Synod 2017 Asked to Approve New Mission Agency Name

The Christian Reformed Church’s new mission agency is getting a new name. If approved by Synod 2017, the agency will be known as Resonate Global Mission. The name was endorsed by the CRC’s Board of Trustees and now goes to the annual general assembly of the CRC, which meets in mid-June.

The full name follows:

Resonate Global Mission
Engaging People. Embracing Christ.
A ministry of the Christian Reformed Church

The new mission agency is the result of bringing Christian Reformed World Missions and Christian Reformed Home Missions together into one unified agency.

Promotional material from the mission agency explained some of the rationale for the new name. Josh Leo, communications manager for Christian Reformed World Missions, said, “This name illustrates what we as a new agency will aspire to, seeing individuals and congregations resonate with God’s mission and serving and equipping them to make that mission echo throughout their village, community, town, or city.”

The naming process included research and surveys that indicated a desire that the new name portray an innovative and imaginative new agency. That same research led to the decision not to include “Christian Reformed” in the name itself. “This is a huge opportunity to have communication with people who are not CRC or Christians,” said John Eigege, new mission agency board member. “It’s an icebreaker, a door opener.”

Members of the Board of Trustees did not raise questions about not including “Christian Reformed” in the name. But trustee Chris deWinter said he was struck by the fact that the word “gospel” was not in the name. “These are the evangelistic agencies of the CRC. I don’t discount that this is part of the broader mission, but these are our evangelistic ministries. Salvation for sinners, the gospel mission.”

Trustee Cal Hoogendoorn said he liked the name. “I think it captures the essence of what we try to do.”

Synod delegates will have the final say when they gather in June.