By Kevin Van Wyk
This is a major question we face for the immediate future, and what I will address here. If you missed part one, check it out in the July AMEN. However, I want you to remember this is not the only major issue we face... how will we reach our neighbors with the love of Jesus? How will we more effectively develop our members to be deployed as Christ-like leaders? In part one of this series, I mentioned some steps our consistory was challenged to take. In that effort, they have appointed a task force. The members of the Alto 2020 Task Force include Bill Bruins, Randy Bresser, Jane Chené, Ron Daane, Bridgette Flier, Cory Kok, Gloria Mulder, Jalen Peters, Lillian Schouten, Barb Schroeder, Carl VanderKooi, Burt Wiersema, Sarah Zeatlow (and Pastor Kevin as ex officio member). The consistory has given the group the following four tasks.
The Task Force has now met twice and taken several steps forward. First, we have articulated 13 issues to research, discuss, and address. The issues are...
Second, we outlined why being a part of a denomination is valuable. The discussion points included...
Third, we discussed issue #13. Particularly, we reviewed reformed theology and our Statement of Faith, which you can read here https://www.altoreformedchurch.org/our-beliefs.html. While there was desire to add some clarity to a couple points, we affirmed the statement. This will lay a foundation for all the other issues. Finally, we determined a timeline for our work. We plan to meet twice a month in order to work through the issues above by our Spring Classis meeting. This way we will speak into the RCA’s 2020 Vision Team early on in their work and potentially send overtures to the Classis for the 2019 General Synod. From that point, we will continue to speak into the RCA and begin to develop a contingency plan. During this time of uncertainty, I urge you to continue to… Pray: to seek God and beg him to work in powerful ways Trust: to rest in God’s power and wisdom Focus: to be about our mission to reach the lost Love: to graciously deal with others God is at work in all this and I look forward to seeing what he will do.
1 Comment
11/25/2018 07:39:36 pm
Church should reform people and help them change their lives for the better. It's not supposed to leave us more confused. This is how exactly I felt when I was young. How come it seemed that God only favored a few groups of people and not everyone? I don't know. Maybe it's just me but the God I know loves the tribal people as much as he loved those who were christened of something. All my life I looked for a way how someone who lived in the mountain all his life can share what his ancestors taught to him.
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