From Mangulile to Moline

Although separated geographically, members of Moline CRC in Moline, Mich. and Mangulile CRC of Honduras are united by their shared passion for learning and serving with one another.

Most recently, this cross-cultural church partnership included a visit by four members of Mangulile CRC to Moline. Pastor Adonis Romero, his wife, Noemi, and their son, Rafael, visited Moline for the first time. They were also joined by Sandra Juarez, who visited Moline in 2013 as well.

“We are so thankful to be here,” said Pastor Adonis. “Everyone has shown us great love.”

The two churches have been partnering with one another since 2012, and members of two churches have made annual visits to one another’s community ever since. The partnership began when Caspar Geisterfer, a missionary with Christian Reformed World Missions whom Moline CRC supports, proposed the idea.

“Caspar put out the challenge for us to do ministry together,” said Bev Ouwinga, a member of Moline CRC.

One of the biggest reasons that the Mangulile members chose to visit in June was to take part in “Moline Love,” an annual summer service project for members of the Moline community and nearby areas.

“We joined Moline in cleaning up yards, building ramps for wheelchairs, and improving the walls of homes,” said Adonis in a visit with World Missions’ staff in Grand Rapids.

Adonis added that this was a great way for him and his family to learn how to improve upon their own church’s community outreach project—a project that began after Sandra Juarez first visited Moline.

After seeing the success of the Moline Love project, Juarez proposed that Mangulile do a similar project in their community. From that idea, Mangulile started Amor en Accion or “Love in Action.” She said that the project has helped grow the church’s passion for service and size of membership.

“People who we served began visiting the church and now it is bursting at the seams,” said Juarez.

In November, the churches will continue to build their relationship with one another as another team from Moline will visit Mangulile.

Caspar Geisterfer said that he would be glad to support other partnerships between North American and Honduran churches like this one.

“There is still opportunity to partner with one of the 80 Honduran CRCs,” he said.