ReFrame Makes Changes to English and Russian Programs

ReFrame Ministries, the global media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, relies on the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it creates contextual media resources that proclaim the gospel, disciple believers, and strengthen the church worldwide in 10 major languages.

After a careful review, the leaders of ReFrame have decided to discontinue three of its English-language ministry programs and to suspend its Russian-language ministry.

“As with any ministry, it is important for ReFrame to occasionally evaluate its programs and make decisions about strategic directions for the future,” said Kurt Selles, director of ReFrame Ministries. “This is especially important when there are changes in financial giving and society at large. That is what ReFrame is doing right now.”

The discontinued programs include Family Fire, started by husband-and-wife team Rev. Steven and Rev. Deb Koster. It became part of ReFrame Ministries in 2006 when Steven began leading the English-language ministry. Under the leadership of Pastor Deb, Family Fire has come alongside countless fellow strugglers for nearly two decades, offering hope and wisdom for the everyday challenges of marriage and family life.

Another halted program is Think Christian, which started in the early 2000s as a project of The Gospel Communications Network, the organization that also launched Bible Gateway. When Bible Gateway was acquired by Zondervan in 2008, Think Christian found a new home at ReFrame and has been capably led by Josh Larsen.

The third English-language ministry being discontinued is Church Juice, which began in 2007 to help congregations improve their communication and outreach through digital tools. Under the leadership of Bryan Haley, Church Juice has offered resources, training, and grants, initially focusing on CRCNA congregations and later expanding to serve other churches as well.

ReFrame is also suspending its Russian-language ministry because of increased vulnerability and the uncertain situation in Russia and Ukraine today. The first series of broadcasts in this ministry program aired in 1980 under the name “Return to God.” At that time, broadcasting took place exclusively through shortwave transmitters located in territory outside the Soviet Union. Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, ReFrame's Russian ministry has broadcast in Russia and in other Russian-speaking countries. Today the ministry has a physical presence in Russia and in Ukraine. Rev. Sergei Sosedkin started working with this ministry while studying at Kuyper College in 1996, and he has been working full-time as ReFrame’s Russian-ministry leader since his ordination as a minister of the Word in 2002.

“It is important to note that ReFrame is not ending the Russian-language ministry but suspending it until such a time as the ministry can be reestablished on a more solid foundation,” said Selles. 

Though this ministry is being suspended, ReFrame will continue partnering with a ministry in Ukraine to provide Christian media content for women facing the challenges and pressures of the ongoing war. This ministry has been strongly supported by churches and donors in both Canada and the United States. 

These changes to ReFrame’s English- and Russian-language programming are effective immediately. The Church Juice, Family Fire, and Think Christian websites will remain, but no new content will be added while staff explore whether new pathways outside of ReFrame might be possible for these ministries.

“These decisions are not a reflection of the value and impact these ministries have had in the past but are instead based on how we think we can best utilize our existing and future resources to meet the needs we see today,” Selles added.

Over the past several years, ReFrame has seen a steady decline in denominational ministry shares. With fewer ministry-share dollars coming in, ReFrame wants to set up future programming to be sustainable based on the financial support they anticipate receiving. 

“While it is hard to say goodbye to staff and programs that we know have made a lasting impact in many people’s lives, we also trust that God will use the good seeds that have been planted to continue his kingdom work,” Selles said. “We express our deepest gratitude to the staff who have led these programs so capably for many years.”