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Synod 2015 and diaconal ministry
Dear Deacons: This is a significant year for deacons in the Christian Reformed Church. The 2015 Task Force report approved some important principles for diaconal ministry in the 21st century. The report addressed the role of deacons in congregations and communities as well as the role of elders. And, Synod approved deacon delegation at Classis…
Read MoreSummer Reading
If there’s one book that you might want to read on charity, I recommend Robert Lupton’s book Toxic Charity: How Churches and Charities Hurt Those They Help. Lupton’s 40 years of experience in community development in Atlanta have led him to claim that charitable giving is “either wasted or actually harms the people it is targeted…
Read MoreDeveloping Spiritual Gifts: mentoring deacons and more
“So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up…” (Ephesians 4:11-12) The Taskforce report on Elders and Deacons roles in ministry has presented opportunities for teaching and unpacking how leaders in the…
Read MoreConnecting with Our Muslim Neighbours
Disability Concerns, the refugee office of World Renew, the Office of Social Justice and Race Relations are a number of CRC agencies which partner with Diaconal Ministries Canada in the work of justice. Partnerships with other networks, programs and agencies continue to strengthen the possibilities and the ways that the church engages in a spirit…
Read MoreNEW! Next Devotion in the series
Follow the link below to download the eighth devotion for deacons in the latest set of devotionals from Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). In our conversations with deacons across the country, DMC often summarizes the ministry of the deacon into 4 areas: community ministry, compassion, justice, and stewardship. This devotion is the second of three which will focus on…
Read MoreDMC Job Opportunity: Justice Mobilizer
Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC) is looking for a part-time Justice Mobilizer to lead and coordinate our justice strategies. This position involves collaboration with internal staff, CRCNA agency staff, as well as interaction with external organizations. This is a contract position for 15 hours per week, reporting to the National Director in the Burlington Ontario office. …
Read More“I chose you!”
(story reprinted with permission from LIFE Recovery, an Operation Manna partner ministry) I came to LIFE Recovery with no hope; addicted to crystal meth, homeless and penniless. My only child was not speaking to me, and my mother had been diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer. I was hard, angry and full of hatred. My…
Read MoreGrowing a Stronger Missional Heart
“Over the last 10-15 years, Bethel CRC transformed from the church ‘out on the highway’ to the church that loves the community.” This is how Diane Leferink describes what God has been doing in Bethel CRC in Acton, Ontario. Many things have undoubtedly contributed to this transformation, but in 2007, the church started a Community Opportunity…
Read MoreNEW! Devotion #7
Here is the seventh devotion for deacons in the latest set of devotionals from Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC). In our conversations with deacons across the country, DMC often summarizes the ministry of the deacon into 4 areas: community ministry, compassion, justice, and stewardship. This devotion is the first of 3 to focus on deacons and justice. Each devotion…
Read MoreEaster and Earth Day
What do Earth Day and Easter have in common? Well, they are both around the same time of the year (Earth Day is always celebrated on April 22, so they are sometimes even on the same day)…but the real answer is Christ, obviously! Not so obvious? Consider this. Christ is described as “the firstborn of all…
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