What you will read in this report reflects choices made in response to the activities of over 1,000 people at "Conversations Among Churches." We have chosen in excess of 40 stories out of close to 1,000 possibilities. These stories reflect some examples of the creative ministry that already lives in our congregations.

It is with great joy and profound gratitude that I invite you to read over these "Best Practices" as they arise from the testimony of the church. Furthermore, I delight in being free to say go ahead and use them. Take whatever idea seems workable to you and use it in your church and community. You may amend and alter as you see fit and as your context requires. These are yours for the taking and for the application. Be blessed by these best practices and multiply them into being a blessing to others.

Rev. William Veenstra
Canadian Ministries Director

These Best Practices have been categorized for easy reference. Should you wish more information on any one of these best practices, call the referring church directly. Where there is no church listed, call the CRC offices at (905) 336-2920. We have the contact information on all these best practices, but have chosen not to post it on the Internet.

Diaconal Ministry, Stewardship, Justice

The deacons of Brantford Hope felt a need to find new ways to serve people with financial difficulties. They were particularly concerned that deacon turnover was hindering continuity and long term success in addressing financial need. Needs assessment was typically done by gut feelings - they recognized that this was inadequate. The deacons also wanted to develop ownership and empowerment in the assistance process. Through various means the deacons contacted a local family-counseling agency that deals with needs assessment every day. They set up a program in which people who request assistance on an ongoing basis are referred to the local agency for needs assessment and further counseling. People gain ownership and empowerment through the program by setting appointments with the agency and working through their suggested programs. The deacons in turn provide assistance as needed and monitor the progress of people in the program.

The deacons appreciate the relationship with the family-counseling agency because it takes the guesswork out of needs assessment for them and allows them to tap into an existing and viable community program. The pressure to continually train new deacons on needs assessment no longer exists so the diaconate has new opportunity to pursue other creative projects. The program has also had success in helping families access a full range of community support options.
     Hope CRC - Brantford, ON

Calvary CRC has developed a Service Fund to support young people in service opportunities. The deacons received frequent requests for support for Serve and Swim projects and decided that proactive measures would be appropriate. There was real appreciation, on the part of the deacons, for the shaping influence of service activities on the lives of youth in a critical time in their lives. Service experiences have influenced many Christian Reformed youth in their choice of careers, friends and participation in church and community. The Service Fund rose out of the recognition that the church could play a vital role in encouraging these activities.

The deacons set up some application procedures and pooled together some significant donations to start the fund. Participants (both young and not so young) are given $500 each and asked to share their experiences with the congregation when they return. The system prevents duplication in fund raising efforts and avoids unequal support for those who are good fundraisers and those who are quiet in their approach.

Since the introduction of the Service Fund there has been a significant increase in the congregation’s participation in service opportunities. This type of program has a meaningful impact on the lives of participants and the congregation alike.
     Calvary CRC - Ottawa, ON

The deacons of Owen Sound First CRC had a vision to make new connections with the community around them. This vision rose out of a general church commitment to outreach and a strong impression that it needed to be known as something other than "that Dutch church in the community". The deacons were also aware that new connections with their community would provide good resources for their ministry. Meetings were arranged with hospital chaplains, Children’s Aid representatives, and others, in order to discuss areas of mutual concern, and the potential for cooperative ministry. These discussions allowed the deacons to develop a list of community resources to assist them in their work and to communicate the message that the doors of First CRC are open to the community and its needs.
     First CRC - Owen Sound, ON

Pledging

Clarkson CRC, like so many other churches, had always struggled to meet its budget, including contributions to ministry shares. Every year, as the end of the fiscal year drew near, and the finance committee realized the shortfall, they asked the congregation, through bulletin announcements and personal letters, to please consider an increase in their giving to help balance the budget. These methods didn’t really work well, so about six years ago the committee decided some changes needed to be made.

The Finance Committee examined several passages in the Bible to see what it said about giving. They also found a new method for church giving in The Idea Book, which they have now implemented. Rather than hoping church members will continue to give faithfully, the church now asks members to consider pledging to give a specific amount of money to the church in the coming year. This has involved a shift in the philosophy of giving, and was preceded by months of educating the congregation on what the Bible teaches about giving.

The finance committee spent six months preparing the congregation for this new method. They made appropriate tapes available, featuring sermons or lessons on tithing, giving, and generosity. They invited the minister to preach on similar topics. There was a booklet put together which contained the various passages in the Bible that the committee had studied. Blurbs were inserted in the monthly church newsletter. People were encouraged to pray about it, and to discuss the matter with their spouse. Clarkson now holds a Consecration Sunday in November, which is focussed on giving. Members are encouraged to pledge (not forced), and about 50% of the members participate in this, making up roughly 75% of the budget for the coming year. Cards are given to each person, which are filled out during the service, and placed in the offering plate. All of the cards are put into a big box at the front of the church. It is done before the children go to Sunday School, so that it is truly a congregational event. Since the implementation of this method, the church has always met its budget and has paid 100% of ministry shares.

