The Christian Reformed Church in North America has four agencies, two educational institutions, and three uniquely Canadian ministries that were all started over the past 160 years as a way to extend your ministry, support your congregation, and encourage you individually as a member of the CRC. Here is a small sample of some of the resources or events that are available to you this fall.
ReFrame Ministries is the CRC’s media outreach ministry. On Thursday, Oct. 24, you can join an online event hosted by Marc Nabié, ReFrame’s French-language ministry leader in Burkina Faso. Nabié will speak about gratitude—the theme he writes about in October’s Today devotional—and share images from West Africa that he mentions in the devotions. Visit ReFrameMinistries.org/Events for details.
Resonate Global Mission is the CRC’s mission agency. While we might not all be full-time missionaries, Jesus calls all of us to live out and proclaim the gospel in the spaces where God has placed us. Resonate’s Witness: Equipped to Share the Good News is a self-guided course for individuals or small groups to learn how to join in God’s work in their neighborhoods. Witness includes videos, a small-group discussion guide, and a personal journal that will help you reflect on what it means to be a witness for Christ—and then to take practical steps to share the love of Christ in your community. Access this free resource from Resonate at resonateglobalmission.org/witness.
Thrive equips and supports Christian Reformed congregations. Every year, they provide 52 faith formation tips for you to easily distribute in your church bulletin, post on your website or social media, or email to your congregation. To receive these weekly tips in your email, subscribe to the CRCNA’s weekly bulletin announcement service email by signing up at shorturl.at/jjV6z. You’ll receive one tip per week along with other CRCNA-related announcements.
World Renew is the disaster response, justice, and community development agency of the CRCNA. Its gift catalog gives you the opportunity to choose how you want to support families around the world achieve sustainably healthy lives. Whether it be a goat, a chicken, a handwashing station, or empowerment training for at-risk youth, your gift could be just what someone needs to move forward with hope. This season, you can help World Renew share God’s love with people who experience hunger, disaster, and oppression by giving them opportunities to improve their lives by increasing their income to better meet their needs. Learn more at worldrenew.net/gift-catalog (U.S.) or worldrenew.ca/gifts (Canada).
Since 1876, Calvin Theological Seminary has been preparing students in the CRCNA to follow their call in ministry. Almost 150 years later, its enrollment includes students from more than 25 countries, representing diverse theological and ecumenical backgrounds, who value our Reformed foundation. Its emphasis on whole-person education reaches beyond pastoral training to provide resources for the whole church. To discover some of the seminary’s recent resources, visit calvinseminary.edu/blog.
Calvin University is the official university of the CRCNA. In addition to equipping students to be agents of renewal, ready to step into the public square and renew all things for the glory of Christ, Calvin also offers opportunities for learning to people of all ages. Join our free award-winning lecture series in January, in person or online. Check out calvin.edu/January-Series in September to see the full lineup of speakers.
Canadian Justice Ministries include the Centre for Public Dialogue, Canadian Indigenous Ministries, and Canadian Intercultural Ministries, agencies designed to equip and support Canadian CRCs in justice and reconciliation. Hearts Exchanged (crcna.org/Hearts-Exchanged) is an eight-month learning and action journey focused on helping churches become places of belonging and embrace God’s call to reconciliation with Indigenous neighbors. Cohorts for individuals and churches will start this fall.