Nearly 80 Latino pastors from the Reformed Church in America and the Christian Reformed Church gathered for dinner and training in southern California in late August.
Rev. Mirtha Villafane, a CRC ministry leader in southern California, and Rev. Eddy Alema, director of strategic leadership development and Hispanic ministries of the RCA, worked together for several years while Aleman was a pastor at Emmanuel Paramount church.
In June, Villafane was invited by Aleman to New York to the RCA Latino National Council. After hearing about the RCA goals for the church, Villafane thought it would be a good idea for the CRC local pastors to get together with the RCA pastors.
The training, “Red de Multiplicacion,” focused on healthy churches and was led by Benjamin Meir, who is a missionary in Guadalajara for the CRC.
The training included a worship service and celebration of the Lord’s Supper.
About the Author
Callie Feyen is a writer living in Ann Arbor, Mich., who contributed news and other articles for The Banner between December 2010 and January 2026. She holds an MFA in creative writing and is the author of The Teacher Diaries: Romeo and Juliet, Twirl: My Life in Stories, Writing, & Clothes, and When We Swung from Church Bells.