CRC, RCA Launch Joint Church-Planting Movement

From Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>
Date Tue, 26 Apr 2011 14:47:32 -0700

REFORMED CHURCH IN AMERICA



NEWS RELEASE


CRC, RCA Launch Joint Church-Planting Movement


APRIL 18, 2011 ? FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE


The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) and the

Reformed Church in America (RCA) have announced
that they are pooling resources in an innovative
church-planting movement that will spread the
gospel by reaching out to people in the places where they live.

Denominational leaders described the project as
?a movement of Christ-followers? that will bring
God?s redemptive love into cities, towns, and villages across North Ameri ca.

They said the strength of the joint approach will
be its ability to develop visionary leaders and
church planters who are theologically prepared
and equipped to start and multiply churches that
present the gospel in a way that is biblical, authentic, and contextual.

Seed funding for this project is being provided
by the two denominations as well as a significant
grant from the Richard and Helen DeVos
Foundation.  A spokesperson for the Foundation
said Rich and Helen have a deep interest in
expanding the Reformed witness through evangelism
and ?are very enthusiastic about the two denominations working together. ?

Tim Vink, coordinator for church multiplication
for the RCA and leader of the joint
implementation team, said the church-planting
project ?will increase our ability to plant the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ in many more
lives and communities across North America.

?The collaboration will accelerate a sustainable,
integrated multiplication system that will raise
our hopes higher, stir fresh vision and strategic
plans, and match the strengths of both
denominations? in a way that will maximize an
expanded Reformed witness in North America, Vink added


.


The two denominations are creating what they
describe as ?an integrated, seamless process that
will focus on advancing evangelism in North
America.? A Multiplication Movement
Implementation Team made up of passionate church
planters and leaders from the CRC and RCA will
work to catalyze a united effort in planting churches.


This is an intentional journey, moving from
collaboration to greater integration of our
church planting support systems for increased
gospel impact, says Jul Medenblik, church
planting team leader for the CRC and
president-elect of Calvin Theological
Seminary.  He said that, ?Together we want to
discern the movement of the gospel of Jesus
Christ in North America and to follow that leading.?


To launch the project, the two denominations have
selected four test areas called Kingdom
Enterprise Zones, where a combination of
leadership, resources, and opportunity provide ?a
laboratory of learning.? The four areas are in
Florida, Arizona, California, and West Michigan.

Although this will be the most high-profile

example of collaboration, denominational leaders
pointed out that the CRC and RCA have been
working together in many areas during recent years, including church planti ng.


For more information, please contact:


Paul Boice, Director of Communication Reformed Church in America,


616-541-0890, email ? pboice@rca.org


Henry Hess, Director of Communication, Christian Reformed Church,


905-336-2920,  email -  hhess@crcna.org



--
Chris Meehan
News & Media Manager
Christian Reformed Church in North America
1-616-224-0849