https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Tue, 23 Apr 2024 22:51:54 +0000 Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/regional-pastors/gift-pastor-jerome Rev. Jerome Burton went to his heavenly reward on July 6, 2023. I first met him during my early days (mid-90’s) working with the Hispanic Ministry, which was part of what was back then known as Christian Reformed Home Missions. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/pastors/regional-pastors/gift-pastor-jerome Thu, 07 Sep 2023 04:00:00 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/what-makes-church-multiracial Lately, I have been reading and researching the movement of multiracial churches in the United States. What makes a church multiracial? Are the music, the reading, and the prayer interpreted bilingually? A choir led by a different ethnic group? Multiethnic food or flags from other countries? Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/what-makes-church-multiracial Tue, 10 May 2022 12:37:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/history-impacts-everyones-reality Not too long ago, the Office of Race Relations was invited to facilitate The Blanket Exercise workshop for a class at Calvin University. It was a group of about 24 students. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/history-impacts-everyones-reality Tue, 08 Feb 2022 00:40:19 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/why-racism-still-part-church Why is the sin of racism still a part of the church? The same God who talked to Abram also speaks to each of us who make up the church. Perhaps what is missing is for us to fall to the ground in complete surrender the same way that Abram did. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/why-racism-still-part-church Thu, 02 Sep 2021 13:03:10 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/kill-indian-save-man Recently, we were shocked by the news from Canada about 215 remains of Indigenous children found in Kamloops, British Columbia, at one of the many Indian residential schools. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/kill-indian-save-man Wed, 23 Jun 2021 11:01:49 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/bearing-pain-history Last week I had a second surgery on my eye. The surgeon had to remove the synthetic oil belt that had been holding my retina in place for the last four months. After removing the oil, he replaced it with a gas bubble that will dissipate on its own over two weeks. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/bearing-pain-history Tue, 27 Apr 2021 20:08:15 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/importance-discerning-heart Wisdom comes first. Get wisdom! (Prov. 4:7) Above all else, guard your heart, because life flows from it. (Prov. 4:23) Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/importance-discerning-heart Fri, 19 Feb 2021 18:30:03 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/ideology-whiteness-workshop The concept of whiteness has been part of the daily life of American society since its beginning. This artificial racial categorization feels “normal,” and is therefore seldom questioned. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/ideology-whiteness-workshop Wed, 21 Oct 2020 17:41:38 +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/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/nation-forgets-its-past-has-no-future Recent events have made many to think and others to react. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/nation-forgets-its-past-has-no-future Fri, 17 Jul 2020 16:22:02 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/classis-grand-rapids-north-reading-group-white-fragility Classis Grand Rapids North Diversity Committee is inviting congregations in this classis to join a new reading group. Once the reading is complete, we'll host Zoom discussions. The book is White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo.  Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/classis-grand-rapids-north-reading-group-white-fragility Tue, 23 Jun 2020 00:02:42 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/whats-narrative The English term narrative comes from the Latin narrativus and means “telling a story.” Most dictionaries define the term as a form of a story or representing a story or relating to the process of telling a story. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/whats-narrative Mon, 20 Apr 2020 12:00:10 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/desperation-hope This past October, my Wednesday morning started as usual. I was enjoying breakfast with my wife as we often do on her day off from work. As we sat down to eat, my phone rang. Enrique Gomez https://network.crcna.org/topic/church-strategy-mission/evangelism/desperation-hope Thu, 16 Apr 2020 12:28:36 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/what-your-church-doing-racial-reconciliation-0 In 2010, I asked the following question: What is your church doing for racial reconciliation?  Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/what-your-church-doing-racial-reconciliation-0 Wed, 04 Mar 2020 19:26:38 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/indigenous-justice/bears-and-answered-prayers-golden-state We knew we needed to get together. We knew we needed to take time to get to know each other, learn together, and serve together. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/indigenous-justice/bears-and-answered-prayers-golden-state Tue, 25 Feb 2020 01:54:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/many-churches-join-mlk-celebration More than 900 praying, swaying, and singing people took part in the 2020 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, held on Sunday, Jan. 19 in the DeVos Center for Arts and Worship at Grand Rapids Christian High School in Grand Rapids, Mich. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/many-churches-join-mlk-celebration Wed, 05 Feb 2020 14:28:51 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/blanket-exercise-goes-pella-ia April of last year, I received a phone call from a woman in Pella, IA. Her name is Rosemary Daining and she attends Grace Fellowship. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/indigenous-native-american/blanket-exercise-goes-pella-ia Wed, 05 Feb 2020 14:14:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/hispanic/me-senti-inspirada-por-el-guia-del-tour-race-relations-us This is a portion of Viviana's bimonthly newsletter. To receive the full newsletter, including ideas for your congregation, suggested reading, and upcoming events, subscribe at bit.ly/racerelationsnews. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/specialized-communities/hispanic/me-senti-inspirada-por-el-guia-del-tour-race-relations-us Mon, 01 Oct 2018 18:30:47 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/inspired-tour-guide-race-relations-us-midwest-newsletter This is a portion of Viviana's bimonthly newsletter. To receive the full newsletter, including ideas for your congregation, suggested reading, and upcoming events, subscribe at bit.ly/racerelationsnews. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/biblical-justice/inspired-tour-guide-race-relations-us-midwest-newsletter Mon, 01 Oct 2018 18:21:10 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/until-crc-home-all-viviana-cornejo I met the CRCNA in July 1997 when I began working for Christian Reformed Home Missions (now Resonate). I started with the Hispanic Ministry; Gary Teja was my supervisor and also a mentor in understanding how the CRCNA functions. Viviana Cornejo https://network.crcna.org/topic/justice-inclusion/racial-reconciliation/until-crc-home-all-viviana-cornejo Mon, 06 Nov 2017 15:17:08 +0000