The members of the church have enfolded and supported this practice, and it has made the job of the finance committee much easier. Individuals who are tithing say that they have been blessed beyond their expectations.
     Clarkson CRC, Mississauga, ON

Turning the Tables: Filling a Need

Gate 3:16 is a local ministry to the homeless in Oshawa. It receives support from a number of local churches, including Hebron CRC, in Whitby. Not content with doing the same thing as always, the deacons courageously decided to turn the tables on the congregation. Instead of issuing a broad appeal to re-supply the food bank or simply passing the plate for money, they filled the plates with slips of paper specifying an item that was needed. During the service, these plates were passed and the people were encouraged to take instead of give. Then, on a subsequent Sunday, the item on the paper could be delivered to the church.

Understandably, the deacons were somewhat apprehensive about this because they had not done it this way before. However, the people were delighted in the fresh approach and responded overwhelmingly.

The items brought back were stacked at the front of the church in such quantities it allowed the pastor very limited space in which to move. The children were overwhelmed by the sight and delighted in the opportunity to participate. The next day, volunteers arrived at the church, unsolicited, to help pack the goods received and to deliver them to the food bank.
     Hebron CRC - Whitby, ON

People in Iron Springs and Picture Butte noticed some excellent Canadian Food Grains Bank growing projects in Saskatchewan and thought that it could work in their area. Local churches and a host of volunteers worked together on an 80-acre growing project. Selling acres to individual donors so that a silage crop could be produced funded land rental and cultivating expenses.

At harvest time, the community got together with swathers and choppers and harvested the 80 acres in a matter of a half an hour – a monumental effort like a traditional barn raising! The silage was sold and the proceeds of $45,000 were donated to the Canadian Food Grains Bank. After the harvest, the community enjoyed a BBQ together.

The entire project was a great community building exercise across denominational lines that also raised substantial funds for an excellent cause. The growing project was so successful that the community plans to do it again with 160 acres in 2002!
     Iron Springs CRC - Iron Springs, AB

Building Connections

Conversations can become the seedbed to an idea that grows. In Community CRC of Dixon’s Corners, the deacons were engaged in a conversation about connecting with their community and how this could be done realistically and effectively.

Learn-a-skill Day was implemented to freely invite people to come, enter the church and to feel comfortable there. At the same time, it would pass on a usable skill. Four workshops were developed: Basic Haircutting, Basic First Aid, Writing Resumes and Family Budgeting.

An extensive advertising campaign took place, including fliers, newspaper ads and of course word of mouth. What was disappointing to the organizers was the low turnout, despite the extensive effort. Upon analysis they came to the conclusion that their idea was solid but their timing was not right. A sunny Saturday in June is not a time to invite people to stay indoors.

Still, some people came and made connections. The atmosphere and the response of the participants was positive. They learned a practical skill, which could immediately help them at home and in the long term when it came to looking for a job or making some decisions about further training.

In one case there was ongoing connection between the trainer and a student. And still another person began a weekly cooking class with a focus on young mothers. The church provides free babysitting, the meal is prepared and consumed by the participants, who leave with new insights on cooking within a specific budget.

What the long-term results will be, only the Lord knows. But in the meantime, an idea that began in conversation is now being used by God to build a bridge to others.
      Community CRC - Dixon’s Corners, ON

Youth and Young Adult Ministries

A youth ministry based on small groups promotes relationship building, which is essential to the success of the ministry. In addition, one social and one service evening takes place each month. Both small groups and different evenings provide a wholistic approach, giving young people a variety of opportunities to connect with leaders, each other, and the Gospel, depending on where they are in their life journey.

Leaders need to be flexible, taking advantage of opportunities that present themselves. For example, a couple of young men were skateboarding in the church parking lot. They were attracted by the sound of the praise team, came into the church, and joined a group for the study night. The leader was able to refocus the lesson, and ended up basically sharing the Gospel with the guests.

Service evenings offer young people opportunities to help people in difficult circumstances, and can lead to significant relationship building. For example, one girl invited a 57-year-old gentleman to come to church after she met him as she was volunteering at the Out of the Cold Program (for homeless adults). This gentleman has been attending the church ever since.
      Covenant CRC - St. Catharines, ON

Every year, the youth group decides on a city where it would like to go during March Break to do a week of service. The youth advisor then contacts agencies in that city, requesting service opportunities. This year (2002), the group went to Kingston where they carried out VBS in a non-profit housing area. The local Salvation Army offered lodging. Last year they went to Toronto where they worked in Regent Park, and the year before, they were in Ottawa where they worked in a children’s museum. Lodging is often found in a local church or Christian school. About 15-18 youth participate. It is a very popular event, which offers opportunities for fun, service, and growth.

Twice a month, the youth take complete responsibility for a youth service. It gives them opportunity to use their gifts in leading praise and worship, acting out a drama, and other aspects of the service. The youth invite a speaker/pastor to bring the message.

One young man in the youth group is hearing impaired and the whole youth group decided to learn how to sign. The parents of the hearing impaired youth do 10 minutes of teaching in signing each week before youth group starts.

Youth leaders are very intentional about making it easier for youth to attend large-scale Christian youth conferences, such as the All Ontario Youth Conference, by helping to coordinate the funds and facilitating transportation, etc. Recently the youth went to an event in Buffalo with 17,000 others. Some of the youth went up for the altar call, to make or reaffirm their commitment.
  Call the CRC offices for Contact Information: 905-336-2920

To make children a more dynamic part of the congregation, the rest of the congregation should be engaged in the church school ministry. One of the ways in which this could be done is to initiate "visual participation." At the beginning of the year, teachers are asked to sign up for a month in which they agree to find a way to bring what is happening in their church school class before the rest of the congregation. Superintendents also provide a list of suggestions for the teachers and the standing offer of help.

