At Inspire 2017, held Aug. 3-5 in Detroit, Mich., four keynote speakers and more than a hundred other participants shared their learnings from ministry with others at work in the Christian Reformed Church.
Here is some of what was heard from the conference floor:
“The CRC was a place of transformation for me, and I think that as we look back at this occasion we might see that this was a moment of turning for us.” —Darren Roorda, director of Canadian Ministries
“God is longing for the day when it will be well with the whole creation. We are called to grieve with God, but we have to do that with the background of God’s delight in the well-ordered creation. . . . We know we don’t have to solve it all. . . . We don’t need to be messiahs. . . . Jesus is coming again and he will make all things new.” —Richard Mouw, theologian
“Don’t complicate the gospel. It’s simple: My name is Liz. I’m a sinner and I need a Savior whose name is Jesus.” —Liz Curtis Higgs, author
“Christian Reformed Church: you are in a time in American and global history that the Lord is calling you to stop over-processing” and love and minister as God leads. “We’re talking and meeting and the world is dying.” —Harvey Carey, pastor of Citadel of Faith Covenant Church in Detroit, Mich.
If we miss engaging with a Jesus-follower of another race or culture, “it’s not just that we’re missing each other, we’re missing another picture of our Father.” —Kizzy Thomas, liturgist and Inspire 2017 worship team member
“God’s people are sent in the power of the Holy Spirit, not only to do and say, but to be. We are sent as a reconciled and reconciling community. ” —Ruth Padilla DeBorst, with Resonate Global Mission and director of Center for Interdisciplinary Theological Education in Costa Rica
About the Author
Alissa Vernon is the news editor for The Banner.
