https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 11:13:17 +0000 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:47:56 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/resources-diversity-sunday-2023 The CRC’s Diversity ministry (now part of Thrive) was established to affirm and support CRC congregations as they work toward becoming more inclusive environments, welcoming the calling and use of gifts in people of various Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/resources-diversity-sunday-2023 Thu, 20 Jul 2023 16:47:56 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/dehumanization-human I am convinced that the diversity work of the Christian Reformed Church is the humanization of God’s work in the world. Let me explain. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/dehumanization-human Sun, 27 Nov 2022 15:16:22 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/diversity-notes-synod-2022 The Office of Diversity supports leaders representing Korean, African American, First Nations, Chinese, Southeast Asian, and Pacific Islander communities. Together, these groups represent about one-third of all CRCNA churches today. And they are growing! This is change! Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/diversity-notes-synod-2022 Thu, 14 Jul 2022 13:42:53 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/pentecost-fire The day of Pentecost was known as the day of harvest. According to the Old Testament, the Pentecost was one of the three major festivals where Jews expected something new to happen. Pentecost represented the first fruits of the harvest of God’s salvation. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/pentecost-fire Thu, 05 May 2022 13:47:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/scholarship-recipient-builds-cultural-intelligence I thought I had high cultural intelligence. Neulsaem (Sam) Ha https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/scholarship-recipient-builds-cultural-intelligence Tue, 19 Apr 2022 14:07:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/my-racial-education Chicago made up its mind about me. As a kid, I took weekly trips downtown and watched people of every hue. Wandering through Marshall Field department store, I noticed the security guards who kept a close eye on me. These guards made up their minds about me. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/my-racial-education Tue, 22 Mar 2022 13:58:55 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/california-dreaming A Note from Reggie Smith, Director of the CRCNA Office of Diversity: Dear Friends, Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/california-dreaming Thu, 17 Feb 2022 16:06:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/young-king-david-and-todays-diaspora Some years ago, when I was a pastor, someone told me that even though I was chosen as pastor by their congregation, I was not their pastor. The words shocked me. The person remained a member of my church but never allowed me to pastor them. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/young-king-david-and-todays-diaspora Mon, 13 Dec 2021 20:39:21 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/doing-new-thing A Note from Reggie Smith, Director of the CRCNA Office of Diversity: Dear Friends, Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/doing-new-thing Thu, 14 Oct 2021 13:59:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/resilient-leadership The pandemic made me interested in reading materials about resilience. What does it take for leaders and churches to bounce back from such a devastating event? Author Tod Bolsinger wrote a great book about resilience for church leaders. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/resilient-leadership Mon, 13 Sep 2021 14:48:14 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/abraham-and-ellis “For he [Abraham] was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” ~Hebrews 11:10 NIV Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/abraham-and-ellis Mon, 14 Jun 2021 21:01:24 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/crc-survey-says I recently received my February 2021 issue of The Banner in the mail. I sat down in my green Lazy-Boy recliner in my living room to read. Reginald Smith https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/crc-survey-says Wed, 17 Feb 2021 14:56:39 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/jesus-and-john-wayne When I was in high school, everyone in my suburban church youth group was transported to McCormick Place, the large convention center along Lake Michigan in Chicago to take part in a Christian lifestyle conference series titled “Institute in Basic Youth Conflicts,” headed by the charismatic pasto Michael Van Denend https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/jesus-and-john-wayne Fri, 29 Jan 2021 20:33:18 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/dr-martin-luther-king-community-celebration-event On Sunday January 17, 2021 the successful annual Grand Rapids (Mich.) city-wide Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Community Celebration took place. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/dr-martin-luther-king-community-celebration-event Fri, 08 Jan 2021 19:30:34 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/why-church-needed-covid-19 With the arrival of COVID-19, the horrible killings of black people, and all the inequalities that the country suddenly saw— conversations about racism, white supremacy, white privilege, and systemic racism have increased dramatically. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/why-church-needed-covid-19 Tue, 22 Dec 2020 14:16:28 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/any-sin-racism A Study In Situational Total Depravity Rudy Gonzalez https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/any-sin-racism Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:44:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/meet-scholarship-recipient-onyou-song The Multiracial Student Scholarship Fund is one of the strategies employed by the Office of Race Relations (ORR) to develop multiracial congregational leadership in the CRCNA. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/meet-scholarship-recipient-onyou-song Fri, 02 Oct 2020 15:52:40 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/pocahontas-birth-myth Much has been written about Pocahontas. There’s been books, stories, and even a movie from Disney. She’s a character from the 1600's, and to have a story about a girl, a teenage girl from that time, it’s almost surprising.   Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/pocahontas-birth-myth Wed, 30 Sep 2020 17:23:56 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/meet-scholarship-recipient-charles-mutinga The Multiracial Student Scholarship Fund is one of the strategies employed by the Office of Race Relations (ORR) to develop multiracial congregational leadership in the CRCNA. Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/meet-scholarship-recipient-charles-mutinga Thu, 24 Sep 2020 14:27:59 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/sabbath-and-being-de-centered Observing the Sabbath every seven days is important for many reasons, one of which is that the Sabbath de-centers us. Our eyes are taken off of ourselves and put on God. We step away from pursuing our own ends, our own glory, and are reminded that life is about God’s ends and God’s glory. Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/multicultural/sabbath-and-being-de-centered Wed, 03 Jun 2020 16:15:03 +0000