https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 10:32:30 +0000 Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/every-tribe-people-language-and-nation Imagine sitting in a crowded room with 50 people and listening to folks from 16 different Christian Reformed churches each tell their congregational story for 20 minutes – for a total of  more than 6 hours in one day!   Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/every-tribe-people-language-and-nation Fri, 12 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/innovation-and-renewal-why-church-needs Over the past few years, as a church planter, I have been asked many times to have conversations with existing church pastors about how they can implement and practice some of the things that church planters have used to grow their church and to integrate into existing culture. Martin Spoelstra https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/innovation-and-renewal-why-church-needs Thu, 21 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/ethnically-or-religiously-crc-which-our-future What is the future direction of the CRCNA? We know who we've been, but who will we become? Trevor Mouw https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/ethnically-or-religiously-crc-which-our-future Mon, 26 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/nfl-culture-wars-and-article-17s In the world of professional sports, nobody is immune from getting ousted, canned, axed, or the more genteel "relieved of their duties."  In the NFL, so many firings are condensed into the day after the regular season ends that there's a name for it: “Black Monday.” Justin Carruthers https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/nfl-culture-wars-and-article-17s Mon, 08 Jan 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/stories-strategies-strengthening-crc-canada Join with other Christian Reformed Churches in Canada on Saturday, January 27, 2024 (11am-1pm Eastern) to discuss some of the exciting things happening in church planting and church renewal. You’ll have a chance to hear some stories, discuss lessons that might help you CRC Communications https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/stories-strategies-strengthening-crc-canada Thu, 30 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-iv-remixed By and large, today’s new cults of and for the Remixed are what I will call “intuitional religions.” By this, I mean that their sense of meaning is based in narratives that simultaneously reject clear-cut creedal metaphysical doctrines and institutional hierarchies and place the locus Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-iv-remixed Fri, 17 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-3-strange-rites I believe in God. I’m not a religious fanatic. I can’t remember the last time I went to church. My faith has carried me a long way. It’s Sheilaism. Just my own little voice … It’s just trying to love yourself and be gentle with yourself. You know, I guess, take care of each other. Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-3-strange-rites Tue, 07 Nov 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-1 The Death of Hope, Part 1 Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/death-hope-part-1 Fri, 29 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/three-minds-and-third-way In this article, I'll argue that there is an enduringly progressive mindset in the CRC. This mindset was operative in the women in office debate and it still operates in the LGBTQ debate. Though the individuals have changed, the mindset is the same. Rob Golding https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/three-minds-and-third-way Thu, 25 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/third-way-meh When I read here on the RJ blog about “Better Together: A Third Way,” an organized effort to hold together the Christian Reformed Church, my heart sa Steve Mathonnet-VanderWell https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/third-way-meh Wed, 24 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/ecclesiological-mosaic I began attending worship at a small, rural Lutheran church when I was in junior high. I can still remember sitting down in the pew next to my classmates, the striking stained glass images in the windows and the booming organ in the balcony above. Tyler Helfers https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/ecclesiological-mosaic Mon, 22 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/how-church-growth-movement-has-de-churched-christians One of the common responses to the decline of Christianity in America is to note that it is not our fault. Jonathon Austin https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/how-church-growth-movement-has-de-churched-christians Wed, 10 May 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/thinking-about-third-way-are-non-salvific-matters Recently, a group of CRC pastors has called for a Third Way in the CRC under the banner of “Better Together.” This is a serious call that's worthy of serious reflection. Eric Van Dyken https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/thinking-about-third-way-are-non-salvific-matters Tue, 28 Mar 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/your-congregations-big-c-campfire-stories Every family of God needs to tell their campfire stories (see Telling Your Congregation’s Campfire Stories). Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/your-congregations-big-c-campfire-stories Wed, 08 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/revelation-finding-hope-jesus-words-church A couple weeks ago, I posted this quote from Allan Boesak on my blog: Tyler Helfers https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/revelation-finding-hope-jesus-words-church Mon, 06 Mar 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/church-now-conversation-connecting-next In this recording, Anna Radcliffe, Ruth Langkamp, and Larry Doornbos lead us into the world of Next Gen ministry and leadership development. Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/church-now-conversation-connecting-next Thu, 09 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/telling-your-congregations-campfire Serving as a counselor at a camp called Roger (in Rockford, MI), we'd go out each week for a night in tents. Gathering around the campfire, we'd tell or read stories. One of my most memorable storytelling times came when I read stories from the Apocrypha. Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/telling-your-congregations-campfire Mon, 06 Feb 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/our-story-power-writing-your-congregations "The universe is made of stories, not atoms." - Muriel Rukeyser Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/our-story-power-writing-your-congregations Tue, 24 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/whats-love-got-do-it-power-naming-what A simple truth about most of us is that we do what we love.  Indeed, we may push through things we have to do. We may endure stuff we hate to do. But we will find time flies when we do what we love.  Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/fresh-ideas/whats-love-got-do-it-power-naming-what Mon, 09 Jan 2023 05:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/best-practices/writing-your-congregations-next-chapter Imagine joining a robust, glad, and innovative conversation that will help your congregation take steps into its God-given, hope-filled future. Larry Doornbos https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/church-renewal/best-practices/writing-your-congregations-next-chapter Thu, 22 Dec 2022 05:00:00 +0000