Ministry Rationale
Mission
To create, collect, and distribute biblical, confessionally Reformed discipleship materials to disciple Christians to be mature in Christ throughout every sphere of life.
Vision
That Christian Reformed Members of all ages would come to know the height, width, and depth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as confessed by the CRCNA in historic Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity.
The Need We Address
Congregations of the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) are exposed to an ever-expanding array of competing worldviews and spiritual challenges. In this reality, there exists a profound need for a wide range of discipleship resources firmly grounded in scriptural truth and the Christian Reformed Church’s rich theological heritage of confessionally Reformed faith and practice. Mission 46 seeks to address this need by producing, curating, and distributing biblically and confessionally faithful discipleship and leadership materials that help Christians grow in their understanding, proclamation, and application of scripture.
The CRC has experienced many defining moments when unbiblical culture captured hearts and minds of its ministers and laity alike. The 1950s saw the battle over Creation vs. Evolution. The 1990s saw the debate over gender and confessional office. The CRC is still reeling from the impact of unbiblical sexual and gender ideology promoted by officers and professors for decades.
Christians today experience a disconnect between their professed faith and their daily life choices. This gap often stems from insufficient discipleship, fragmented theological reasoning, and the absence of comprehensive resources that connect biblical principles to all areas of life. While numerous Christian resources exist, many lack the theological depth, historical awareness, and comprehensive worldview application that Reformed theology offers.
Our Distinctive Approach
Our ministry's approach to discipleship resources is distinguished by several key commitments:
Biblical Authority
We affirm the complete inspiration, inerrancy, and sufficiency of the word of God as the foundation for all our resources. Every book, article, video, and conference presentation begins with careful exegesis and applies Reformed hermeneutical principles.
Confessional Integrity
We stand firmly in the Reformed tradition as expressed in the historic Creeds and the Three Forms of Unity. These biblical and time-tested formulations provide theological guardrails for teaching and training disciples, connecting modern believers to the wisdom of the church throughout history.
Comprehensive Worldview Formation
Rather than compartmentalizing faith, our resources demonstrate how Reformed theology is a “world-in-life view,” informing every dimension of human experience from personal piety to public engagement, from family life to cultural participation.
Intellectual Rigor
Our materials engage thoughtfully with competing ideas, helping believers understand not only what they believe but why those beliefs matter and how they compare to alternatives.
Pastoral Sensitivity
While intellectually robust, our resources will remain accessible and practical, recognizing that theology serves the purpose of glorifying God and edifying his people.
Expected Impact
Through this comprehensive approach to Reformed discipleship resources, we anticipate several key outcomes:
Deepened Theological Understanding
Believers will develop a more coherent and comprehensive grasp of the Bible and biblical theology from a Reformed perspective.
Strengthened Discipleship
Christians will be led to integrate their faith with everyday decisions, relationships, and vocational responsibilities.
Equipped Church Leaders
Pastors, elders, and teachers will have access to materials that enhance their ability to disciple members, train new leaders, and evangelize disbelievers.
Intergenerational Transmission
Older saints will be discipled to effectively pass their knowledge to future generations.
Cultural Engagement
Believers will be prepared to think, speak, and act prayerfully and thoughtfully with believers and disbelievers alike about contemporary life issues from a biblically Reformed perspective.
Conclusion
This ministry of Mission 46 discipleship resources serves the church by helping believers understand and apply the full implications of God's Word through the clarifying lens of confessionally faithful Reformed theology. By connecting timeless truths to contemporary challenges, we aim to equip Christians for faithful living that honors God in every sphere of life. We hope to produce, collect, and distribute work which stands in the tradition of Reformed thinkers throughout history who have sought to apply biblical wisdom comprehensively, recognizing that “every square inch” of life sits under Christ's lordship and is to be lived for God's glory.
Leadership Team
Rev. Mark VanDyke, Almond Valley, CA
Rev. Aaron Vriesman, Hudsonville, MI
Rev. Michael Bentley, St. Louis, MO
Curtis Meliefste, Salmon Arm, BC
