Background
Over the past couple of months, the CRCC Global Engagement team, with input from the pastoral staff and the CRCC congregation, settled on a list of five countries in which to explore possibilities for long-term commitment and investment in ministry and partnership. The list of counties was determined through several criteria, including: need, accessibility, Cedar Ridge connection, and presence of a local Diaspora in the Baltimore-Washington area. Please refer to the summary document from January, available at <www.crcc.org> for more information.
Recent meeting
To further refine our focus and determine one or two countries where we could commit to long-term partnership, the Global Engagement team held a meeting on Saturday, April 18, 2009 with an expanded group of the Cedar Ridge community. It was clear through this meeting that there were several countries where our community has clear connections. Ethiopia and Guatemala clearly emerged as countries in which the CRCC community has significant relationships.
Where We Are Now
Since meeting, the different teams have explored some opportunities for partnership and Cedar Ridge commitment within these countries, particularly focusing on Guatemala and Ethiopia, due to the strong connections and interest we as a church community have in these countries. Through this time of discernment and prayer, the team has really felt led to both Guatemala and Ethiopia. On June 11, 2009 the Global Engagement Team met with the Cedar Ridge pastoral staff and together came to the decision to make the following recommendations to the Cedar Ridge community:
- Make Guatemala our international focus where we will devote all efforts together as a gathered church community.
- Recognize Ethiopia as another country that God is leading us to but not invest concerted time or resources until such a time as it would not distract or impede our connection to Guatemala (probably several years).
Currently, Ethiopia has more unclear ways of engagement and connections for the CRCC community but we would like to explore opportunities in the future. This recommendation has come from prayer and talking with many members of the Cedar Ridge community and pastoral staff, as well as a unity in decision among the team.
Next Steps
The Global Engagement team will hold a meeting on Thursday, July 9th at 7:30 p.m. to explore next steps for partnerships with Guatemala. If you are interested in joining this work or if you have any connections to Guatemala, please come to the meeting on July 9 and/or contact Dayna Kranker at kdkr...@gmail.com. We recognize our naivety and our need for humility as we hope to develop relationships and love our neighbors. Please join us in prayer as we embark on a journey to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.