Although the amount of participation varies each year many teachers have been wonderful and creative with this. Some have their class sing or recite a verse in the service (often connecting what they are dong with what the pastor is preaching on); others put together a bulletin board of information or place an announcement in the bulletin about what they are learning. Pictures are posted, bulletin covers are made, and skits are enacted during coffee social. The possibilities are made limitless by the teachers’ imagination.

This has renewed congregational interest in the program. Often a number of adults will cluster around the bulletin board or listen intently to the skit put on by the class. And the children will feel a sense of inclusion and accomplishment. Together, adults, youth and children gain a fuller sense of what the church body is and how it should function together.
     Calvary CRC - Flamborough, ON

"The Fuel" Youth Worship Service

Carl Lazarotto began as youth pastor just over 2 years ago at Maple Ridge CRC, and saw a need for worship services geared towards youth. Carl had experience in leading youth worship services, so he decided to spearhead the effort. With the help of the Music Director of the church, as well as half a dozen of the youth, they held the first "Fuel" service in January 2000.

Held once a month on Saturday night, the service began in a room in the church, but has moved into the sanctuary as it is a more functional space (i.e. sound equipment, lights, and projector are already in place). The service begins around 7:30, officially runs until about 9:00, and consists of worship, testimonies, skits, and a "talk" about relevant issues, which challenges the youth in their daily walks. After the service officially ends, there is more singing, and the youth are encouraged to move into the activity room, where they can play games, eat, and mingle, until around 11:00.

"Fuel" began as a service for the youth at Carl’s church, but due to its popularity, youth from other churches, as well as a few non-Christians now attend the monthly service. There are now about 200 youth attending every service. At the beginning, Carl and the music director led the services, but this role has now been taken over by the youth. There are two worship bands, consisting of all youth, with 3 members who are from other area churches. The worship service is geared towards youth aged 12 and up, but there are now many adults who like to come (they are encouraged to stay at the back of the sanctuary so that the focus remains on the youth).

A new program has grown out of "Fuel", called "Quest," which is a youth version of "The Alpha Course," designed by Youth For Christ. This is a "second step" for the non-Christian youth to take. It is held once a month, two weeks after the Fuel service.

There are two major factors that have made this service successful: prayer support and worship. As a result of the monthly youth services, the church is now becoming more open to contemporary styles of worship, and the profile of the youth in the church has grown significantly.
     Maple Ridge, BC

We can find tools to help us work together!

According to CRC people from Southern Alberta, Youth Unlimited has an excellent vehicle by which youth leaders can develop a co-operative spirit for immediate assistance and long-term development. This vehicle is called "Compass 21" and can be accessed from the Youth Unlimited website at www.youthunlimited.org.

"Compass 21" trains members who are then equipped to help youth leaders understand their youth and their current programs in terms of strengths and weaknesses. From there they seek to work together to set goals and to design workable steps by which those goals may be achieved.

Others may help to design service projects, Bible studies and other activities by which the declared goals can be achieved. Together, leaders can share what works and what does not and learn from each other. This learning helps to encourage an approach to youth ministry that is intentional in purpose, and relational, in the sense that each person is important to the group as it seeks to know Christ and to walk with Him.

"Compass 21" seeks, therefore, to encourage leaders who are transformational and exemplary so that they can, with full integrity, nurture youth from one development stage to the next. Youth programming in the church setting can never by static, but must be responsive to changing needs, so that youth come to know and serve the Lord by sharing their stories and contributing by means of service, in the expectation that God will bless with an abundant harvest.

Call the CRC offices for Contact Information: 905-336-2920

Covenant Gaining Traction

At Calvary CRC in Ottawa, the promise in Baptism to receive children in love, pray for, instruct, encourage and sustain them, has taken on new expression. The congregation is striving to meet the needs of at least five children, who, with their families face life with unique and special challenges ranging from autism to fragile X syndrome, as well as such challenges as hearing and visual impairments.

A small group of people began to address this challenge when it became apparent these children were too old for the nursery and that being in church with the parents was not the best choice. That awareness was coupled with the determination not to allow these children to be segregated from their age groups.

When one of the people involved began to investigate what could be done, a couple of good resources were uncovered. The parents of the children were found to be willing to sit down with the other children, to introduce their child and to explain the need and what responses and assistance would be most helpful. That has resulted in a large group of children growing in understanding, acceptance and willingness to assist.

An organization in Ottawa, "Andrew Fleck Services," has been a tremendous source of resources as well as training services for the congregation as a whole, and to teachers and helpers in particular. This has strengthened the already phenomenal support of the congregation, but there are still challenges to overcome. While books and people are available, not much material has been produced, such as visual aids. This does create an additional demand on teachers and helpers.

Progress is being made within the Covenant community as it strives to put flesh on words of promise. There is a deeper commitment to community, a growth of understanding universal sign language, an appreciation of the need to be available to provide respite care, as well as an awareness that some parents will not be available to serve on committees as other parents routinely do.

A program like this does not come easily. It often develops slowly, but has an impact that can be duplicated where needed.
     Calvary CRC - Ottawa, ON

Prayer

A variety of factors came together in the formation of a prayer ministry team in this congregation. An established prayer group felt led to bring the ministry further into the church, a resource from Grand Rapids provoked thoughtful study, and sincere prayer for discernment on how to minister to people in prayer led to establishment of the prayer ministry team at least two years ago.

