Joining the Team - June 3, 2021

Hello all! This week I have the pleasure of updating you on “what’s going on,” because one of the things ‘going on’ is that I am formally starting a year long position as Pastoral Intern at Mountainview CRC. I realize that things are a little different at this time, and since I may not meet many of you in person for a little while, I am happy to use this opportunity here for a quick introduction.

My name is Peter Kranenburg and I am a current student at Calvin Theological Seminary. I have grown up in the Hamilton area, where I attended Redeemer University, but many of my last several years have been spent pursuing various opportunities all over the place. I like to joke that Hamilton has mostly always just been home base for my ‘stuff.’

For several years I had the amazing opportunity to lead a discipleship school for young adults, travelling Western Canada and living in Guatemala. Since then I have also run an academy in Mexico for Canadian students interested in learning more about social justice issues and being involved in community. I also still help lead humanitarian aid teams in Mexico and The Dominican Republic and love the chance to do hands on work while also diving into deep conversations surrounding global and local issues. Recently I finished a Masters of Theological Studies Degree at University of Waterloo (Conrad Grebel), and that has led me to diving even deeper into discerning a call to more formal ministry.

And, all that has now led me here to spend the next year with you! I am excited about what this next year can and will look like. My desire is to learn both from and among you, to be able to practice and grow in various areas of ministry, and to continue to discern where God may be leading me in ministry in the future. I am grateful to be able to do this alongside Pastor Erick and the rest of the Mountainview staff, but am also grateful to do that walking alongside each and every one of you. I look forward to exploring what it means to be the church both locally in the Grimsby area, but also more broadly. My desire is to serve God and to be open to whatever that means along the way.

Outside of church I also work part-time for Indwell, an organization based out of Hamilton that offers affordable and supportive living for many individuals experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues, and mental health issues. I love to be outside and especially enjoy hiking, camping, biking, and playing board games in my spare time. When things open up again I also enjoy travelling and, as all my family lives out west, I look forward to going out there again to visit.

While I will only be officially working part-time, I will still be around the church fairly often. My office doors are always open, I love to chat, and I hope you will stop by as we are increasingly able! I have included contact information below in case you want to get in touch with me.

I look forward to beginning this year with you and seeing where God leads us over the next weeks and months.

Peter Kranenburg
peterk@mountainviewcrc.org