https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:18:07 +0000 Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/5-ways-partner-diaspora-church-plants As people move throughout the world, Resonate Global Mission is working with the denomination and church planters to plant churches among communities of immigrants and refugees. Resonate Global Mission https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/5-ways-partner-diaspora-church-plants Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/what-church "What is the church?"  You might be asking yourself this question, or maybe you’re hearing people in your church or ministry ask it. We’ve been asking this question, too, as we’ve explored different expressions of church alongside the Church Planting Institute. Samantha Brinkman and Jessie Zantingh https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/what-church Thu, 25 Aug 2022 13:34:35 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/churches-built-multiply In times of pressure, the church is tempted to lose the vision to multiply and then retreat behind her walls to survive. The current pandemic can do this, but so too can starting and sustaining any new church plant. A church plant built to multiply Beth Fellinger https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/churches-built-multiply Fri, 26 Mar 2021 16:41:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/meet-john-bouwers-church-planting-institute Along with being a grandfather, a father and a husband for 35 years, John Bouwers was once a mechanical engineer and a serial entrepreneur before becoming a pastor of an established church and finally a planter of a new one.  Resonate Global Mission https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/meet-john-bouwers-church-planting-institute Wed, 18 Nov 2020 14:27:01 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/why-are-church-plants-better-reaching-unreached In the late 1980s and 1990s, Zion Reformed Church experienced a significant decline in church attendance, from approximately 800 worshipers down to 200 on an average Sunday. Becky Getz https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/why-are-church-plants-better-reaching-unreached Thu, 16 Apr 2020 16:21:43 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/planting-churches-discover-acts Resonate missionary Ben Meyer shared with me recently that he has used the Discover Acts studies with teams in Mexico to plant two Sam Huizenga https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/planting-churches-discover-acts Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:09:07 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/one-thing-i-should-have-done-sooner I am the type of person you'd expect to get myself into part-time pastoring or bivocationalism or whatever you want to call it. I've always figured out ways to get the money I needed or do the cool thing I wanted to do. I've never been too risk averse when it comes to these sorts of things. Andy Littleton https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/one-thing-i-should-have-done-sooner Thu, 31 Oct 2019 14:33:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/10-things-church-planters-want-you-know-about-church CRC church plants are on the front lines of bringing and being the gospel of Jesus Christ in their communities—but many church plants don’t look or function the same way as established CRC churches. Resonate Global Mission https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/10-things-church-planters-want-you-know-about-church Wed, 28 Aug 2019 13:47:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/discussing-church-planting-and-revitalization-inspire Registration is now open for Inspire 2019 happening in Windsor, Ontario, August 1-3, 2019. Resonate Global Mission https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/discussing-church-planting-and-revitalization-inspire Mon, 29 Apr 2019 13:40:20 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/unspoken-challenges-female-church-planters-face “I think there’s a lot of pressure to be really good as a female pastor—not just an OK pastor,” said Sam DeJong McCarron, who works as a ministry vocational consultant for the CRC’s Pastor Church Resources. Resonate Global Mission https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/unspoken-challenges-female-church-planters-face Fri, 05 Oct 2018 12:32:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/fair-community-port-st-lucie Reading over grant applications from CRC church planters is always a joy for those of us on the church planting team here at Resonate Global Mission -- it is inspiring to see how these church planters are leading their congregations to love God and love their neighbors in creative and practical w Erica Eizenga https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/fair-community-port-st-lucie Mon, 13 Aug 2018 18:26:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/heart-songs-project In the CRC we commonly distinguish between “established congregations” and “church plants.” Stereotypically, the former have many worshipers from Dutch backgrounds and the latter are more community-oriented.   Syd Hielema https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/heart-songs-project Fri, 03 Aug 2018 17:59:06 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/evangelism-relational I was just finishing up a discipling session with a church member at a local coffee shop when a man I have seen before but did not know approached me and asked: “I assume you know that Steve passed away on Tuesday?” As I shook his hand I replied, “Yes, thanks for letting me know. Jim Halstead https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/evangelism-relational Thu, 12 Oct 2017 14:46:10 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/acorns-and-me The trees are starting to change and the rhythms of the fall season are starting to come together. Eric Kas https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/acorns-and-me Wed, 11 Oct 2017 15:49:13 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-vocation-artistic This is part four of a four-part series (click to read part 1, part 2 Kevin Schutte https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-vocation-artistic Wed, 31 May 2017 13:40:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-focus This is part three of a four-part series on a question that Dr. Kevin Schutte https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-focus Thu, 06 Apr 2017 12:24:41 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-identity This is the second part (part I is here) of a four part series on the question: “What difference does it make when you put the word missional in front o Kevin Schutte https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/understanding-our-missional-identity Thu, 23 Feb 2017 17:22:08 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/how-our-friendship-group-increased-our-churchs Around ten years ago, I was leading our Adult Sunday School class, and I noticed four or five adults who appeared different. I found out these folks were part of a Friendship Class, but their teacher had recently moved away. Steve Nyenhuis https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/how-our-friendship-group-increased-our-churchs Tue, 21 Feb 2017 15:29:45 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/what-difference-does-it-make-when-you-put-word In Dr. George Hunsberger’s last lecture at Western Theological Seminary he asked the question, “What difference does it make when you put the word missional in front of the word church?” (1) The question is timely as “missional” seems to be used to describe almost anything. Kevin Schutte https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/what-difference-does-it-make-when-you-put-word Fri, 20 Jan 2017 18:54:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/creating-together In a historic church building in downtown Lincoln, Neb., a young congregation is cultivating new community and life. Erica Eizenga https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-planting/creating-together Tue, 10 Jan 2017 20:43:27 +0000