May 14, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
On May 6, Tony Campbell began his work as the RCA's new coordinator for African American/Black ministries.
"What I hope for the RCA, for African American ministries, is that we bring people into a deeper and deeper relationship with Jesus Christ that can transform the world," Campbell says. That transformation,...
April 2, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
A denominational discernment process that began in 2010 is likely to conclude at this year's General Synod with the adoption of a new focus for the denomination.
The General Synod Council (GSC) will be presenting a recommendation to the 2013 General Synod regarding the denomination's ministry focus following the conclusion of Our Call this year. This recommendation is the...
March 28, 2013
(From RCA Today)
Two congregations on Long Island are anticipating renewed vision and enthusiasm for ministry—as a new joint congregation.
Levittown Community Church and Parkway Community Church, both RCA, have been worshiping together since September 9.
"Since we started worshiping together, we have been excited and enthusiastic," says Joe Cusack, pastor of Levittown Community. "Members are participating in greater numbers in worship, Sunday...
March 26, 2013
(From Hope College)
Dr. John C. Knapp, who is the founding director of the Frances Marlin Mann Center for Ethics and Leadership at Samford University in Birmingham, Alabama, has been named the next president of Hope College.
Knapp, whose leadership experience includes higher education and business, and whose scholarship includes multiple books and articles on leadership ethics, issues in higher education, and the intersection of faith and work, was elected unanimously the 12th...
March 22, 2013
(From RCA Today)
Over the years Rocky Mountains Classis had fallen into a pattern of mistrust. "It had become fragmented to the point that even the most basic topics created divisions within the classis and between pastors, elders, and deacons," says classis president Steve Steele.
Realizing things had to change, in 2011 classis leaders asked Dr. Bill Hoyt, a ministry coach and consultant, to evaluate the classis. He recommended radical change.
A "visioning team...
March 19, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
Efraim Oppelt serves with one of the RCA's global mission partners, the Uniting Reformed Church in Southern Africa (URCSA). In a town called Stanger in KwaZulu-Natal Province, Oppelt helps members of URCSA's KwaDukuza Congregation do their utmost to alleviate challenges posed by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. They provide food on a daily basis to children orphaned by AIDS and distribute food parcels to needy families.
"Even though national and international...
March 15, 2013
(From RCA Today)
Every morning before school starts, elementary school children in Port Alberni, British Columbia, gather for a healthy breakfast and story time with volunteers. The Read and Feed program is sponsored by Alberni Valley Neighbourlink, an organization made up of area churches.
Four years ago, Cedar Grove Reformed Church in Port Alberni held a visioning process, and that process spurred them to get more involved in outreach. "We realized that we weren't as...
March 11, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
At its most recent meeting, on March 6 and 7, the RCA Board of Benefits Services authorized its executive director to pursue negotiations with partners in the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA) to offer new, jointly self-funded voluntary medical insurance plans. Such voluntary plans would result in the discontinuation of the RCA's current mandatory (for ministers) self-funded medical insurance plans.
Benefits Services staff is committed...
March 8, 2013
(From RCA Communications)
Robyn Afrik has joined the denominational staff as the RCA's coordinator for local missional engagement. In this role, she will work to help congregations, classes, and regional synods live out the gospel in transformational ways. Afrik began on March 4.
"I am excited for the ways in which God will teach, inspire, and equip us all to learn how to extend the church into community beyond what we may be doing or haven't thought of yet," says Afrik.
...
March 5, 2013
(From RCA Today)
For the first time in decades, Ross Community Reformed Church has a church softball team on its softball fields. The congregation is in the black financially for the first time in a long time too. Best of all, residents of Gary, Indiana, are coming to Christ and getting connected at Ross.
Shawn Gerbers, who came to pastor Ross Reformed in 2009, credits this turnaround to "a congregation ready to share the gospel."
Inspiration for change...