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Siouxland Celebrates Missions Past and Present

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“What are some differences between the Bible and the Koran?” This was one of the questions asked at the beginning of a workshop titled “Understanding Five Basic Beliefs of Islam.”

The workshop was offered at the Siouxland Mission Fest, part of a celebration of Christian Reformed World Missions’ 125th anniversary.

Held in Orange City, Iowa, the event was an opportunity for church members, former and current missionaries, and World Missions staff to come together and not only look back and remember the first missionaries but also to focus on the work of current missionaries and see what the future holds for the next generation of missionaries.

In June 1888, Rev. Tamme Vanden Bosch came to work among the Sioux Indians in South Dakota. Retired Dordt College professor James Schaap, one of the people behind this year’s event, pointed out that missions began here a long time ago. He added that events like this are “also a forum for discussion of mission enterprise here in the Siouxland area over topics that have to do with agriculture and mission, with short-term teaching positions for young college graduates, and with coming to an understanding of how we can more openly relate to our new Hispanic neighbors.”

At the close of the event, area pastor John Lee said, “Missions is less a set of activities we do and more a quality of who God makes us to be—in every facet of life—whether across the street or across the seas.”

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