The CRC has a long history of working together and pooling resources to further God’s kingdom work around the world. This year we will feature a special column in each issue that includes an interview with the directors of these shared ministries: Thrive, Resonate Global Mission, ReFrame Ministries, and World Renew, as well as the presidents of Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary. In this issue, meet Kevin DeRaaf, director of Resonate Global Mission.
In what ways does Resonate Global Mission equip local CRC people and churches to do kingdom work?
Our vision for leading the denomination on mission flows from Acts 1:8 where Jesus instructs his followers to wait for the Holy Spirit, but once the Spirit comes, they are compelled to be his witnesses “in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” In Resonate, we capture this missional call in three core initiatives:
- Local Mission: Resonate has a number of resources to help local churches engage their neighbors and communities, such as a free evangelism course called Witness. Our Discover Your Bible assets continue to be a vital resource for evangelistic Bible studies such as Global Coffee Break.
- Global Mission: The call to go to the ends of the earth remains. Resonate supports the vital work of sending missionaries across the globe. We currently have 43 career missionaries sent by the CRC.Those of us in North America also need to remember that for Christians in the rest of the world, we are the ends of the earth. So our call is to help CRC churches engage the global church in a mutual way. I often say that a big part of Resonate’s work is to help local churches in Canada and the U.S. participate in the big story that God is unfolding around the world.
- Church Planting: We see right away in the book of Acts that God was raising leaders to start new churches in places where the gospel was needed. This call remains today. Our goal through church planting is to cultivate a healthy ecosystem—through coaching, assessments, reviews, training, and relational support—that allows Christian Reformed congregations to form and lead new churches.
What’s one thing about Resonate that you wish people knew?
We have every reason to be incredibly grateful for the good and gifted people whom God has called into mission through the CRC! My role allows me to witness the work of my colleagues in many different places in the world. Whether I am in Detroit, Kenya, or El Salvador, I have the same thought: “I am excited to tell my church family about this good work.” The thoughtful, passionate, creative, deeply grounded work happening around the world through the Christian Reformed Church astounds me again and again. I feel like I have the best job in the world!
What has been a highlight of Resonate Global Mission in the past year?
The CRC has come through some difficult years of theological struggle. It often felt like we in the CRC were distracted from our call to mission. But my colleagues and I have seen a real shift in the past year. We are seeing a resurgence of churches connecting with us in fresh ways to strengthen their partnership in local and global missionwork. We saw synod issue a strong call for a renewed church-planting vision for the denomination that was highly encouraging. It is clear that the CRC continues to have a strong commitment and heart for God’s mission. This encourages us greatly and gives us strong hope for a bright future.
Where would you like to see Resonate Global Mission in five years?
In five years, I would like to see every church in the CRC experience Resonate as their key partner to live out Jesus’ call in Acts 1:8. This is the Church’s mission. We understand our task as coming alongside the local church. We want to support each church in their call to serve God’s mission in their neighborhood, participate in the call to multiply God’s kingdom, and to engage in the big story of the movement of the Holy Spirit across the world.
How can we pray for you?
You can pray with us! Last year, synod tasked Resonate to produce a church-planting plan for the next 10 years in collaboration with the other agencies and ministries of the CRC. This plan is impossible if we do not rely fully on God’s leading. We would love for the churches and members of the CRC to join us in praying for spiritual renewal, that the Holy Spirit would spark a vibrant passion for mission everywhere in the CRC. You can do that by signing up for the weekly email, Prayers for Church Renewal and Church Planting: https://tinyurl.com/45hyrtmc.
