Whether Half Full or Half Empty, God Holds the Glass

“Let me clear up a misconception [about the Christian Reformed Church],” executive director Dr. Steven Timmermans told delegates to Synod 2015.

“I hear over and over ‘We’re shrinking; Ministry Shares are declining,’” Timmermans said in his address to synod on Saturday evening.

“We have a wonderful way of seeing the glass half empty,” he noted. “We are a dour bunch.... The news around us can make us discouraged.”

But membership statistics show that the church has turned a corner, he said. The CRC has more total members in 2015 than it did the year before, and the year before. “God is blessing us with growth."

He also noted that although the income from Ministry Shares is less than requested, the amount has been relatively stable. “We are blessed with the resources to do ministry.”

“I’m not minimizing those situations where numbers are declining. That pain is real,” Timmermans acknowledged. But he urged delegates to relay the message to their churches that “God is doing amazing things in and through us.”

“We are not shrinking and Ministry Shares income is not declining. God is blessing us.”

Timmermans also touched on the many ways the CRC is cooperating organizationally and in ministry with the Reformed Church in America, and how, through the Prayer Summit, “our Korean brothers and sisters” are helping the CRC to assume a posture of prayer.

He concluded by saying that “It’s not about the numbers. ...We have to avoid hoping in ourselves, our accomplishments. Our hope is grounded in the word of God.”

He said the church is facing issues that will pull and challenge it. “Despite this, we should remain patiently hopeful,” he said. “Whether the glass is half empty or half full, it is God who holds the glass, and us, in his hands.”

For continuous coverage of Synod 2015 including the live webcast, news, video recordings, photos, liveblog, social media links, and more visit www.crcna.org/synod.