When the annual Missionary Union Tour arrives at New Hope Community Christian Reformed Church, it’s not just another potluck supper attended by older folks in the congregation.
At this Wisconsin Rapids, Wis., church, the youth group hosts the tours. Every year the youth group takes complete ownership of the event, from setup to meal preparation, song selection, and speaker introductions.
Vong Khang, a youth group member, appreciates that the congregation comes together for a special night. “It’s great to see the young and old bond and fellowship with one another,” he said.
This year the tour included Leanne Geisterfer from the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Rev. Jack Stulp from Christian Reformed Home Missions, and Don Wunderink from Christian Reformed World Missions. After dinner the speakers shared their experiences from their respective fields of service.
The missionaries are informed ahead of time that there will be a number of youths in attendance and are encouraged to tailor their messages accordingly. “When the youths are interested, everyone who attends seems to enjoy the speakers more,” said Rev. Todd Grotenhuis, pastor of New Hope.
Khang added, “The annual missionary event is fun and encouraging. It’s amazing to see how much one person can do to change the lives of so many people.”
