ServiceLink Program Goes Bi-national

May 14, 2009

The Christian Reformed Church in North America is establishing a Bi-national ServiceLink Volunteer Program that will more easily serve and recruit volunteers in both the United States and Canada.

Making the program bi-national is another example of the CRCNA in the two countries finding ways to work together more smoothly.

“The new program has been approved and we are ready to move forward with this endeavor,” says John Bolt, director of finance and administration for the CRCNA.

Until now, the ServiceLink program has been based solely in the denomination’s office in Burlington, Ontario. Bolt said that Carol Sybenga, currently ServiceLink Program Manager in Canada, has been named the Bi-national ServiceLink Program Manager to lead the team in the US and Canada.

“Carol will be in contact with key stakeholders in the next few weeks to facilitate the start-up of this new function,” says Bolt.

Sybegna, in partnership with agency staff, will build this new program and work to generate “further enthusiasm for contributing to the ministries of the Christian Reformed Church,” says Bolt, adding that creation of a bi-national office took extensive planning. Approval for the new program came from the CRC’s Ministry Leadership Team.

On its website, ServiceLink says its mission is to “serve the members of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC), and other Christians, by providing them with ‘one-stop’ information and resources concerning available volunteer opportunities.”

ServiceLink assists CRC agencies and their partners by engaging volunteers in addressing the identified needs of their ministries. These tasks are carried out in response to the biblical mandate of being the body of Christ and participating in His ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:11-21).

Volunteers for the program have been able to deepen their faith and to make a range of new relationships.

Current volunteer opportunities include:

  • Writers who can help create material for ministriesin India and Bangladesh.
  • Volunteer English teachers, doctors and nurses are needed for work that is being done by Christian Reformed World Missions. In addition, they are trying to find a Dairy Farm Training Manager.
  • The CRC office of Disability Concerns is looking for "Regional Advocates" in the US and Canada to promote and assist congregations to embrace the model of "Everybody belongs. Everybody serves".
  • The Ministry to Seafarers is looking for volunteers in the historical port city of Montreal, Quebec. Volunteers will be asked to share the love of Jesus in both word and hospitality, helping seafarers from around the world enjoy their short stay in Canada.
  • Operation Manna, a program of Diaconal Ministries Canada, which partners with churches and para-church organizations across Canada to demonstrate God’s love in the community, is looking for volunteers. A door of opportunity is open for church members. Volunteering for this program can be a chance for a person to build relationships in the community.
  • Disaster Response Services (DRS) offers both individual and group opportunities. DRS is a part of CRWRC that provides assistance to disaster survivors in cooperation with recovery organizations in disaster affected communities.

Contact ServiceLink at http://www.crcna.org/pages/servicelink_front.cfm to see what other opportunities might be available for you.