Missions at First Christian Reformed Church

FLAME

Guinea-Bissau, West Africa

FLAME is an acronym for Freedom Life African Ministries Emmanuel. Martha Reynolds formed this independent mission organization in 2000. They are building a Christian Vocational school in the town of Canchungo in the West African country of Guinea-Bissau. This school will help advance the countries in Africa to become economically self-sufficient and it will also promote the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Pacific Island Ministries Papua, New Guinea Pacific Island Ministries began in 1961 in the Sepik River basin of Papua New Guinea where current missionaries continue to work. The missions undertaking has produced hundreds of changed lives, better village living conditions, churches and national leaders who hold development responsibilities in difficult situations. Pacific Island Ministries publishes Sunday school materials. It also trains pastors in leadership and spreads the gospel. They provide health services and technical education.

Rehoboth Christian School

Rehoboth, New Mexico

The purpose of Rehoboth Christian School is to provide dynamic, quality Christian education in a multicultural setting. Serving primarily the Native American community, they have the goal of encouraging young people, in partnership with the Christian home and church, in their personal relationship with Jesus Christ and of preparing them to understand, evaluate, and transform their world according to God's unchanging values.

Northern Lighthouse Ministries

Lincoln, Nebraska

During the summer of 1996 several Christian Reformed Churches in Northwest Iowa decided they wanted to start new churches. They began to look outward, to cities in need of the gospel. The Spirit led them to North Lincoln, where they saw few churches, but a growing population. As many in NW Iowa were praying, the Lord was also at work in Seattle, Washington. Sam Keyzer, pastor of the First Christian Reformed Church of Seattle, and his wife Karen became interested in starting a new church. After several months of praying and connecting with church leaders in Iowa, the Lord led Sam and Karen to North Lincoln to start the Northern Lighthouse. Before leaving Seattle, Karen mentioned to Sam how much she liked pictures of lighthouses. Sam began thinking of a Lighthouse as an ideal name for a church. The Bible speaks of light in relation to Jesus, salvation, love, and God's presence. Both Sam and Karen became excited about the name and the vision of helping people come to know Jesus as the Light of the world. Sam and Karen arrived in Lincoln in June of 1997. The Lord immediately began introducing them to people who would join in the work of establishing a spiritual lighthouse. In November of 1998 five acres of land and a ranch style home were purchased on North 14th Street for the Northern Lighthouse as a ministry center. Since then, a multipurpose building has been built.

Vida Nueva Hispanic Ministry Mount Vernon, Washington Joe and Nellie Strong Minister to the Spanish speaking immigrants in the Skagit Valley. The gospel of Jesus Christ is being heard by 15,000 immigrants during the summer months as they are working on the farm fields.