"Mobilizing for Mission" is the new mission statement for the Regional Synod of Canada.     We are called by God to mobilize the classes, churches, pastoral leadership and laity into mission.     

 

Our shared task is to prepare God’s people for mission. The focus is not on changing on how we ‘do’ change, but to change our individual hearts and collective ethos about what it means to be the people of God.     

 

Our shared task is also to provision God’s people for mission. The focus is on hearing God’s call as we cast vision, discern how we will do mission, discovering opportunities for mission, and resourcing God’s people for mission.  

 

    The Biblical basis of our Mission Statement is Ephesians 4:11-13, 16: 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and be­come mature, attaining to the whole meas­ure of the fullness of Christ….. 16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament (joints of provi­sion), grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

 

In order to carry out our mission, we need your help. We are initiating a fund drive for our Canadian Church Growth Fund.

 

Our mission begins with people and so the initial phase of this drive is focused on Leadership and Discipleship. Unless we have the heart of Jesus and His concern for our spiritual growth and for reaching the lost and hurting, our efforts will be fruitless.

 

 During my recent trip out west, I saw many churches seeking to follow God’s call for mission. I met with consistories and pas­tors who are either seeking to discern God’s will for their church or beginning to implement mission. I also saw church leaders and pastors that were tired.

 

We build a healthy, growing future for our ministries when we identify, equip, and deploy people with gifts for leadership. We need to prepare our members for mission by deepening their understanding of what it means to be a follower of Jesus and how God has prepared them to serve.

 

 To encourage churches to provide small group settings for growth, we will offer to  resource churches up to the amounts of $500 each. We will also fund each classis up to $1,000 to hold workshops to promote small groups.
We also will develop and promote a Synod Resource Center, consisting of printed materials, study resources and other materials to either be given or lent to churches. The cost of this Resource Center is estimated at $5,000. 

 

We also plan to develop Coached Revitalizing Networks for laity affinity groups, based on a shared interests - ministries such as youth ministry leadership, or other affinities. The focus on these groups is on transformational learning, character development and personal spiritual growth. Our goal is to have one such network in each classis and the total amount of money needed for funding is $12,000.

 

We are also initiating a new lay leader development process - Servants for the Harvest. We are reviewing excellent mate­rial from Vantagepoint3. We have seen and heard of churches where this has trans­formed lay leadership. The estimated cost over three years for a church is $10,000. We hope to raise $49,000 which will en­able us to subsidize 7 churches.

 

A number of our pastors need some time out to reflect upon their call, to be refreshed in that call and to be understand how God wants to use them. We plan to build a fund with monies which can be given to pastors who are seeking an oppor­tunity to take a sabbatical of 3-4 months, the purpose of which will be for personal ministry development. The total amount we hope to raise its $50,000.

 

As you can see, this vision takes money and we need you to help us to Mobilize God’s People for Mission. We will be con­tacting churches and individuals within a few months to ask you to help us make this vision a reality.

 

While this initial phase totals $126,000, we hope to exceed this amount to help revi­talization efforts in existing churches and to plant new churches

 

 I believe God has big plans for us as a church in Canada. During my trip, I met with a Korean pastor and he and his church are starting the process to join the RCA. Atha­basca is proposing a ministry among Crees nearby and considering calling a Canadian Cree RCA pastor for this mission. It was good to see two Canadian delegates at Gen­eral Synod as the first delegates born in Brazil and ministering in RCA churches. We soon could have 8 different languages spoken in the church services of our Regional Synod.

 

 Just imagine what more He will do if we align our hearts to His will and have the de­sire to deepen our knowledge and faith in Him.

 

 I am excited to be part of what God is doing! Join in that excitement. We will be in touch. If you want to give already, please send your cheques to the Regional Synod office. One person has already pledged $1,000.

 Help us "to prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up."

written by: Rev. John Kapteyn, Executive Secretary