IRD/RCA meeting on January 11 & 12 of 2009
A commission of the RCA integrated by: Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson “General Secretary”, Rev. Kenneth Bradsell “Assistant Secretary, Director of Operations and Support”, Rev. Jon Norton “Synod of New York Executive Minister”, Rev. Luis Perez “Mid-Atlantics Synod Executive Minister” Rev. Brigido Cabrera “Coordinator for Hispanic Ministries”, Rev. Andres Serrano “Pastor Iglesia La Senda & Director Radio Impactante”, met during two days with commission of the IRD integrated by: Víctor Castro “President”, Ignacio Díaz “Vice-President”, Juan Cruz “Asistant of Finance”, Nelson Polanco “Member at large”, Félix Caraballo “Mints Coordinator in the DR & Reporter for the Christian News paper “Evidencias”, Yeral Ogando “General Secretary”.
Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson “General Secretary”, Rev. Kenneth Bradsell “Assistant Secretary, Director of Operations and Support” visit the Dominican Republic to meet with the members of the IRD.
Sunday morning January 11 of 2009, part of the commission of the RCA celebrated the monring services in three different churches, including a Haitian church. Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson, Rev. Kenneth Bradsell & Rev. Luis Perez preached and shared the Word of God with in the DR.
After the morning services in the afternoon, both commissions the IRD and the RCA, gathered; where Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson; expressed how glad he was to be present in this special, historic moment for the IRD and the RCA.
Rev. Wes shared a Little bit about RCA history and its beginning; presenting vivid examples of RCA missioners being pioneers in the evangelistic field in India, China and how a faith mission has set the history of the church. Rev. Wes saw with very god eyes the work God is doing in the DR, showing the commitment and seriousness of the RCA regarding the IRD “Dominican Reformed Church” mission and vision. Rev. Wes explained that the movement in the DR is something historic, because the RCA has planted missions in many countries for ages; but it has never been seen in the RCA anything like the work God is doing in the DR through the IRD; it is something completely new and different said Rev. Wes, giving an example of a new bestseller book in the States “Building the bridge while you walk on it” that’s what the RCA and the IRD are doing at this very moment.
It is a new model and as we are working together as one, we are building the bridge between RCA and IRD. Rev. Wes also mentioned that the same way we are telling stories about the RCA missioners from the past, in 20 years from now, people will be also telling stories about the RCA/IRD and the group of leaders gathered in this occasion. Rev. Wes said that it is time for everybody to know about the IRD and the RCA “it is time to make it public, said Rev. Wes”. Everybody should know about this new model that’s being built in the DR by the RCA and the IRD.
Today the IRD is signing an eternal covenant with the RCA, not with a person, but with the General Synod, the RCA itself; a covenant that will last forever.
Rev. Kenneth Bradsell expressed his satisfaction and joy to be part of this historic moment in the DR. Rev. Kenneth Bradsell explained that he was in the DR 5 years ago, in Puerto Plata; he was gathered with “Brigido Cabrera, Luis Perez & Jon Norton” thoroughly thinking how God would open the way for the RCA to work in the DR and today he has seen the hand of God.
Yeral Ogando thanked for the RCA presence, especially for Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson and Rev. Kenneth Bradsell, thus seeing the hand of God in this mission.
Yeral Ogando explained why the IRD invited Rev. Wes Grandberg-Michaelson and Rev. Kenneth Bradsell to the IRD’s meeting with the RCA. Yeral Ogando explained that due to the relationship the IRD wants with the RCA, not a simple agreement for a limited time, but as an eternal covenant till the second coming of christ, where the IRD wants to import the RCA structure, policy and government system in the DR; the presence of Both Rev. Wes and Rev. Kenneth is a high priotiry in this partnership. Yeral Ogando also explained that Rev. Kenneth was one of the pioneer of this work in some way, because today he was able to see something he has never thought before, the RCA imported in the DR through the IRD.
Yeral Ogando said that due to many flows of spiritual movements in the DR coming from all over, the different denominations and government system, the DR is in a dark time, where the youths do not have a firm belief, a guide to follow; therefore with the RCA structure that has been working for more tan 400 years, with Presbyterian government, a solid reformed thelogy; then the RCA is what the DR needs to stand firm for ages and strengthen our communities; the countries of latin america, haiti and every single island where haitian creole is spoken as well. The RCA is a blessing for all of these countries and island, especially to the DR.
Both the IRD and the RCA agreed on signing a legal document, where the relationship between both denominations will be explained in general terms; showing the commitments with the mission and vision in the DR.
Rev. Wes showing the commitment of the RCA formally extended an invitation for a delegation of the IRD to assist the congress that will be celebrated in June 2009.
Rev. Jon Norton said that RCA and IRD partnership is like a father (RCA) and a son (IRD) where everything is done in between dialogs and in common agreement. Thus when the IRD has the strength and growth to expand, the IRD and the RCA will sit together to see the plans of expansion and the countries where the prototype “IRD” will be implemented.
The IRD thanked God for the privilege to be the representatives of the RCA in the Dominican Republic and very son in Latin America, with this new model that the RCA is implementing in the DR through the IRD; therefore the kingdom of God is being enriched with the partnership of both denominations “IRD/RCA”