Those available of the group of ten meet for prayer together prior to the church service on Sunday, and then a pair of men and a pair of women are available after the service for those who feel moved to prayer. The ministry hopes to raise the practice and profile of prayer in the life of the congregation. Creating a safe place for people to be honest with themselves, the congregation, and God about needs and their Christian walk.

The experience of being on the prayer ministry team has been immensely rewarding for the volunteers, strengthening their spiritual lives.

Call the CRC offices for Contact Information: 905-336-2920

Good News CRC has been developing its prayer ministry over the last year, but it is just beginning to formalize now. This emphasis developed through one member who felt strongly called to prayer ministry, contact with others involved in the Classis Chatham-sponsored Dunamis Project, and cell group ministry which emphasized the role of prayer. In addition, the church completed the natural church development survey, and found that they scored low in passionate spirituality, providing an impetus to focus on this area.

Prayer ministry has the overall goal to make passionate prayer part of everything the church does. It is coordinated by a prayer leader and includes prayer partners for each member of council (each pair determines how their relationship will function). Good News also has Sunday evening prayer time. In this (small but growing) gathering people bring their concerns, pray together, and are ministered to. Finally, prayer is being explicitly incorporated into the work of pastoral elders. A prayer elder/coordinator works with the pastoral elders to encourage and support them in prayer. Upon request this person accompanies elders on visits, supports and teaches elders in prayer, and also strengthens the prayer life of the larger church through events, etc.

The decision to work on prayer more explicitly has had a significant impact on the congregation. As individuals, they are much more sensitive to the needs of one another, and how they can minister to one another. Most importantly, the church has experienced a greater intimacy with God, and has learned how to listen to Him rather than just doing things on their own.
     Good News CRC - London, ON

Because the pastor was a man of prayer those in his congregation were empowered in the ministry of prayer and various prayer initiatives were implemented. In council meetings, for example, those present break into small groups and spend 15 minutes in prayer before the business of the meeting begins. This practice has made a marked difference in the nature and productivity of council meetings. Members are more focused on listening to God, and meetings are more calm, with less criticism and complaints.

Another prayer practice at Hope church includes the formation of an intercessory prayer group. This group meets on Wednesday evenings and prays for the needs of the congregation, including lapsed members, and two specific individuals each meeting. They have been following a Catholic series of Scriptural prayer lessons called "Speak Lord, Your Servant is Listening," which was adapted for use in the CRC.

Sunday morning services are also surrounded in prayer. Prior to the service, the serving elder, praise team (if there is one that week), and whoever else would like to attend are welcome for prayer. This opportunity is also announced in the bulletin. After church, there is a specific group of volunteers (different from the Wednesday evening group) who is available to meet for prayer with whomever would care to (in a prayer room). The group consists of both men and women, and they coordinate their schedules to ensure that at least one of them is present every Sunday.

Those involved in prayer ministry have learned that confidentiality is important, and that an atmosphere of trust has to be created. They also strive to have a gender balance, so that everyone will find the prayer partners accessible.

It is clear that a renewed focus on prayer is meeting a need in this congregation. Regular communication with God has made the church a more caring community on the whole. Those engaged in the prayer ministry have noticed that the benefits spill over into their personal lives: they have a more meaningful prayer life for themselves and also with their families.
      Hope CRC - Brantford, ON

The growth of prayer ministry has helped to create a spirit of unity in the congregation. Deliberately covering the pastor, council, congregation, and children/youth through various programs has enhanced the spiritual life of the church, but also provided a sense of value in and assurance for those whom prayers are offered.

Under the leadership of the prayer coordinator, three different prayer ministries are happening. One concerns children and unmarried adults. All of the people in these categories are assigned to volunteers who pray daily for them. Each volunteer prays for 5 individuals, and he or she may or may not establish a relationship with the prayer partner. It has had a significant impact on youth to know that they are remembered in prayer and that they are valued as individuals.

The second initiative involves prayer to support the pastor and council. Five members of the congregation volunteer for this ministry, and prayer requests are regularly submitted to them by the prayer coordinator. Each volunteer prays on his/her own for this ministry, and they make a special point of remembering the council in prayer around the time that it meets.

Finally, this church has a creative mechanism to bring prayer concerns of the congregation into the home. At the beginning of the Sunday school year, the children hear a story on how one prayer is like a single flashlight, but many prayers make a strong, bright light. As a way to create a combined prayer effort, the children made fridge magnets for each household, and every month a list of 4-5 prayer concerns is made available to hang on the fridge. By including the children in the process, they feel a part of the congregation and a closer connection to prayer. They also remind the family at the dinner table to include the month’s prayer items.

Call the CRC offices for Contact Information: 905-336-2920

Elders Circle Prayer

Believing in the power of prayer, Pastoral Elders at Woodynook CRC have put prayer at the forefront of their meetings. As with various church meetings, the Pastoral Elders’ meeting started at 7:30 pm and always opened and closed with a word of prayer. They found however, that the meetings were increasingly agenda-driven. The Pastoral Elders wanted to spend more time in prayer, but the agenda was too full and they became concerned that there were ministry or pastoral needs they were not fulfilling.

