Christian Reformed Home Missions is actively working to alleviate poverty throughout North America and around the world. Here is a sampling of how Home Missions-funded congregations and campus ministries are engaging the poor in ministry:
New City Kids’ Church, Jersey City, N.J.
New City, which specifically ministers to children and young people in an urban community marked by poverty, makes a tremendous investment (leader time, money, facilities) in after-school and other activities geared to keep children off the streets and involved in constructive activities. The church also offers a parent support group.
The River CRC, Edmonton, Alberta
This new church is actively involved in “The Karen Project.” (The Karen people are an oppressed ethnic minority in Burma, many of whom are refugees in Thailand.) In addition, families from The River are raising money for recently immigrated Karen refugees living in Edmonton.
New Life Church, New Brighton, Minn.
New Life, a multicultural church that ministers to the local Lao population, is also actively involved in a hands-on ministry to Karen immigrants. New Life is supported in these efforts by Faith CRC in New Brighton, Minn.
Pathway Community Church, Olathe, Kan.
Church leaders and other people affiliated with this new church have started a micro-lending fund in Croc, Mexico. Pathway is also working to set up a series of financial literacy training classes for members of the Croc community and loan recipients. In another venture, the church is working with a group of artisans in Kenya to help them distribute their products in the United States.
Canadian Campus Ministry
Jamie VanderBerg, campus minister at the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, is actively involved in the “Masai for Africa” campaign, which hopes to raise funds to help fight poverty and AIDS in Africa. Shiao Chong, campus minister at York University in Toronto, previously hosted a poverty awareness event called “Micah 6:8 Week” and plans to do so again this semester. York University is located in a section of Toronto where poverty is widespread.
