https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 10 May 2024 23:08:06 +0000 Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/global-mission/reflections-summer-missionary-visits-part-i We were visiting the third church in three weeks. On this Sunday, as many others, we had our three children in tow, ages six, three and five months. Network Moderation https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/global-mission/reflections-summer-missionary-visits-part-i Mon, 06 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/breath-prayers-guided-prayer-synod-2024 Take a deep breath. Just breathe.  Breathe in, breathe out. Inhale, exhale.  Thrive (CRCNA) https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/breath-prayers-guided-prayer-synod-2024 Wed, 01 May 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/hermitage-spiritual-retreat-center One of my spiritual formation practices is to take a 24 hour silent retreat once a month.  After moving from the Philippines to Western Michigan in 2001, the place the Lord drew me to exercise this practice was The Hermitage in Three Rivers, Michigan.  I have been coming to th Joel Hogan https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/hermitage-spiritual-retreat-center 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/leadership/council/examining-your-own-dance-floor In the years of serving in my role as a Youth and Emerging Adult ministry consultant, I have had  many conversations with youth leaders, youth pastors, councils and congregations about the complexities of finding, hiring/calling, and/or recruiting people to serve in areas of youth Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/council/examining-your-own-dance-floor Tue, 23 Apr 2024 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/no-missing-puzzle-pieces  In our home, it is common to see a jigsaw puzzle scattered out on the puzzle board. While some individual pieces  may seem dull and insignificant, they are needed to make up this beautiful picture. Network Moderation https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/no-missing-puzzle-pieces Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/chaplaincy/you-are-reason-were-still-here “Chaplain, you are the reason we are still here,” the student said. “Thanks, but you don’t need to  exaggerate,” I replied. “I’m not exaggerating,” he said. Others in the room agreed.   George Koopmans https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/chaplaincy/you-are-reason-were-still-here Mon, 22 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/reflections-grace Grace means God is sufficient, not me. Grace means I am incapable of discovering God’s truth on my own and need it to be revealed to me and handed down from on high. BISHOP DARRELL A BOONE https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/reflections-grace Sun, 21 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/global-mission/what-are-you-waiting The trip odometer read 2,686 miles. These are the miles my rental car accumulated as I traveled to five of the ten spring Classis meetings within the US Central region (if I was not at your meeting, beware, I hope to come in the Fall). Brad Meinders https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/global-mission/what-are-you-waiting Wed, 17 Apr 2024 15:38:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/walk-your-steps There was a time we longed to know more about our loved one, wasn’t there?  When we were dating, we wanted to know everything there was to know about our beloved’s life… from childhood to adulthood… who they were in the depth of their heart, and what made them who they are today.  We of Linda Roorda https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/walk-your-steps Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/recognizing-image-god-every-body-jacob Many people who grew up in the church with Sunday school stories will easily remember the story of Jacob and Esau; it makes for an excellent conversation on sibling rivalry when you are a little kid.  Becky Jones https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/recognizing-image-god-every-body-jacob Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/crucial-conversations-synod-part-ii   There is a concerning trend occurring within our denomination, which is our inability to have what Joseph Grenny calls “Crucial Conversations.” A Crucial Conversation is defined as any moment in which there are at least Justin Carruthers https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/crucial-conversations-synod-part-ii Mon, 15 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/meet-your-regional-connector-becky-jones Becky’s Region: Canada East Network Moderation https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/meet-your-regional-connector-becky-jones Sun, 14 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/children-youth/parenting/bullies-and-trust When I was a child and even in my teens, I was bullied in school. The bullies would ask me if I trusted them.  Out of fear I usually said yes, but then the bullies would ask me to prove it. Michele Gyselinck https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/parenting/bullies-and-trust Thu, 11 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/crucial-conversations-synod-part-i Note: This is a two-part article. Part II drops on April 15. Justin Carruthers https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/crcna-and-synod/crucial-conversations-synod-part-i Tue, 09 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/gift-city The Gift of the City Joel Van Dyke https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/community-engagement/gift-city Mon, 25 Mar 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/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/recognizing-image-god-every-body Note: This project was developed as part of the requirements for the Cer Becky Jones https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/disability-concerns/advocacy/recognizing-image-god-every-body Mon, 18 Mar 2024 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/council/dont-bring-it-sunday It is important for church members to be able to communicate easily and effectively with church staff and pastors. Just don't do it on Sunday.  But It's So Easy! Sean Baker https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/council/dont-bring-it-sunday Mon, 18 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000