Cindy Verbeek
I am the mother of three beautiful, rambunctious children who bless me every day and the wife of a wonderful man. I work for a great organization called A Rocha Canada - Christians in Conservation (www.arocha.org/canada). I am a leader at our churches' coffee break ministry and love engaging with the women there and encouraging and inspiring them to grow, learn and be the person God created them to be. I continually fight the battle against depression and over the past five years have found that I am winning more often than not. I care deeply about the people and places around me and do whatever I can to make whatever God places before me an act of worship to my creator. I live in a small town in Northern B.C. which is wonderful and frustrating all at the same time. I have just discovered gardening and am enjoying growing my own food (although this year was terrible for growing). When I am not working, caring for my family or visiting someone I like to spend quiet time making things out of secondary resources (aka garbage).
Posted in: How does a church successfully implement a Community Garden?
We (Houston CRC in northern B.C.) started a community garden three years ago. Actually it was more like we dug up some of the grass on the church property, hauled in some dirt and started planting some seeds. It is as much or as little work as you'd like it to be I guess. We've gone the "less work" route and given people their own plot that they are responsible for year after year. This encourages them to take care of and even build up the soil in their little section. We also ask them to help out once or twice a summer with a general garden cleanup. There are a couple volunteers in the church that come.
Our church is in a rural area so the need for a garden is not as high as in a city because most of us have our own gardens but there are several people who participate who live in apartments and/or do not have access to land. Some of us do it for the socializing and an extra potatoe patch.
If you would like more information on starting and running a community garden A Rocha Canada has an excellent program called The Plot Thickens. There's more information about the workshops and the Community Garden network at our website http://www.arocha.ca/communitygardens/
Prince George CRC has a great garden as well and they got funding to build it and even hire a summer student to watch over it.
I'd love to see what you are doing. Make sure you post some pics when you have started. \
Shalom and happy gardening.
Cindy Verbeek
Member, Houston CRC
Community Mobilizer, A Rocha Canada
Posted in: How does a church successfully implement a Community Garden?
Hi Jack,
Did you ever get a community garden started at your church? A Rocha has a great resource that might help: http://www.arocha.ca/community-groups-resources/
Blessings wherever this day finds you.
Posted in: What Ministry Topics Would You Like to Talk About This Year?
Creation care. I want to know what churches are doing...
Posted in: Your Feedback = Chance to Win
Where's the link to creation care/environment?
Posted in: Your Feedback = Chance to Win
Under Church Admin and finance? I would never think to look in there for it. It would be great if that could be a direct link from the front page where the list of topics is...that's my two cents worth.
I appreciate what you do and the opportunity to comment. Thanks for all your hard work.
Posted in: A Christian’s Perspective on Caring for Creation?
Since I have been working in this area for the past 20 years (ack has it been that long) I wholeheartedly agree. I do not think that it is a salvation issue (you can still make it to eternal life with your Creator if you don't recycle your paper) but I do think that it is a crucial discipleship issue (answering the question - now that I have accepted Jesus as my Lord and Saviour how do I act and follow in His footsteps in the area of caring for the world HE created). It's not just about adding a Christian voice to the "Go Green" movement...it's about walking alongside our Creator in caring for what He created and what He cares so much for that He became part of it to begin the reconciliation process that will be completed when He returns...but I'm getting on my soap box. I'll get off now :-)
Cindy Verbeek
Posted in: REAL Creation Care? Or Just More Words and Trees Gone?
Hi James,
I really appreciate these posts and the questions. They are good questions to ask. Three years after the document you referenced here I know that some movement has been made towards creation care in our denomination especially at the denominational offices in Grand Rapids. I'd love to hear about how churches are engaging with creation care across the continent. Did synod just ratify a document that now sits on a shelf? Creation care starts at the grass roots. True creation care is the day to day, boring, non-newsworthy living of the members of the congregation...I wonder if there's a way of finding out if the document brought a shift or is just collecting dust.
Posted in: Puzzling about Creation Care—Part 2—A Rant
I have to admit I like free things. But I also agree that it is a bit silly the "stuff" that gets sent/given away in the name of "promotion". I do have to say that I love the paper pens that Canadian Food Grains Bank and the paper covered USB sticks that Blessed Earth gave out a few years back. Useful and more sustainable materials. Something to think about.
PS I really appreciate your column and questions. Thank you.
Cindy Verbeek
Posted in: Is Conversion to Jesus Enough?
I've been thinking about the discipleship question a lot over the past couple years and am still trying to figure out what it means. I find myself seperating #1 (how to get to heaven or salvation) with #2 & 3 (how to live on earth or discipleship) and catch myself saying (and hearing) things like "This is (or is not) a salvation issue and that is discipleship issue." I guess inferring that once salvation is completed we then work on the job of creating disciples. But then I meet people with a broader view of salvation (we work out our salvation with fear and trembling) as well as those who see a narrower view of discipleship (our only job is to convert souls and baptise in the name of the Father, Son and Spirit - once we've done this we can move onto the next unsaved soul and rest easy)...so my question is when we say "This is a salvation issue" what do we mean? And when we say we need to work towards discipleship what does this mean? Just thinking e-loud.
Cindy Verbeek