In keeping with the tone set Saturday evening with Resonate Global Mission’s presentation on church planting and Zach King’s “Antioch Moment” address, Synod 2026 enthusiastically approved the 10-year strategic plan for church planting Monday evening, with a standing applause after a unanimous vote.
Synod president Chad Steenwyk emphasized that the decision is a significant move for the denomination, as it is a 10-year plan, making it a “generational proposal.”
Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. It is meeting June 12-18 in Grand Rapids, Mich.
In 2024 and 2025, Resonate made a number of big decisions about budget cuts, church-plant grants, and international and national work. “We put together an austere budget,” said director Kevin DeRaaf, which they were not only able to meet, but go beyond.
All delegates were in favor of the presented 10-year plan, but some had questions regarding a full commitment to an endeavor that is going to require the whole church.
DeRaaf, director of Resonate Global Mission, expressed that though the plan is detailed with organizational change, “at its heart it is the change of culture,” taking on a new identity of the CRCNA as a church-planting denomination. “It has to begin with a red-hot passion for the gospel of Jesus Christ.”
Ralph Wigboldus, Classis Ontario Southwest, who reported for the committee recommending to adopt the plan, told delegates, “If you vote in favor of this, you are not just voting to tell other people what to do. You are voting to commit yourself to doing this.”
Scott Vander Ploeg, Classis Southeast U.S., who in 2023 and 2025 pushed to see the creation of this plan a reality, said, “I really think this plan is good,” adding that he loves the “spirit of this synod” and the optimism and hope in the opening addresses. But in the end, getting from a plan to action, what synod decides “does very little.”
“I know that just voting won’t do it,” VanderPloeg said. “I would like to urge everyone to have a new commitment to the red-hot passion for the gospel. Start at the lowest level. I would urge everyone in this room to commit to disciple two people intentionally.”
Brandon Haan, Classis Grandville, shared his experience of hearing about the decline in membership at Synod 2023, then being at the Multiply conference last fall and hearing that people wanted to plant something like 1,000 churches in 10 years. He remembered rolling his eyes cynically, but now, he said, “I am so done being cynical.” Haan’s experience is that the denomination has been a low-trust, low-hope community, and he has been waiting for something “to trust in, to hope in, and to rally around.” Haan concluded, “I think this needs to happen.”
Schuyler Pike, Classis Muskegon, asked the committee to speak to the place of evangelism in the plan. How can Resonate help local congregations and individuals “ignite the passion for the gospel and for our neighbors who need the gospel?”
Tim Sheridan, Resonate’s director of church planting, suggested an answer lies with the global church, specifically the global south that is multiplying in fruit because they are making disciples from their harvest field. “Activation” just takes responding in obedience to Jesus’ mission, Sheridan said, and as one does, the Holy Spirit will activate and reawaken a passion in you. And when that’s there, “we also have resources in regards to evangelism training.”
“Disciple-making begins with intentional relationships,” said Sheridan. True disciple-making depends on the transforming words of the Spirit, and growth occurs when disciples are entrusted with responsibility. “Disciples making disciples is a true mark that you have become a disciple.”
Joe Sanderlin, Classis Hackensack, expressed that disciple work happens when you step out in faith, and the work is really not yours. “I believe that when you disciple one, two disciples come out of it. And two makes four, and so on and so on.”
Ken Benjamins, Classis Niagara, asked about how to bring this passion to the local church and what are Resonate’s ideas to help them deal with the church’s current financial standing.
De Raaf said there was no easy answer, but in the broader sense, “I don’t think CRC has a cashflow problem, we have a vision problem,” and if the church agrees to the vision together, the resources will come.
Ryan Nirula, Classis Quinte, pushed back on the suggestion that the CRC hasn’t already been a church-planting denomination. “Our forefathers, whether ethnic or spiritual, came to our countries with nothing.” But they built schools and planted churches, because they believed the gospel needed to be heard. “We stand on the shoulders of past generations, but God is now calling us to step out in faith. Christ has protected, defended, and preserved the Christian Reformed Church.” Now is the time for this generation to keep on building so that the gospel can be proclaimed.
Jean Gomes, Classis Grandville, shared how he had been a part of church planting all his life and has planted two churches in Brazil. “One of the greatest difficulties in church planting is finding church planters.” Gomes left Brazil in a local church where there were 11 church plants going on. He’s now committed to a church plant in Grand Rapids, and his question for the committee was, “Can we have access to a pool of church planters ready to go?”
Sheridan responded in saying that the goal is to make disciples to make multiple generations of those disciples that will be church planters. “Our work is to come alongside them and support them in that.” Though not everyone is called to plant.
“The tip of the iceberg is these global connections that just keep multiplying,” Sheridan said. If God continues to bless connections, such as those being made recently with ministry partners in the Middle East, Resonate is open to receiving missionaries from other parts of the world who will come to North America to plant churches. By this they might find themselves in a pool.
Andrew Systma, Classis Yellowstone, also a church planter, voiced his commitment. “I’m all in, and I need your help.” Praying together are muscles we need to exercise more, he said. Discipleship and church planting are things the church must learn from each other. “We need to do this together.”
Zach King, general secretary, brought the conversation back to Tim Blackmon’s sermon Sunday night about the parable of the mustard seed. “I just wanted you to know that you (all) are the seed.” King encouraged everyone to share this plan with their local church with passion, as God is doing something wondrous, even in the little things.
The vote was unanimous with standing applause, followed by everyone joining together to sing “Praise God from Whom All Blessings Flow.”
In the follow-up session Tim Sheridan extended gratitude to Viviana Cassis, the operations manager of Resonate Global Mission, as well as everyone who worked on the plan, and for synod's gratitude and enthusiastic commitment and response.
Synod 2026, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is meeting June 12-18 on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. Go to crcna.org/synod for the livestream, photos, reports, and a live blog of synod proceedings and decisions. Find daily news and our video Synod Recap at thebanner.org/synod.