To address this concern, the Pastoral elders (22 in all) and the Pastor resolved to have a concentrated time of prayer at the beginning of each of their meetings. After listening to elder reports, visits and special concerns, the Pastoral Elders take a "time out" to go around the circle and prayer over each of the mentioned items. At some meetings, the pastor also spends time teaching about the spiritual growth, after which they divide into small groups of four or five for discussion and sharing. The time of deliberate prayer and learning gives opportunity for the Pastoral Elders to grow and give even better guidance for the faith journey of those in their care.

Through prayer, the Pastoral Elders are finding greater care for and closeness to those they are bringing before the Lord, whether those individuals know they are being prayed for or not. As with all meetings involving office bearers, difficult situations and discussions can still arise. Prayer, however, has been a blessing to that process. The circle prayer has been an enriching experience for all.
      Woodynook CRC - Blackfalds, AB

Weekday Prayer Meeting

Every other Thursday night, Meadowvale CRC holds a prayer meeting, bringing together the prayer intercessors in the church. The meeting begins with a time of worship, acapella singing, listening, and, on occasion, a time of silence for 10-15 minutes before a time of prayer. Prayer is offered for the congregation (individuals, situations, ministries), the community, city, nation and places around the world.

The meeting brings together 12-20 people who have a special gift or calling to prayer ministry, plus additional members from the congregation. The goal of the prayer meeting is to seek the face of God and come to an understanding of His heart for the prayer agenda.

Prayer meetings are by no means a new endeavour of Meadowvale CRC. The church has been holding a weekday prayer meeting for many years. It started primarily as a time of training and learning techniques for praying with and for people. This eventually evolved into the prayer meeting, although threads of the original purpose still run through the meeting.

Time and time again, the church has seen how God has used the prayer meeting to go ahead of the church and set the agenda for the following week. This has been evident in Sunday worship service themes, in the timely need to address a certain situation or area of need, and for opportunities that unfold.

The prayer group has often felt the need to also go outside the walls of the church and into various places in the city to pray. These prayer assignments have even led them to pray outside a Muslim teaching centre and a shopping mall.
     Meadowvale CRC - Mississauga, ON

Adult Education, Leadership Development

Shortly after becoming a new congregation 13 years ago, the Council began the "Households of Faith" process. We divided up the congregation into groups of about eight families to form small groups. Not all attended, but many did. This worked for a couple of years, then it seemed to lose its effectiveness. Since then we have had "Coffee Break", which is still doing very well and is a positive outreach program. We also had "Men’s Life" for a year or two, then it petered out. Since then a number of men have gone to "Promise Keepers" and formed accountability groups.

The concept of people getting together in small groups to spend time in prayer and Bible study began to take root and some small groups were not even initiated by any program. Groups usually get together for a period of time and then sometimes they fade out, and other groups start. Some groups focus more on prayer, while others are primarily Bible study. There is no formal program and each group arranges for its own materials. There is anywhere from 5 - 10 groups active in the church at any given time.
     Community CRC - Dixon’s Corners, ON

"Summit" is a series of four or five consecutive Sunday evenings (in place of the regular evening worship service), set aside for discipleship classes for all age levels. A variety of classes provides opportunities for the church body to continue to learn and grow in knowledge. Various church members also grow through the opportunity to be an instructor or facilitator for these classes. "Summit" is normally scheduled twice per year. Part of the process is to continue to evaluate its effectiveness and adapt it as appropriate.

The "Summit" courses that are offered are New Members Class, Life Transformation Group, Discovering My Ministry SHAPE, Small Group Training, A Case for Reformed Christianity, In His Image: An Analogous Book Study of the Body and the Church, God of Weakness: How God Works Through the Weak Things of This World, Our Stuff- Whose is it Anyway?: a course for all money handlers, and Preparation for Profession of Faith. Programs for children are Children at the Lord’s Supper, Kid’s Only Fun Club, and Preschool Playtime.

The Leadership Development Network is a mentor-driven, learner-centered, church-based means of raising leaders for the harvest. The Leadership Development Network follows the call and the model of Christ by equipping pastors and churches to reproduce disciples, leaders and churches. It is designed to prepare church leaders through practical ministry experience in, with, and by a growing local church. Its goal is to saturate an entire region with fresh, outreach-oriented churches.
     New Life CRC - Abbotsford, BC

Spring and Fall Electives

For six weeks in the fall and the spring, Trinity CRC holds a time of worship and prayer, along with Electives in place of their Sunday evening worship service. During a 30-minute time of joint worship and prayer, the church focuses its attention fully on the Lord and brings before Him prayer needs and praises. At the conclusion of worship and prayer, people disperse for an hour into their chosen Elective group.

These electives were an excellent place to pull together the children’s program, to use Faith Alive’s six session lessons on "Speaking of One", "Speaking of God", and "Speaking of Comfort", to instruct the youth and also to begin adult education classes. Trinity offered six-week membership classes, a maturity class for new members and a "Discover your Gifts" class for those who were searching. In addition to these classes a retired pastor offered an elective on a book of the Bible, and two others were also added. Soon we had a full slate, and new Christians were coming to church twice on Sundays. These Sunday electives have been very well received each time.

