https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 09:51:54 +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/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/belonging-where-do-i-fit (A post written by John Simon of Mission Church AND Communication person for Generation Spark) John Simon https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/belonging-where-do-i-fit Tue, 05 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/young-adults/changing-how-we-disciple-teenagers In the CRCNA, we have been seeing an exodus of youth leaving the church after high school. Some would even dare to say that many of them have left long before that. The statistics are concerning. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/young-adults/changing-how-we-disciple-teenagers Wed, 30 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/empathy-vital-mentoring-posture About three weeks ago, I (John Simon) started a part-time position as a chaplain for a local hospice care provider. While I’ve worked as a pastor for several years, hospice is a completely unique adventure for me. This is, in fact, my first rodeo. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/empathy-vital-mentoring-posture Fri, 11 Aug 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/breaking-pecking-order Note: I’m not much of a “chicken raiser” myself, so please bear with my illustrations. We’ll be sure to leave contact info at the bottom for your frustrated, chicken-related feedback. (This article was written by John Simon, a member of our Generation Spark team) Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/intergenerational-ministry/breaking-pecking-order Thu, 29 Jun 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-pastors-ditch-gross-out-games-and-help-student-ministry A recent Christianity Today article highlighted something I've been pondering for a while. Namely, that what we have been doing progmatically in youth ministry may not be producing the desired results when it comes to lifelong faith formation. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-pastors-ditch-gross-out-games-and-help-student-ministry Thu, 20 Apr 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/young-adults/call-action Were you able to attend Inspire 2019 or follow any updates? Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/young-adults/call-action Wed, 07 Aug 2019 13:31:33 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-ministry-maintenance-now-right-time Every six weeks I go to my chiropractor for an adjustment. But it wasn’t that long ago that I never went and on one wonky Thursday evening, I made a ridiculous decision that messed up my core for an extended period of time. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-ministry-maintenance-now-right-time Tue, 02 Jul 2019 13:11:38 +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/children-youth/youth-ministry/1000000-or-name An RCA colleague of mine and I were just in Pasadena California attending a symposium hosted by the Fuller Youth Institute looking at the future of the church. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/1000000-or-name Thu, 13 Dec 2018 14:26:25 +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/church-administration/church-admin-finance/how-much-should-we-pay-our-youth-directorspastors We live in a time when churches expect much of our ministry leaders. Perhaps this is not really new, but the roles in which our ministry leaders serve is. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-administration/church-admin-finance/how-much-should-we-pay-our-youth-directorspastors Tue, 05 Jun 2018 19:13:56 +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/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/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-unlimited-has-new-executive-director Youth Unlimited is pleased to announce that Rick Zomer has been selected as their next Executive Director. Rick comes to Youth Unlimited from the RCA where he served as the Director of Next Generation Engagement, and before that he served in several leadership roles at Calvin College over a Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-unlimited-has-new-executive-director Wed, 21 Feb 2018 14:07:11 +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