What do you know about Jersey City? It’s the second most heavily-populated city in New Jersey with an ethnic diversity befitting it as the home of Ellis Island. It’s also the location of a young URCNA church plant, Grace Reformed Church. When the work began meeting for worship on September 1, 2013, a core … Continue reading Reaching out in Jersey City
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Faith community rallies around a church after fire damages building
“Ridiculously surreal.” That’s how Senior Pastor Stu Kerns described the phone call informing him of a fire at Zion Church (PCA) in Lincoln, NE. This was the second time he’d received such a call. The previous building at a different location had been completely destroyed by fire in 2007. “I felt like this is … Continue reading Faith community rallies around a church after fire damages building
Aloha to Grace Church of Kauai
Many URCNA members grieved to hear about the closing of the Grace Church of Kauai, in Hawaii, on Easter Sunday in 2016. The consistory of Grace United Reformed Church in Torrance, CA, had supervised the church plant for more than eight years. Rev. Derrick Vander Meulen explains that his family moved to Kauai and he … Continue reading Aloha to Grace Church of Kauai
Seminary’s alumni conference focuses on conflict
You or your pastor may be all too familiar with conflict within the church. According to Rev. Jeff De Boer, Director of Enrollment Management at Mid-America Reformed Seminary, it is the primary reason for pastors leaving the ministry. “Preparing for and reflecting on conflict is very important for the continued well-being of the church,” … Continue reading Seminary’s alumni conference focuses on conflict
Tapped to serve: A visit to the Reformed Churches in the Philippines
From February 10-26, 2016, Rev. John A. Bouwers, pastor of Immanuel United Reformed Church in Jordan, ON, traveled to the Philippines where he taught and preached in a variety of Reformed churches. The Theological Assistance to the Philippines (TAP) Ministry of Providence Canadian Reformed Church of Hamilton had asked Rev. Bouwers to make the teaching … Continue reading Tapped to serve: A visit to the Reformed Churches in the Philippines
Independent Reformed church seeks URCNA affiliation
After more than forty years as an independent congregation, Immanuel Fellowship Church in Kalamazoo, MI, hopes to affiliate with the United Reformed Churches in North America. At a meeting on March 2, 2016, Immanuel’s congregation voted unanimously in favor of affiliation. The consistory of Covenant URC in Kalamazoo brought an Article 32 recommendation regarding … Continue reading Independent Reformed church seeks URCNA affiliation
Four years of church planting in Michigan
On February 5, 2016, an OPC mission effort in Fremont, MI, became a particularized church and took the name Bethel Reformed OPC. The church installed Rev. Vern Picknally, who has served the work for over four years, and two elders: Mr. Brian Guikema and Dr. Ted Vander Kooi. (The latter is the brother of Rev. … Continue reading Four years of church planting in Michigan
New church planter for RCUS work in Omaha
Rev. Randall Klynsma has accepted a call as associate pastor for St. John’s Reformed Church (RCUS) of Lincoln, NE, tasked with planting a church in the Omaha metropolitan area. Rev. Klynsma took up his new responsibilities on February 1, 2016. The mission work, now known as Omaha Reformed Church, has been holding worship services since … Continue reading New church planter for RCUS work in Omaha
Changing the Ethos of Chicago
On February 14, 2016, Justin Beach was ordained as Associate Pastor at Ethos Chicago, a unique church that meets for weekly worship at the historic Biograph Theater in the Lincoln Park neighborhood on the city’s north side. “God has led me on a journey I never knew I would take,” Justin says. “Ten years ago … Continue reading Changing the Ethos of Chicago
In His time: Patient waiting leads to Lynden, Washington call
For Mark Vander Pol, the call to become Pastor of Congregational Life for Lynden United Reformed Church in Lynden, WA, came in God’s perfect timing. He and wife Michelle finalized the adoption of their two children on February 24, he planned to resign from his work as a chemist on March 18, and the family … Continue reading In His time: Patient waiting leads to Lynden, Washington call
Glenda Faye Mathes 