Now people have new ideas for electives such as, "restorative justice", "worship in Lent," or "Finances," allowing for the teaching gifts in the congregation to be used. Electives need to be well planned and thought out, include every age group of the congregation, and run for four to six weeks. These electives could begin on a smaller scale, starting with three or four, but Trinity’s size allowed it to grow larger.

This year, "Using Spiritual Gifts" will be the theme and we will probably have two or three electives that focus on using spiritual gifts. We can also work on strengthening our outreach by offering "Contagious Christianity" as an elective. Planning can be strategic and there is opportunity to listen to the needs of the congregation and what they would come for.
      Trinity CRC - Abbotsford, BC

Team Ministry

The First CRC in Sarnia is looking to replace the traditional committee structure with ministry teams within the next year or so. At other churches, this format has renewed church growth, has been a part of the visioning process, aided in worship, and developed into a "gift based" ministry.

The ministry teams are more than committees; they require a change in perspective, and allowing for members to find and use their specific gifts in ministry. The pastor would preach sermons in the morning service on "spiritual gifts" (using resources from the Faith Alive publication "Discover Your Gifts"), then he would send out a survey to the congregation (40-50% were filled out and returned) on spiritual gifts. Members of the congregation would be able to better discern their own gifts, and begin to use them in different areas of ministry within the church.

Members of the congregation, in order to serve on teams would have to feel "called" to fulfill a mission within a ministry. The ministries consisted of worship and education-discipling, outreach, and fellowship. As long as someone felt called, they could serve in that specific ministry.

Teams would meet for worship, prayer, sharing, setting goals, and making decisions. The pastor would train team leaders and assistant team leaders by mentoring them and helping them to get the ministry started. They sought and advice of material from Home Missions, using what they were supplied as the structure/format for the ministries. This process of "ministry", has been extremely successful. It has enabled people to realize a vision, and work together as a team to bring that vision to fruition. Members are involved in a ministry as a "calling", and specific gifts are being used.
     First CRC - Sarnia, ON

Tuesday Evening Community Night

Last fall we started a "Community Night" (CN) in our church. Every Tuesday night our sanctuary is transformed from a worship area to a dining area. About 60-75 people come for a free, nutritious dinner served from 5:45 - 6:30 PM.. They are invited to stay after dinner for programs such as English as a Second Language (ESL), The Alpha Course, or parenting classes. Baby-sitting is available for babies and toddlers, and children’s programs are available for ages 3 and up.

The church also runs Nelson Avenue Daycare, and it has been able to build bridges with daycare families, and a number of them attend the dinner, often staying for classes. ESL had 3 classes with 10 -12 students of various ages and nationalities. The Alpha Course has less in attendance, although the number is consistent.

One of the challenges for those in ESL and who also participate in the Alpha Course, is hearing and understanding Nicky Gumbel who has a heavy British accent. That stands in the way for them to make sense of Christianity. In order to accommodate for them, a small group begun on Thursday evening helping those involved in ESL to gain a basic understanding of Christian faith. The overflow of Tuesday evening also entered the Wednesday morning Coffee Break where we offered an ESL class using the same study course as on Thursday evening.

It takes a big commitment to run CN. About 35 people from our church help out every week. We have built bridges to reach the people in our community, who are mainly unchurched. Many are recent immigrants who are lonely and longing for friendship and contacts outside their own ethnic groups. Our church is able to fill their needs. It has been a blessing to the church body to establish friendships and share the Gospel and our church community is learning to become a caring and loving place for them to come to with their families.
     Nelson Ave. Community Church, Burnaby, BC

Discipleship Hour

Bethel CRC started up a Discipleship Hour, employing a newly expanded building. More room became available in the church building, for youth and adult groups. The Discipleship Hour begins on Sundays at 11am, following the 9:30am Sunday Worship Service. More members were willing to stay after the service than come before church. The Sunday School-aged children are involved in activities while the adults and youth spend time in different study groups. The grade school and youth have catechism and worship training. The adult Bible studies involve semester type sessions of "Discover Your Gifts", "A course on Prayer", "Newcomers", and a study of Luke and Romans.

The Discipleship Hour has been very effective for teaching and facilitating learning and it is a different way of growing and worshiping than what used to exist during the typical Sunday service. It allows families to meet for groups at the same time. In general, there has been a very good turnout of participants. The one downfall is that young families with small children have found it too long to participate in the Sunday morning service and then Discipleship Hour.

The other two areas of blessing have been the Alpha Course ministry training and small group leader training. The Alpha leaders would spend time together for about a half-hour before the Alpha class. They would minister to each other and spend time in prayer for the ministry and each leader. To be able to minister effectively to others, they found that they needed to be in a group ministering to each other. This mutual encouragement was very helpful to challenge and build individual gifts, and was beneficial to the ministry as a whole.
      Bethel CRC - Waterdown, ON

Council Retreat

After being installed in Fellowship Christian Reformed Church, the office bearers participate in a retreat with all the retiring and current council members. The time frame and main topic for discussion has varied from year to year. The time frame may include a breakfast or a lunch. A current church issue or concern such as structure or fellowship may be chosen as the topic for discussion. It is primarily a time to interact, share, reflect and listen to each other.

