introduction.
To learn more about Safe Church Ministry or to review financial information from several congregational service ministries, please read the PDF report.
World Renew
Growing Healthy Communities
When Mirtala Lopez joined a World Renew savings group in her neighborhood, she was quiet and shy. An indigenous woman living on the outskirts of Tegucigalpa, Honduras, Lopez experienced life-long poverty, gang violence, systemic corruption, and ethnic and gender discrimination.
“I went to meetings and added my money to our group savings account,” she said, “but I never spoke. Slowly, I began to participate more and eventually, I was elected group president.”
When World Renew and MCM, a Christian partner, offered the group training in business management, they jumped in and began to grow a community garden. Their efforts resulted in a more diverse diet and better health for their families. Soon, they were selling their extra produce to a supermarket chain in the area. With growing experience, Mirtala became a compassionate leader with a vision for her group and community.
When Mirtala’s husband passed away, she withdrew from her group responsibilities. “I enjoyed planting seeds for gardens and communities,” she said. “It’s a lovely process, a healing one. There is a practical and a spiritual benefit in it. Being part of a community group helped me become the woman I am today.”
Mirtala’s faith in God was strengthened and in time, she became active in her community again. She began to add her voice to her neighbor’s voices to petition their government representatives for access to public services in their neighborhood.
“I never thought I would hold government officials accountable for providing us with the resources we need,” Mirtala said. “World Renew showed us how to open doors and solve problems. Before, I would never speak – now they have to stop me!”
Mirtala’s faith has made her confident in what she hopes for and sure of what she does not see (Heb. 11:1). Thank you for holding up these strong women gardeners with your prayers and financial gifts to World Renew. With your support, they are planting seeds of powerful economic and social change that will one day launch them and their community out of poverty.
To learn more about or to review financial information from World Renew, please read the PDF report.
“I went to meetings and added my money to our group savings account,” she said, “but I never spoke. Slowly, I began to participate more and eventually, I was elected group president.”
When World Renew and MCM, a Christian partner, offered the group training in business management, they jumped in and began to grow a community garden. Their efforts resulted in a more diverse diet and better health for their families. Soon, they were selling their extra produce to a supermarket chain in the area. With growing experience, Mirtala became a compassionate leader with a vision for her group and community.
When Mirtala’s husband passed away, she withdrew from her group responsibilities. “I enjoyed planting seeds for gardens and communities,” she said. “It’s a lovely process, a healing one. There is a practical and a spiritual benefit in it. Being part of a community group helped me become the woman I am today.”
Mirtala’s faith in God was strengthened and in time, she became active in her community again. She began to add her voice to her neighbor’s voices to petition their government representatives for access to public services in their neighborhood.
“I never thought I would hold government officials accountable for providing us with the resources we need,” Mirtala said. “World Renew showed us how to open doors and solve problems. Before, I would never speak – now they have to stop me!”
Mirtala’s faith has made her confident in what she hopes for and sure of what she does not see (Heb. 11:1). Thank you for holding up these strong women gardeners with your prayers and financial gifts to World Renew. With your support, they are planting seeds of powerful economic and social change that will one day launch them and their community out of poverty.
To learn more about or to review financial information from World Renew, please read the PDF report.