In this Do Justice episode, Chris Orme talks with World Renew Disaster Response Services Director, Chris Gibson. Gibson, with a background in youth ministry, discusses DRS's 50-year mission of bringing help and hope to disaster-affected communities through long-term, collaborative recovery. He shares a powerful story from Rolling Fork, Mississippi, highlighting intergenerational service and the Kingdom of God in action. Gibson also addresses common challenges, stressing the importance of being invited into communities and serving the overlooked.

"I think I got a vision of a piece of what the Kingdom of God must look like in seeing these incredibly experienced, incredible talented and gifted older volunteers literally walking side-by-side with these younger college students."

Notes:

• World Renew Disaster Response: https://worldrenew.net/disaster-response-services-us/disaster-response-services
• Transcript: https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/stories-storm-service-disaster-zones

In this episode we speak with Bert Adema, Executive Director of Indigenous Christian Fellowship in Regina, Saskatchewan. Bert shares about 32 years of ministry, fostering a vibrant community by addressing spiritual and social needs. He emphasizes an incarnational approach, tackling the "messiness" of the world and advocating for right relations, not just reconciliation. Bert also reflects on finding hope and abundance amidst scarcity, powered by prayer, community, and trusting God's provision.

"If you're sitting there and you have no hope at all, you're really, really in a difficult situation. I think prayer is really, really important. And then when we pray in community... we say, 'What can we do together?'"

Links:

• Indigenous Christian Fellowship: https://icfregina.ca/home
• CRC's Indigenous Ministry: https://www.crcna.org/indigenous
• Transcript: https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/bert-adema-gifts-gardens-and-good-samaritans

This Do Justice episode features Carol Bremer-Bennett, co-Executive Director of World Renew. She discusses the organization's 60-year history, its community-centered approach to relief and development, and its commitment to Core Humanitarian Standards. Carol shares powerful stories of transformation, including Miri's journey from addiction and the peacebuilding efforts in India, highlighting how hope and abundance emerge through God's work in seemingly desperate situations.

"As somebody who knows that water is sacred, every drop of water is sacred. Go live in the desert for a while and recognize how a drop of water can nourish a seed and help it to flourish and to grow." - Carol Bremer-Bennett

Notes:

• World Renew: https://worldrenew.net/
• World Renew Gift Catalog: https://worldrenew.net/shop
• Information about Core Humanitarian Standards (CHS Alliance): https://www.chsalliance.org/

• Transcript: https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/power-every-drop-transforming-lives-world-renew

This episode of Do Justice features Rachel Brouwer, Director of Community Engagement at Talbot Street Church, discussing their unique approach to community engagement and global partnership. She shares how their focused giving campaigns, like the Warm Homes Project, fostered abundance and deep connection, even amidst challenging times. Rachel emphasizes that overcoming a scarcity mindset in the church involves trusting God's provision in both small and significant ways.

"What does it look like to invest deeply and meaningfully in a few, where we could really invest meaningfully in a financial way, but also really invest meaningfully in a relational way that really fit with our community."

• World Renew https://worldrenew.net/
• Talbot Street Church https://talbotstreetchurch.com/
• Transcript https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/cultivating-abundance-talbot-street-churchs-approach-justice

This episode of Do Justice features Dean Dettloff, Research and Advocacy Officer for Development and Peace, discussing the Jubilee 2025 campaign to turn debt into hope. Building on the successful Jubilee 2000, Dean explains why systemic changes to the global financial architecture are needed to address persistent debt crises in the Global South. He highlights the power of ecumenical collaboration and grassroots movements in achieving justice and inspiring hope.

"The real success story was not getting the ear of those folks, but getting the ear of thousands of Canadians, who did manage to succeed."

• More information and petition: https://kairoscanada.org/jubilee-2025-canada
• Transcript: https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/unjust-debt-unpacking-global-financial-system

Join Chris Orme as he speaks with Andy Harrington, Executive Director of the Canadian Foodgrains Bank (CFGB). With 37 years in international development, Andy shares how CFGB, a partnership of 15 Christian denominations, works to end global hunger through emergency food relief and long-term development. He recounts impactful stories from Rwanda and Ethiopia, illustrating how simple interventions save lives and restore dignity. Andy passionately counters cynicism, emphasizing that empathy and action are crucial in addressing the immense challenge of food insecurity.

"Empathy is not a sin. It is what we are called to as Christians and I will fight that one to the death with any conversation with anyone. The question isn't: why should we? It's: we are called to and why shouldn't we?"

• Canadian Foodgrains Bank: https://foodgrainsbank.ca/
• Transcript: https://www.crcna.org/do-justice/power-care-fighting-hunger-cynical-world

This season, we’re diving into a theme that calls us to reimagine how we think about abundance, scarcity, and the global challenges we face today.

Hit the subscribe button so that you don't miss any episode in this season.

Gary Timmermans shares about the CRCNA's multicultural cohort. These cohort brings together churches to share experiences, challenges, and successes in fostering intercultural ministry. Gary shares stories from churches that embraced their multicultural congregations.

Show Notes:

In this episode of Do Justice, Jodi Koeman of World Renew joins us to talk about churches engaging in asset-based development. We explore how listening, relationship-building, and justice can help congregations and neighborhoods thrive together. From revitalizing gardens to building trust around bonfires, discover how God’s shalom comes alive when we collaborate with our communities.

Show Notes:

Syd Hielema joins us for this episode about fostering pastoral care and hospitality for the LGBTQ+ community within the Christian Reformed Church. In this episode we hear from participants of the "Hospitality to LGBTQ" cohort. Syd discusses the challenges of fear, the importance of a covenantal approach, and how intentional community learning can shape posture over position.

Show Notes: