The Road to Reconciliation Begins with Justice
“People sometimes want to jump right to reconciliation, but there is a stop before you get there, and it is called justice. It is not something that can be skipped.” This was the message shared by Adrian Jacobs, Senior Leader for Indigenous Justice and Reconciliation, at the recent Canadian National Gathering.
Over 150 people from across Canada gathered to listen and exchange hearts with Indigenous brothers and sisters and to see a new way forward in their homes, churches, and communities. The Gathering was held May 25-28, 2023, at the Algonquin College Ottawa Campus in Ontario. Most attendees were either nominated or appointed by their local Classis…
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Reconnecting Churches in Central Alberta with “Night of Encouragement”
Marg Hoogland, Diaconal Coach for Alberta North (Central Alberta) saw an incredible opportunity to get the churches in her area reacquainted – to her as their coach and with each other! She reached out to the churches in the Parkland area and discovered a strong thread among most of the churches: refugee engagement. And so began her plans for a “Night of Encouragement” on a cold winter’s night in February!
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The Call to Listen
Throughout Hilke Wierenga’s life of service, the one thing he believed God showed him was the highest calling of a deacon is to listen well.
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Online Course Redefines Stewardship
A brand new, self-guided, online stewardship course is now available to deacons and churches. We often say that everything we have is a ‘gift’ from God, but sometimes that thinking can lead us a little astray. When someone gives a gift, it’s not theirs anymore – it becomes ours, to use as we please. But stewardship isn’t like that…
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Sharing Me-mentos on Valentine’s
A little kindness can go a long way. The Deacons at Bethel CRC in Listowel got creative and shared a small gift to their church in order to show them what being a deacon is all about!
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Bethel Church Puts Love in Act(i)on with Coffee Trailer
Bethel CRC in Acton has worked intentionally over the past years to be an integral part of their local community. While at the annual fall fair, church members noticed there was no hot beverage vendor. They began to dream and wonder how they could use this opportunity to move toward their community. Then an idea came to them – a mobile coffee trailer they could bring to any and all community events!
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Building Community Ministries from the (new)Ground Up
For years, Bethany CRC in Fenwick, Ontario, was engaged in global missions work. Yet each time their teams returned, they wondered what missions might look like in their own backyard. The church had a huge heart for youth and was already running a summer kids camp. After much discussion and prayer, it was decided they would start by canvassing in various neighbourhoods in the nearby city of Welland, to invite children to come out to a free Saturday afternoon program in a downtown church. Rose City Kids (RCK) was born!
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Online Stewardship Course Going Live January 2023
Deacons are to encourage their congregations to live stewardly. More practically, to ask the question: “How can my whole life show that Jesus is my Lord?” It’s no secret that deacons often struggle with carrying out this part of their mandate. Help is now here!
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Thinking “Local” at Christmas
“We wanted to encourage our congregation to be generous both locally and globally and find ways to use their gifts and passions in ways that would contribute to the partnerships we were trying to establish with a few local organizations,” shared Jean DeBeer, former deacon, current World Renew Ambassador, and Diaconal Coach for Diaconal Ministries Canada. “Getting our church more ‘invested’ with a local Giving Tree is one way we as a church are growing our relationship/involvement with our community.”
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Hamilton Church Plant Offers Unique Internship Opportunity
Are you looking to serve and learn alongside lifelong urban ministry leaders working out their faith in urban Hamilton?
New Hope, an emerging Christian Reformed Church in East Hamilton, Ontario, is hosting a unique internship for Classis Hamilton and surrounding churches which will launch this fall.
DoJustice Blog
- Uncomfortable Questions June 9, 2023
- The Church has the Answers. Now is the Time to Speak. May 26, 2023
- Drawing the Circle Wide May 22, 2023
- Dissonant Music May 12, 2023