A council retreat includes plenty of advance planning, and opportunity for fellowship, and it should be focused and short in length, not a time to make decisions. This Council-building effort benefits the church community as its members in church leadership work to be a unified group with a common vision.
      Fellowship CRC – Ancaster, ON

Evangelism, Outreach, Missions

In his song on Psalm 23 entitled "Strange Waters," Bruce Cockburn grapples with social problems such as poverty and environmental degradation against God’s promise to lead beside "still waters." CRC churches in the St. Catharines area began a series of services aimed at exploring together the "Strange Waters" of the Christian faith and of our lives today, using Coburn’s song as a name for their events. At the initiative of 3 individuals in the area, the outreach was intended to form a bridge from the local CRCs to the campus ministry at Brock University. Services were promoted as seeker sensitive, oriented to those on the fringe who are asking questions and seeking a faith that meets contemporary culture.

The services took place regularly over the course of a year and a half. They used a mixture of contemporary culture- music, art, poetry, and media - to engage the participants. Participants were encouraged to explore together, and did not always have easy answers to their questions. "Strange Waters" was modeled after "Saturday Night Alive", a program run by First CRC in London.

A measure of the success of the program was its faithful attendance: it continued to grow over the year and a half that it ran. It also attracted those who would not otherwise have attended church, such as young people and professionals. Those who came were blessed by a place where they could engage with faith and be touched by the issues and opportunities addressed. Even those who were regular CRC attendees could resonate and grapple with the issues.

While the program eventually grew beyond the capacity of the organizing committee and had to come to an end, there are discussions afoot to revive it so it will once again meet the needs of a questioning population on the fringes of church life.
      Jubilee Fellowship CRC, St. Catharines, ON

CoffeeBreak

Maranatha CRC’s Coffee Break ministry has been in existence for over a decade. It began with a community outreach focus but slowly became a church-focused Bible study. One of the participants noticed that her neighbour did not have a Bible in her home, consequently, she invited her to Coffee Break. The neighbour’s sister-in-law also came. This began to change the focus of the group. Using personal contact, VBS lists and some media advertisements, the Coffee Break Group was able to add 16 new women (and a good number of children to Little Lambs). The participants, both new and old, began to develop a real excitement about exploring the Bible and learning about Jesus. This is, however, having an exciting impact on the church too.

The church participants in the group are getting excited about outreach and even beginning to make it a significant focus in their lives. Church members outside of Coffee Break are also excited about the new and wonderful things happening. The church has been challenged to talk to their neighbours about the Bible and to recognize that ministry can happen in their own backyards. Many people in the church have been inspired by the excitement in the Coffee Break to take up this challenge to ministry.
      Maranatha CRC - Lethbridge, AB

Single Parent Support Group

West End CRC has a well-established single parent support group that is an inspiring success story. Seventeen years ago a local Birthright volunteer decided that single parents needed a place of support and interaction to help overcome the isolation that they so often feel. The program began with the simple goal of building relationships by sharing a meal with single parent families.

Today the Single Parent Support Group meets twice a month beginning with the shared meal. Volunteers cook the meal and often share recipe ideas with the parents. The church library and a clothing exchange are available during meeting nights. Nursery and age specific programs, including crafts and sports, is provided for the children and parents have the opportunity to participate in activities as well. Recent events have included stress-management seminars, a Tax Night and a Hairdressers night (local trainees came in to do hair). Thirty church volunteers do vital, practical work and build relationships with the families. Participants genuinely enjoy the interaction and experience the love of Christ in very real ways. One little boy who was offered the chance to do anything he wanted on his birthday, asked to go to church because he enjoyed his time at the group so much. The supportive environment that the group provides has been a catalyst in the spiritual lives of many of the participants.

West End church has benefited immeasurably from the Parent Support Group as well. The church has become a part of its community and experiences growth in the Lord by participating in this small corner of His ministry. The depth of the church’s ministry is respected to such an extent that government agencies and hospitals refer single parents to them regularly.
West-End CRC - Edmonton AB

Children’s Theatre

Every six weeks, New Life CRC in Abbotsford cancels its evening service to host a Children’s Theatre which brings in 600-700 people, 1/3 of which are unchurched.

"Peeko the Pilot" and his many adventures, puppet friends, and stories began as the creative brainstorm of Ed Top. This vision eventually grew to envelop the entire congregation. Noticing how difficult it can be for churchgoers to invite their neighbours and friends to church, members created the Children’s Theatre to provide a non-threatening environment in which to engage the community.

Each production consists of a three-minute video centered on the main character "Peeko," who would then continue the action in real life by entering the room. For 15 minutes, Peeko interacts with puppets and the children, before settling into a story based on Christian themes and principles.

The Children’s Theatre not only attracted the time, talent, and resources within the congregation but also the community. Non-Christian contacts from a production company in Vancouver offered the use of professional movie props. Both Abbotsford newspapers highlighted this ministry in their newspaper, even giving front-page coverage with photos in the Arts section. New Life CRC and "Peeko" even made an appearance in the local city parade. Members within the congregation also were extremely involved in the technical aspects of creating the videos as well as the live productions.
     New Life CRC - Abbotsford, BC

Kids For Christ

Kids For Christ is a program created by the Outreach Committee of Ebenezer CRC in Jarvis, Ontario to impact children and parents in its community. This outreach tool is a follow up program to their successful summer Vacation Bible School (VBS). As another opportunity to cross the threshold of the church, this program allows community participants to continue interacting with church members and nurture the relationships started during the summer.

