CRC in Denver To Blend Two Cultures

Hillcrest Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Denver, Colo., will more than double in size in October when it merges with an independent Chinese church that has been meeting for about three years in Hillcrest’s facility.

Supported by a grant from the CRC’s Sustaining Congregational Excellence (SCE) program, Hillcrest CRC has been able to link in various ways with the Chinese church,  creating in the process one CRC congregation that will be working and worshiping frequently together.

“Hillcrest was close to closing (about 20 people) and is now up to 40. Growth is taking place,”  writes Rev. Tom Draayer, Hillcrest’s pastor, in a report to the Sustaining Congregational Excellence office in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Founded in 2007, the CRC’s SCE program seeks to foster, through grants and other means, health in smaller congregations — so they can flourish.

It was formed to advance the denominational priority to create and sustain healthy congregations. Since it began, 66 percent of smaller CRC congregations (two-thirds of all CRCs) have participated in SCE programming.

“There was an almost unanimous vote to merge the two congregations – which was the main goal of the project,” writes Draayer.

About three years ago, members of the Chinese church approached Hillcrest to see if they could use Hillcrest’s building. Hillcrest agreed.

After a time, the two churches started doing some joint ministry together, such as an annual food fair, and began talks that have led to the merger agreement.

About 100 people worship on Sunday at the Chinese church, whose members are younger, highly educated and have children.  Hillcrest is made up of mostly blue and white-collar workers who are older.

As it turns out, the congregations learned a lot about their different cultures as they have explored a joint ministry, and this opportunity to learn allowed the churches to overcome their differences, writes Draayer.

Issues over leadership style needed to be addressed as did how to incorporate the best of both cultures in the new venture.

Overall, the grant from SCE helped to give the two churches a foundation on which to build.

As they have undertaken this process, “the folks (from the Chinese church and Hillcrest) learned how much they are different, and yet, in some ways are the same. Culture impacts their communication,” writes Draayer.

The Chinese church in Colorado focuses on reaching out to Chinese college students. Recently, five college students were baptized and gave their testimonies of faith.

“The testimonies from these students are wonderful. The Hillcrest congregation has been very supportive of these students,” writes Draayer.

When the merger occurs, the church will be a CRC church, meaning Hillcrest will be “the official CRC name,” but what the church decides to call itself locally will be different.

Services will continue to be held in both Chinese and English. The two congregations will worship together at least once a month. Some parts of these worship services are/will be translated.

“Both congregations are learning to get along/how to blend together . . . Both cultures want to be loved and cared for . . . This has been a rich season of ministry,” writes Draayer.