Resonate Will Consolidate U.S. and Canadian National Directors

Resonate Global Mission, the mission agency of the Christian Reformed Church, which formed in 2017 with the joining of the denomination’s Home Missions and World Missions ministries, is making a change in leadership. Resonate will be consolidating the Canadian national director and U.S. national director positions into one position. The Director of North American Regional Teams and Canadian Administration, a new position to be based in Burlington, Ont., will be filled “as soon as possible,” said Resonate director Zachary King.

“This placement will provide pastoral leadership to our Burlington staff and participation in Canada-specific collaborations and initiatives, in addition to leadership of the regions,” King explained to The Banner.

A February 19 staff announcement describing  the changes said they were the result of a planned 18-month review of Resonate’s leadership structure. King told The Banner that “stewardly use of resources and integration of ministry were also considerations in this decision.”

The change means Steve Kabetu, currently the Canadian national director for Resonate, will be leaving the organization. Amy Schenkel, the U.S. national director and regional mission leader for the Great Lakes will now concentrate on that regional role.

Jenny deGroot, a member of Willoughby CRC in Langley, B.C., who served for five years on the former board of Christian Reformed World Missions, said "an all North America director located in Canada faces the challenge of representing the differences between the two countries, whether from a cultural, political, or charitable governance perspective." 

King says these kinds of concerns are answered in Resonate's regional model.

“There are great differences in culture between the U.S. and Canada.  However, there are also huge cultural differences between the Maritimes, Quebec, and British Columbia, just as there are between New Jersey, Iowa, and California. For this reason, Resonate’s regionalized strategy addresses context well,” said King. “The successful candidate for the new position will be a culturally discerning and collaborative leader who will allow a contextual approach to flower in each of the North American regions.”