Kids For Christ consists of a twelve week program that includes many of the traditional VBS activities such as Bible stories and crafts. Starting six weeks before Christmas, children, parents and volunteers from the church gather to interact and learn more about God and His Word. The program continues in January for another six weeks (five-week program and an evening programme, which includes the parents). Approximately 16-18 children from the community participate. For members of Ebenezer CRC, Kids For Christ provides many outlets for creative skills and talents to be used.
      Ebenezer CRC - Jarvis, ON

Alpha Program

About four years ago, a few members of the Calvin CRC in Ottawa, ON stumbled upon The Alpha Program through local contacts with the Anglican Church. Since then, Alpha has been an important part of Calvin CRC’s plan to reach those who come from a none church or nominal church background.

Alpha is a 10-12 week video series on the Christian faith, consisting of a meal together, praise & worship, video, small group discussion and prayer. We have noticed that those who miss the meal (very few) do not connect as well and are not as open in the small group. The Alpha talks are a great refresher for long-time church goers; it gives them ways to share their faith without the jargon and it has served as a catalyst in renewing their own spiritual life. For newcomers from the community, the talks are an excellent introduction into all aspects of Christianity. They create a setting to share personally about faith and pray in a group for the first time. One person came looking for a church to worship at over Christmas, joined the Alpha program, and turned his or her life over to Jesus Christ. Others have made a recommitment to Jesus Christ, which especially happens during the weekend retreat part of the program.

We have had the best results when there are designated people intentionally praying for Alpha during the week and while the program is underway. We have recently introduced, Beta, a follow-up 10 week program, which also starts with a meal and is based on small groups. We have one group that went even deeper by discussing the book "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackeby.
Calvin CRC - Ottawa, ON

Overseas Field Visit

In response to a ServiceLink announcement, various members of Calvary CRC began to get excited about the opportunity to go to El Salvador through CRWRC to help rebuild homes after two earthquakes. An overwhelming number turned up for the initial meeting, enough to form 2 teams of 10. It was clear, however, that to raise the $40,000 would require the participation of more than 20 people. From the beginning, congregational involvement was crucial: not only was the group simply hoping for financial support from the rest of the congregation, they were consciously representing them. The challenge was to encourage everyone to be involved and to take ownership of this opportunity.

To involve the congregation, the "Calvary Carpenteros" regularly put Spanish lessons in the bulletin, and solicited help from the congregation. Displays were set up around the church and a thermometer gauged the fundraising totals. Member support was most clearly demonstrated in the combined effort to hold a celebrity dinner. Local Christian sports figures were highlighted at the first annual "Spirit and the Sport" event, and more than $20,000 was raised in one night through ticket sales and auctions.

A special service commissioned the groups before they left, and, upon their return, a potluck dinner, which included stories and presentations, was held for the congregation. The fellowship hall was packed. Twenty people actually went to El Salvador, but an entire congregation made a difference in the lives of the people there.
     Calvary CRC - Flamborough, ON

Congregational Life, Pastoral Care

In-Touch Care Ministry

Deacons are the link between people with needs and people with gifts. The concept of a caring ministry was discussed and implemented by the deacons early in 2000 to provide, particularly to those who are lonely, seniors, and shut-ins, God’s care and love on a continuous and intentional basis.

This ministry engages equipped individuals in relationships where their responsibility for another is described by the acronym PACE:
P (pray for each person in their care regularly)
A (be available for listening, sharing, and encouragement)
C (contact each person on a regular basis)
E (provide a Christian example)

Key elements of the ministry are confidentiality and accountability to ensure its continuity.

Through this care ministry, members of the church family have a unique opportunity to receive ongoing attention, care and love. Furthermore, members of Immanuel CRC with the gift of mercy have the opportunity to share their gifts of love and compassion with others. There is preparation, support and encouragement for those who provide this commitment of time and energy. In effect, more supportive relationships are built within the congregational family.
     Immanuel CRC, Hamilton, ON

Elder’s Ministry

Under the leadership of the pastor, consistory has worked intentionally to strengthen the elder’s role in spiritual leadership. Elders meet twice a month for prayer: one hour prior to Council meetings and half an hour prior to the elders’ visitation.

In addition, a brochure has been developed to maximize the effectiveness of the elders’ home visit. This brochure is given to all members. It explains the purpose of the visit, and outlines what will happen during the visit, including involvement of children. The theme (based on passage from Scripture) that will guide the discussion during the visit is described, along with sample questions that may be asked.

Call the CRC offices for Contact Information: 905-336-2920

The idea for "Dinners for Eight" originated with a couple who later became the coordinators. The concept was introduced to the congregation, explanatory letters were put in everyone’s mail slot, and people invited to sign up. The dinners are for adults only, singles, and couples who participate in either of the two morning worship services. About one month before the next dinner, there is a bulletin announcement, reminders are put in the mail-slots of those who have participated, and there is also opportunity for new persons to sign up. A couple of weeks before the actual dinner, the coordinators mix and match those who signed up. For each home, there is a single person or couple who host, six assigned guests, two other persons invited by the host. These may be neighbors or newcomers or they may be members of the church. When everyone has been assigned, the coordinators send a letter to all participants, telling them to whose home they will be going. Each group then decides on a mutually agreeable date.

The host provides the main course, but other participants are expected to contact the host, to arrange what they can bring (e.g. salad, desert, side dish). The event is primarily a social one. The ho