https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:19:11 +0000 Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/call-servanthood-ordinary-loving-our-elderly Recently, I had a conversation with a 92-year old man. Let’s call him Bill (not his real name). Bill was astonished at his life. He didn’t expect to break into the nonagenarian years, as his relatives had never made it past their 80’s. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/call-servanthood-ordinary-loving-our-elderly Thu, 18 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-season-hope Certainty feels like an illusion at the best of times, but that’s especially true these days. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-season-hope Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:54:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/mentoring-i-world-nov-2019-youth-ministry-newsletter I met with an emerging adult not long ago for a conversation about life and church. Obviously both can be messy topics and sure enough, our conversation revealed multiple layers of chaos. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/mentoring-i-world-nov-2019-youth-ministry-newsletter Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:51:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/who-are-you-raising-take-over-your-church-10-years-now According to the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), North American churches are both shrinking and aging. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/who-are-you-raising-take-over-your-church-10-years-now Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:26:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/hungry-god-story Our stories are a fascinating reflection of a life lived or currently living. Powerful snapshots show up alongside our narratives which summarize or quantify the events of our moments. I invite you to consider the following:  Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/hungry-god-story Thu, 05 Sep 2019 22:46:37 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meaningful-ways-send-years-grads Graduation season is upon us. Many of our senior high school students are getting ready to celebrate a significant milestone in their lives. With it often comes layers of transition anxiety, but also many completion moments that scream “Finally!” Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/meaningful-ways-send-years-grads Wed, 10 Apr 2019 23:32:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/ron-and-syd-talk-about-soul-care In ministry, we often try to do the things we need to do to survive, to balance obligation with the guilt of heavy expectations and as a result, we become consumed by the doing, the urge to be of the world. Rushing to the next thing we need to do. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/ron-and-syd-talk-about-soul-care Thu, 25 Oct 2018 12:48:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/october-new-september I few years ago, a youth pastor shared this phrase with me: October is the new September.  Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/october-new-september Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:43:30 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/made-love-one-small-step-time Our daughter and son-in-law had their first child during the Advent season. As new grandparents, you realize very quickly that you can discover new born love again and that when you are invited to share in that young life, your own life changes. Overnight. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/made-love-one-small-step-time Tue, 29 May 2018 12:39:02 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/may-youth-ministry-newsletter-intergenerational-style Intergenerational seems to be a buzzword lately for churches. It can easily be set aside as just that, but I do think, that this idea, this mindset cannot be overlooked so quickly (not that we are but I am making a point here). Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/may-youth-ministry-newsletter-intergenerational-style Tue, 08 May 2018 13:23:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/march-2018-crcna-youth-ministry-newsletter In a world where 20 second sound bytes are the norm, I find it refreshing when I receive a document which tells a short, relevant youth ministry story. Stories give us a picture within a moment. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/march-2018-crcna-youth-ministry-newsletter Thu, 08 Mar 2018 18:48:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/why-do-my-kids-bad-music “The music that young people listen to today is explicit, repetitive, and just sounds bad.” Micah Van Dijk https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/why-do-my-kids-bad-music Tue, 27 Feb 2018 16:30:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/was-best-thing-i-heard-today I normally don’t share personal stories here but this one has been stirring in me and I feel nudged to share. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/was-best-thing-i-heard-today Tue, 13 Feb 2018 13:40:27 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-thirds I recently attended a conference hosted by the Association of Youth Ministry Educators in Dallas, TX. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-thirds Thu, 09 Nov 2017 17:56:50 +0000