Pray for Haiti

During our twelve years in Haiti we often requested prayers on behalf of the country and people that we have learned to love and appreciate.  Though we are not living in Haiti any more, we would like to inform you that your prayers are still needed.  For the last ten days Haiti has been in crises as anti-government demonstrations have closed roads, schools and commerce throughout Haiti.  The demonstrations began eight months ago in response to tax hikes and complaints of corruption.  Currently, demonstrators are calling for the resignation of Haiti's President, Jovnel Moise and the Prime Ministry, Henri Ceant.  At this point these leaders are unwilling to accede to such demands.  Also, the United Nations Stabilization Force withdrew some months ago, so the Haitian Police are on their own to maintain order.  Resonate missionaries have voluntarily departed Haiti for the time-being as dire warnings have been issued by the international community.  We know that God is not done with Haiti and that our missionaries have a role to play in country.  Pray that God would send men and women of peace into Haitian government and society to find some common ground and bring an end to this painful instability.

New Opportunities to Share the Gospel

The story of St. Luke’s Church is one only God could write.  St. Luke’s is located in Berlin, Germany.  Like many churches in Germany, St. Luke’s is a story of death and rebirth.  During WWII, St. Luke's pastor was removed and another pastor, more sympathetic to National Socialism (Nazism), was installed.  The building itself was destroyed as the Russians closed in on Berlin in 1945.  Over the following six decades, congregations disbanded and were merged at St. Luke's.  Now there are three congregations in the building: a new church plant led by Resonate missionaries David Kromminga and Mary Buteyne.  This new community is made up of Germans, Iranians, Syrians and a potpourri of other travelers and immigrants.  Two other congregations--one Eritrean and one Turkish--make their home at St. Luke’s as well.  The work at St. Luke's is a collaboration between the Berliner Stadtmission (a ministry of the German Protestant Church) and Resonate Global Mission.  In addition to the work of church planting, David, Mary and their team are also hosting a German-language learning coffee shop where many Muslim asylum-seekers learn to integrate into their host country.  This is a great opportunity to build relationships and share the love of Christ.  The most amazing thing is that immigrant and refugee believers are leading the way in mission, sharing God’s love with new arrivals from their countries and ethnic groups.  The Holy Spirit is doing an amazing thing in mission and we give thanks that Resonate and the Christian Reformed Church can be part of it.

David and Mary hold language cafes in the Refugio, a coffee shop where immigrants and refugees can socialize and access services.  Teaching refugees and immigrants German is a great opportunity to share God's love.

St. Luke's Church in the heart of Berlin provides space for three churches to meet and houses a host of other important ministries.

St. Luke's spire reflects off the facades of office buildings.  Surrounded by powerful German media companies, midweek worship and outreach is another opportunity for the congregations meeting in St. Luke's to share Christ. 

A vibrant Iranian Farsi-speaking congregation hosted by the Berliner Stadtmission in Berlin is evidence of the the great Christian awakening among Iranians.  Interestingly, the Gospel first penetrated Iran soon after the close of the New Testament period by Nestorian Christians whose mission work took them as far as Japan and China.  Today, despite persecution and opposition, the church in Iran is growing again by leaps and bounds.  

David and Mary hold church services twice a month for their growing church plant made up of Iranians, Syrians, Germans and a handful of Americans.

A Christian University in the Heart of Eastern Europe

Resonate missionaries teach many subjects at LCC, including "Creation Care," or environmental stewardship from a Christian perspective.

Resonate staff members including Zach pose for a picture under the LCC's seal.

The world is changing.  When the immovable wall of communism stood strong, very few could imagine a day when young people from Eastern Europe could receive a Christian education or when young leaders could be trained to share the Gospel and plant churches in a context where religion is suppressed and persecuted.  God brings change. In the late eighties and early nineties Communism fell.  Soon after a group of evangelical missionaries took the opportunity to plant Lithuania Christian College (LCC) University in Klaipeda, Lithuania.  Resonate (then Christian Reformed World Missions) was invited to send missionary teachers to the University to teach academic disciplines from a Christian and missional point of view.  Today Lithuania is one of Resonate’s largest mission fields in terms of missionaries working.  Zach got a chance to meet these missionaries and many of their students in February.  It was amazing to see young people training for mission work from former Soviet Republics, predominantly Muslim countries, and many Eastern European countries.  Moreover, LCC is a mission field itself as the majority of students are either non-Christian or nominally Christian.  It is a huge victory for the Kingdom of God when LCC’s many graduates leave the institution with a commitment to live by their faith in whatever vocation God calls them to, including social services, business and politics.  We give thanks for LCC and Resonate’s opportunity to serve there.

