Celebrating World Renew’s 60th Anniversary at Synod

Co-directors of World Renew Carol Bremer-Bennett and Kenneth Kim presented to the Christian Reformed Church’s Synod 2022 Sunday night, sharing the origin story of the relief and development agency to recognize its 60th anniversary.  

Bremer-Bennett began the presentation by acknowledging the land of the Council of Three Fires, the Odawa, the Ojibwe, and the Potawatomi, and expressing appreciation and gratitude for the people.  

In 1962, synod approved the formation of the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee—a response to concerns that Christian Reformed members saw in the world at the time: Korean orphans, natural disaster in North America, and floods in the Netherlands. Today, the agency that has become World Renew continues to envision “a world where people experience and extend Christ’s compassion and live together in hope as God’s community.” 

During their presentation, the directors shared a video that Kim described as a “brief tour around the world with World Renew.” 

Kim said, “World Renew boldly imagines what God can do through us.” And as a reminder of each person’s role in the work, Bremer-Bennet said synod attendees were receiving a small metal key, with the suggestion they place it somewhere to remember: “You are the key to unlocking Christ’s compassion for the most vulnerable around the world. Use your prayers to open doors to expand this ministry.”

Synod 2022 is meeting at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich., from June 10-16. Find daily coverage from The Banner news team at thebanner.org/synod, download the Banner app on your mobile device, or follow The Banner Magazine on Facebook. On Twitter follow #crcsynod or twitter.com/crcna. Synod is the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church (it did not gather in 2020 or 2021). Connect to the meeting’s livestream, read advisory committee reports, and find other resources at crcna.org/synod.