Reformed Church Head: Churches Must Stay Relevant Amid Worldwide Struggles to Survive

By Jennifer Riley, Christian Post Reporter Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Churches need to stay relevant in a world where a "virtual state of survival of the fittest" is the way of life, said the head of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches at a mission gathering.

In a world where economic globalization, war, discrimination and environmental degradation are part of people's daily lives, churches need to stay current with global and community issues and equip their members to engage in the transformation of their communities, added the Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi.

"Many of the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRC)'s partners in mission live and witness in the global South affected by these issues," said the WARC general secretary, according to the Reformed Church body. "They would want their partners to take their realities very seriously as we pray together and journey with one another in God's mission."

Nyomi spoke Friday at the assembly of the CRC's worldwide mission partners, held in Grand Rapids, Mich., under the theme "Transforming for Transformation."

During the gathering, the Reformed Church head discussed the necessity for churches to examine their mission strategies and reshape them for the 21st century. In particular, he pointed out and criticized the old style of thinking the rich countries should give and the poor countries receive.

"True partnership, in which sisters and brothers can share equally in mission engagement in a multidirectional fashion, will not happen until Christians are very intentional about challenging and exposing our old ways," Nyomi said.

The mission model of North American or European missionaries or agencies working in Africa, Asia, Latin America or the Caribbean is the thing of the past, said the church leader.

Instead, he noted the importance for churches to recognize the mission field in their own backyard.

"An important base for mission is always around us in our localities," Nyomi highlighted. "Whether the church is here in the United States or somewhere in Africa, Asia or Latin America, the first calling into mission applies to our close neighborhoods.

"Local mission is therefore very important," he emphasized.

In terms of mission abroad, the WARC representative said there now is a greater exchange in mission with missionaries from other parts of the world going to North America and Europe just as missionaries from those two continents going to Africa, Asia and other parts of the world.

"We need to covenant for justice together and be partners both in presenting the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ and in creating a more just world," Nyomi concluded.

The gathering coincided with the 150th anniversary of the CRC - a WARC member church with 300,000 members in 1,000 congregations in the United States and Canada.

In honor of its anniversary, the CRC held its largest worship service ever with some 14,000 people at an arena and an overfull venue in Grand Rapids, Mich., on Sunday.

The World Alliance of Reformed Churches represents 75 million Reformed Christians in 214 churches in 107 countries. The Rev. Dr. Setri Nyomi, the WARC general secretary, is from the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ghana.