Happy New Year from the Segaar-Kings

Thank you so much for your prayers, encouragement, and support in 2018.  We wish you and your family God's richest blessings in 2019.

The Segaar-Kings

Christmas Family Update

Isaiah 55:9 says, “‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord.”  As we look back on eighteen months in Michigan, we can certainly agree with Isaiah’s perspective.  God continues to surprise us with challenges and opportunities.  Sharon has enjoyed getting back into choral music.  As a member of the Grand Rapids Symphony Choir she has sung several challenging pieces in concert halls this fall.  She has had opportunities to preach and sing in worship services as well.  Zach was on the road a lot this fall with preaching and ministry trips to Japan, Korea, Alberta, Ontario, Chicago and Orlando.  With four children going four separate directions, life can get pretty complicated in his absence.  Isaiah enjoyed soccer, band and playing his clarinet this fall.  Esther, our social butterfly, surprised us by playing lacrosse and basketball with her friends this fall.  Vivian continues to improve on her violin and make new friends at school.  Hannah, our oldest, has perfected feats of strength and dexterity such as the splits, handstands and l-sits (in addition to being a great student).  It seems that all of our children are enjoying their second school year at Grand Rapids Christian Schools, which is a huge answer to prayer.  Though we didn’t expect to finish 2018 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, God has blessed us tremendously.  May God bless you this Christmas!

My Favorite Thing

Pastor Juan Flores founded Christ’s Vineyard CRC in the Humboldt neighborhood of Chicago.  In the 80s when he began the ministry, the neighborhood was in the midst of economic crisis and increasing crime.    Christ’s Vineyard reached out to the economically and spiritually struggling residents of the neighborhood.  Because of gentrification, today the neighborhood is increasingly affluent and many long-term less affluent residents have been displaced.  Despite these changes, Christ’s Vineyard continues to serve the spiritually and economically struggling residents of its neighborhood.

CRC pastor Rick Abma founded a ministry called Good Neighbour Coffee in which he roasts Guatemalan coffee and serves it from an expresso bike (pictured above) in local neighborhoods.  Over coffee and conversation Rick builds relationships and takes advantage of opportunities to share Christ’s love with his neighbors.

Many people ask me (Zach) what I enjoy the most about my job.  Without a doubt, my favorite part of being the Director of Resonate is the opportunity to witness the amazing things God is doing in mission around the world.  Last October I shared the story of the Reformed Church of Japan. I want to share the stories of two pastors I met this fall: Rick Abma and Juan Flores.  Rick, who lives in Lacombe, Alberta, is a Resonate Local Mission Leader and part of Resonate’s Western Canada Regional Mission Team.  The second pastor, Juan Flores, has worked in urban mission in the inner city of Chicago for over thirty years.  Both Rick and Juan have an infectious passion for evangelism and mission which is a blessing to me and those they serve.

Building a Team for Mission

Resonate's Michigan and Ontario-based team.

At Resonate, we know that God uses teams for the work of mission. Jesus’ disciples were a mission team sent from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth.  Building a team with a mission-focused culture is one of Zach’s primary tasks.  This fall, Resonate gathered its Grand Rapids and Burlington-based staff at Camp Geneva to reflect on Resonate’s core postures: prayer, listening, serving, learning, mutual care and accountability and peace-making.  At Resonate, we saturate all we do in complete dependence on God.  We listen to God’s Spirit and Word to discern where God wants us to act.  We encourage local leaders, congregations and communities by following Jesus in taking the posture of a servant.  We continually seek to learn from each other and others rather than presuming we have all the answers.  We seek to build mutual care and accountability into all aspects of our organizational life as well as ministry relationships.  Finally, we model authentic relationships of trust and respect across barriers that divide people.  Please pray that God will help us build a strong culture of mission at Resonate.