What will Happen to the Ministry we Support? It has been an honour to work with missions advocates over the years and we want to thank you for your dedication to missions! For more than a century, Christian Reformed churches have been introducing people to Christ in North America and abroad through Home Missions and World Missions. We are so grateful for your church’s partnership! Through missionaries, church planters, and ministry leaders here and around the world, your congregation is making a far-reaching, eternal impact. Your partnership is tangible proof that you believe in a God without borders. Announcing Resonate As you may have heard, Synod 2017 just approved a name and director for the new mission agency and we are excited about our future as Resonate Global Mission under the leadership of Rev. Zachary King, a longtime missionary to Haiti. This idea of a ‘Resonating’ sound isn’t just a metaphor for our work, it’s a picture of the future we pursue—living out and sharing the good news so that it goes out in every direction like an expanding, amplifying sound. As our two agencies come together, we understand how important it is for you to be able to support the ministry that matters the most to your church. We’ve ensured that you will be able to continue to give to either international or domestic ministry (or hopefully both!) and we will apply the funds exactly as you specify. We also want to reassure you that the ministry work your church has stood behind will continue. In addition to the ministries that you are familiar with, we anticipate new ministry opportunities to engage with as Resonate Global Mission leverages the benefits of bringing “home” and “world” together. With your prayers and financial support, we will be able to equip all our churches for ministry and join together with what God is already doing around the world. If you have additional questions or concerns about your giving, please contact Trish De Jong at tdejong@crcna.org or (800-730-3490).
Resources for the Future This will be the final Missions Advocate newsletter that you will receive from CRWM. Resonate Global Mission will continue to provide you with helpful resources. In the meantime, you can continue to visit the resources page on CRWM’s website as well as the Global Mission section of the Network. Ministry Openings With the new agency and new fiscal year on July 1, also comes a number of new ministry positions!
Here is the full list, which will be available at crwm.org/career:
Media Director, West Africa • Evangelist, West Africa • Leadership Developer, Asia, Middle East, and Japan • Lecturer in Community Development, Uganda • Promotions Assistant, Haiti • Church Leadership Developer, Haiti • Transformational Network Coordinator, Nigeria • Cohort Program Coordinator, Central America • Theological Educator, Nigeria • Bible School Teacher, Nigeria • Christian Education Specialist, South Africa • Church Developer, Nigeria • Education Consultant, Nigeria. Summer 2017
As Christian Reformed World Missions prepares to become Resonate Global Mission, so too comes an end to what is currently the Canadian Missions Network (CMN). The CMN is concluding on June 30, 2017, as Resonate launches on July 1. Much of what we learned through the CMN will provide a foundation that will continue through Resonate. Even before Resonate was on the horizon, we recognized the desire for churches to receive resources through a regional delivery system. Responding to this desire, staff developed the CMN to increase connections with congregations. Since then there has been an increase in the number of church engagements and presentations, conversations with pastors and ministry leaders, and a rise in congregation Missions Committees/Global Outreach Teams. We feel privileged to have walked alongside many churches as they have deepened their interest in global missions, and their partnership with our ministry. In July, that work will continue in Canada through Resonate’s regional teams, under the leadership of Rich Braaksma and Kevin de Raaf. Rich (pictured above) will serve the western Canada region, which includes Alberta and British Columbia. Braaksma is currently a pastor at The Road Church, in Calgary, Ala. Kevin will lead the eastern Canada region, which includes Ontario, Quebec, Newfoundland and Labrador, and the Maritimes.
DeRaaf will lead the region with his wealth of experience in classis leadership and church renewal along with his 24 years Thank you for your faithful prayers on behalf of God’s mission to His world.
The Future of the Canadian Missions Network of combined experience as a lead pastor in Ontario. As a Missions Advocate reader, you have played a valuable role in the Canadian Mission Network. We look forward to continuing to partner with you for mission through Resonate. Thank you for your ongoing ministry to raise awareness for missions in your church and care for your church’s missionaries! A Special Thank You Both Bill and Ko Spyksma and John and Margaret den Otter will be retiring from their positions in the CMN. We are so thankful for the ministry of Bill & Ko and John & Margaret! They have been a tremendous blessing to churches, missionaries in their years of ministry—including the extra year that they graciously committed to in order to ease the transition to Resonate. We wish the Lord’s blessings as the Spyksmas and den Otters close this chapter of their lives, knowing that missions is very much part of their hearts and passion.
If you have an opportunity, please feel free to drop them a word of congratulations.