On a basic human level we know we demonstrate our values by what we spend our time and money on. If you value education, you might spend time educating yourself or educating others, donate to educational institutions, or pay for school for your children. Indeed this truth is called out by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount: “For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:21).
As director of the Christian Reformed Church Loan Fund, I have deep appreciation for investors who have been the heartbeat of the Loan Fund for decades. Through investment rate and denominational changes, many individuals, churches, classes, and other CRC organizations have remained invested in the Loan Fund.
When I started in this role, the Loan Fund was in a state of decline and needed a turn-around plan. In trying to understand the underpinnings of the Loan Fund’s previous success, I reached out to investors to understand their motives. While a few mentioned good investment rates, the deeper reason underlying their dedication was faith and commitment to the denomination.
Recently I spoke to a few active investors to try to understand this further. As it turned out, two were retired pastors and one a retired accountant representing the Heritage Center at Graafschap CRC in Holland, Mich. All grew up in the Christian Reformed Church and all bore witness to the challenges and changes in the denomination over the years.
One knew he wanted to be a pastor at age 6 and pastored for 40 years. In his retirement he fills interim roles for churches experiencing pastoral vacancies. He hopes churches can continue to extend their reach and views the Loan Fund’s work as supporting that goal.
Another retired pastor, who served an East Coast church for over 40 years and was involved in a variety of other things within the denomination, recalled witnessing the difficulty church plants had finding space to meet. He found investing in the Loan Fund to be a tangible way to serve churches. He trusts the people he knows on the Loan Fund Board and expressed hope that the denomination would survive and thrive. He believes God is still doing amazing things across the denomination.
The Heritage Center at Graafschap CRC is a more recent investor in the Loan Fund. The Heritage Center was started in 2006 in anticipation of the sesquicentennial celebration of the denomination in 2007. Individual contributions funded the project, and visitor contributions have allowed the Heritage Center to give back by investing in the Loan Fund. More information about the Heritage Center can be found at graafschapcrc.org/about/heritage-center.
The CRC Loan Fund would not be able to fulfill its role to churches without faithful support. A heart for Christ is fundamental, as is trust and knowing those involved.