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DATES
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EVENTS
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1888
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- On June 18, 1888, Synod appointed the Board of Heathen Missions. This unfortunate name was adopted to describe the initial mission work among Native American people within the boundaries of the United States.
- The name was changed to the Board of Indian and Foreign Missions in 1924.
- In 1964 the name was shortened to the Board of Foreign Missions.
- Synod approved the name of Board for Christian Reformed World Missions in 1976.
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1890s
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- Work among the Sioux people of South Dakota was initiated in 1890 but soon faltered.
- Work among the Navajo and Zuni people of the American Southwest was initiated by this Board in 1896 and continues under the administration of Christian Reformed Home Missions to this day.
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1920s
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- Johanna Veenstra arrived in Nigeria in 1920 under the auspices of Sudan United Mission.
- A committee of Dr. Lee Huizenga and Rev. John De Korne reported its findings to the Synod of 1920 and recommended Nigeria for the denomination's initial overseas work.
- Synod chose to begin overseas work in China rather than Nigeria, and from 1920 to 1950 work was carried on there with much interest from the denomination.
- The agency's name was changed in 1924 to the Board of Indian and Foreign Missions since it supervised work in the American Southwest and China.
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1930s to 1940s
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- Argentina was added to the Board's responsibilities in 1930, followed by Brazil in 1934.
- In 1940, CRC officially adopted the work in Nigeria begun by Johanna Veenstra.
- Work was opened in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) in 1949.
- Following a communist revolution in China, our missionaries were forced to leave the country.
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1950s
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- After World War II, the CRC's involvement in missions broadened swiftly.
- Work was opened in India and Japan in 1951, in Taiwan in 1953, and in Australia, New Zealand, and Cuba in 1958.
- Work in Australia, Cuba, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka (Ceylon) was concluded.
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1960s
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- Work was opened in the Philippines in 1961, in Guam and Mexico in 1962, and in Puerto Rico in 1967.
- In 1962, Synod established the Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (now World Renew) which gradually assumed responsibility for overseas relief work, community development, and diaconal development.
- The mission effort among the Navajo and Zuni people in the American Southwest shifted to Christian Reformed Home Missions in 1964. At the same time, the Board of Indian and Foreign Missions was renamed the Board of Foreign Missions.
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1970s
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- The following fields were added: Honduras in 1971, Nicaragua in 1973, Liberia in 1975, and the Dominican Republic in 1979.
- The total number of missionaries with World Missions peaked during this time.
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1980s
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- Attention to unreached peoples and ministry among Muslims grew in 1980.
- The following fields were added: Sierra Leone in 1980, Costa Rica in 1981, Guinea in 1984, Mali in 1984, Haiti in 1985 and France in 1989.
- In 1985 Synod reorganized its overseas outreach by placing the agencies and boards of both World Missions and CRWRC under a synodical board called the Christian Reformed Board of World Ministries.
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1990s
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- In 1992 the Board of World Ministries was phased out and CRWM began reporting to the newly established CRC Board of Trustees.
- The following fields were added: Eastern and Central Europe (particularly Hungary, Romania and Ukraine) in 1990 and Russia in 1990.
- At various times, missionaries served on loan to other agencies in Australia, Bangladesh, Guinea, Jordan, Kenya, Lithuania, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, and Zambia.
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2000s
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- Work was concluded in Argentina, Brazil, Guam, Puerto Rico, and Taiwan.
- Work was begun in Bangladesh, Cambodia, Guatemala, and Niger. A new ministry region, Eastern and Southern Africa, was also opened up.
- The growth of churches in the Majority World (outside the West) led to a new emphasis in partnership to share the Gospel.
- Revised mission, vision, and values statements were adopted.
- The slogan “Proclaiming the Gospel and Planting Churches around the World” was replaced by “Helping Christian Reformed Churches to Fulfill the Great Commission”, embracing the mission work done by congregations beyond CRWM.
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