With hearts open to the moving of God’s Spirit and ears inclined to listen, Synod 2025 had 22 intercessors from six different classes (regional groups of churches) assisting in prayer at Redeemer University where the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church is taking place. Jon Hoekema, leader of the intercessory prayer team and the denomination’s prayer shepherd, said his hope is “that prayer and discernment, listening to the Spirit, becomes just the normal way we do synod.” There has been a particular emphasis on prayer since leading up to Synod 2022, when Hoekema first started in the prayer shepherd role. Last year 30 intercessors participated.
Hoekema said the intercessors were available to pray as advisory committees met in the first few days of synod, noting that often the committee chairs would ask for prayer over specific things, such as “wisdom or insight.” In plenary sessions the intercessors have seats in corners around the room where they can pray over the session and conversations. “One of the values we hold to is that we are not praying for a particular position but praying, your (God’s) will be done.” He went on to say, “We are praying that God would be glorified, that the delegates would hear and follow the Spirit’s leading.”
Hoekema went on to express that the role is “not only intercession but discernment.” When there is something that the intercessors discern together, when there are agreements among the intercessors and that they feel is for the entire synod, then they are able to bring it to the officers. “As prayer shepherd, this is really my third year of organizing prayer at synod,” Hoekema said. “Previously it was the responsibility of the convening (appointed host) church.” After Synod 2019 raised the value of the importance of prayer for synod, and the next two synods were canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, 2022 was the first year to see a denominationally organized prayer effort for synod.
Synod 2025, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is meeting June 13-19 on the campus of Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ont. Find daily coverage from The Banner at TheBanner.org/synod. Visit crcna.org/synod for the agenda, advisory reports, recordings of plenary sessions, and to subscribe to the daily Synod News email.
About the Author
Isabelle Brown is a writer from Brampton, Ontario and a student at Redeemer University, where she is a reporter for The Crown. Her non-writing interests include painting and sketching.