Director of Home Missions Update

Ben Vandezande interim director of Christian Reformed Home Missions, has accepted an offer to continue in his role until June 2011 in order to help guide the transition to a new director for the agency.

The agency, along with the Home Missions Board and the CRC Denominational Office, will soon begin the search process for a new permanent director. It is expected that the new director will be named in February 2011.

During the coming year, Vandezande will play a key role in assisting Home Missions during this time of leadership transition. Until the new director settles into that role permanently, Vandezande will provide important continuity in implementing key strategies and ongoing leadership for Home Missions.

"I accept this invitation as a calling into a partnership in the Gospel as we together discern God's leading into the next chapter of Home Missions' journey." says Vandezande. "This coming year will provide an opportunity to discern who our next director will be as we live into this next chapter of Home Missions' journey. This will also be an opportunity to ensure a good transition in some senior leadership roles in Home Missions.” 

Vandezande began a two-year term as interim director inSeptember 2008, and has been instrumental in helping Home Missions create a new strategic plan during those two years. For the next year, he will continue to represent the agency with donors and partners, work on the growing strategic partnership with Christian Reformed World Missions, lead advancement efforts, frame the 2012 budget, and translate the strategic plan into action.

"In the last two years, we have experienced the leading of the God's Spirit who has guided and shaped our pathway forward as reflected in the new strategic plan," remarks Vandezande.

"We have also experienced a strong community within Home Missions as we walked together through the challenges of the past year and a half.  There has been much mutual support and shared wisdom as we discerned together what God has called us to as an agency in the CRCNA."

Sandy Johnson, Director of Denominational Ministries for the CRCNA, adds, "We are grateful for Ben's leadership, as he has been instrumental in providing the kind of leadership we needed over the last 1½ years. We are grateful for all the leaders and staff of Home Missions who are so critical to the mission of God, and we look forward as together we 'transform lives and communities worldwide.'"