https://network.crcna.org/ The Network en Fri, 19 Apr 2024 05:44:32 +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/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-season-hope Certainty feels like an illusion at the best of times, but that’s especially true these days. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/youth-ministry-season-hope Mon, 21 Dec 2020 19:54:09 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-unlimited-celebrates-100-years-ministry "Throughout the past 100 years, God has been incredibly faithful, allowing the ministry that began as the American Federation of Reformed Young Men's Societies to transform through the decades into what is today known as Youth Unlimited. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/children-youth/youth-ministry/youth-unlimited-celebrates-100-years-ministry Mon, 25 Nov 2019 15:53:31 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/mentoring-i-world-nov-2019-youth-ministry-newsletter I met with an emerging adult not long ago for a conversation about life and church. Obviously both can be messy topics and sure enough, our conversation revealed multiple layers of chaos. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/mentoring-i-world-nov-2019-youth-ministry-newsletter Thu, 07 Nov 2019 14:51:44 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/who-are-you-raising-take-over-your-church-10-years-now According to the Fuller Youth Institute (FYI), North American churches are both shrinking and aging. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/who-are-you-raising-take-over-your-church-10-years-now Wed, 02 Oct 2019 00:26:46 +0000 https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/hungry-god-story Our stories are a fascinating reflection of a life lived or currently living. Powerful snapshots show up alongside our narratives which summarize or quantify the events of our moments. I invite you to consider the following:  Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/hungry-god-story Thu, 05 Sep 2019 22:46:37 +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/leadership/classis/crcna-youth-ministry-newsletter-jan-2019 Ephesians 5:25-27 beautifully captures an image of the relationship between Christ and his bride, the Church. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/leadership/classis/crcna-youth-ministry-newsletter-jan-2019 Wed, 16 Jan 2019 14:23:30 +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/ron-and-syd-talk-about-soul-care In ministry, we often try to do the things we need to do to survive, to balance obligation with the guilt of heavy expectations and as a result, we become consumed by the doing, the urge to be of the world. Rushing to the next thing we need to do. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/spiritual-formation/faith-nurture/ron-and-syd-talk-about-soul-care Thu, 25 Oct 2018 12:48:35 +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/worship/general-worship/youth-director-installation-liturgy I had a pastor from a Christian Reformed Church ask if I had a liturgy in my back pocket for installing a new Youth Director during an upcoming Sunday service. Ron DeVries https://network.crcna.org/topic/worship/general-worship/youth-director-installation-liturgy Tue, 26 Jun 2018 14:59:10 +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