Stephen and Sandra Brauning

Vision

We envision a family of Spirit-led ministries in the Dominican Republic (DR) used by God to transform lives, communities, and society.

Mission

Our mission is to serve alongside our ministry partners in the DR by equipping them to testify to the Good News of Christ’s multi-faceted Kingdom.

Ministry in Dominican Republic

Steve and Sandra serve with a ministry team serving alongside three ministry partners: the Christian Reformed Church in the Dominican Republic (CRCDR, a national denomination of nearly 200 congregations), the Christian Reformed Schools in the Dominican Republic (COCREF, a coalition of 16 schools and nearly 4,000 students), and the Center for Transforming Mission (CTM) which works in theological reflection, ministry training, and networking. 

We partner with the CRCDR in leadership training, ministry development, construction, community transformation, discipleship, evangelism, justice, and other ministries. With COCREF, Steve participates with the board of directors and the administration to assist in providing quality affordable Christian education in marginal communities. CTM provides a platform for broader impact in the evangelical community as well as outreach through the related ministries with which we network. Between the church, schools, and other related ministries, Resonate Global Mission’s work impacts an estimated 25,000 people in the DR.

Another ministry impact area is our service and learning program which provides opportunities for North Americans to plug into ministry with our partners. Teams serve with youth outreach or construction, and individual volunteers serve in children and youth ministry, Christian education, and community outreach. Volunteers can serve for a few weeks up to a year to gain cross-cultural and ministry experience, learn and grow in faith, and contribute to these vibrant ministries' impact.

Recent ministry highlights:

There is a hunger for God’s word here in the DR, and the through the Christian Reformed Church in the DR(CRCDR), we are able to provide learning and growth opportunities on various levels: we contribute to local church Bible studies and Sunday Schools by assisting with producing materials and training for leaders; we collaborate with the denomination's Bible Institute that provides pastors, evangelists, and other church leaders with Biblical, theological, missiological, and ministry education. During 2014-15, 206 leaders graduated from the Timothy Leadership Training module of the Bible Institute. This fall (2015), the program is expanding to include Bachelor’s degrees for the first time, thanks to a partnership with the Miami International Seminary(MINTS). Previously all the Bible Institute programs were non-degree, due mainly to the fact that the vast majority of church leaders did not have academic backgrounds, with few high-school graduates among them. That is changing, and we are now able to respond the new opportunities.
The church’s growth continues to be demonstrated "concretely" through its building program. In 2014 and 2015, about sixteen building projects were completed mostly with emerging congregations. The Anamuya CRC in Higuey, which had been renting a facility for nearly eight years, now has a new building on land that was purchased with a combination of local funds and a donation from a North American church. A team from the USA came to assist with the building project. Since moving into its new facility, the church has grown significantly. Resonate Global Mission provides the bridge for these building projects by channeling resources, linking teams, and consulting with the church leadership.
Since beginning in 1981, the Christian Reformed Schools (COCREF) have made a major effort in training teachers. Christian worldview integration, pedagogical methods, and classroom management have been very successful in COCREF schools. Recently COCREF has expanded its program to other Christian schools in the DR. Many Christian schools only use the government's core required curriculum so this training is an opportunity to assure that more children can receive higher quality education and an integrated Christian perspective. At least 25 schools are benefiting from this program this year thanks to the vision and dedication of COCREF's board of directors and staff.

About the Brauning Family

Our family has been on the mission field in the Dominican Republic (DR) since 1991. Steve is the Resonate Global Mission field director and Sandra teaches at the International School of Santo Domingo. Two of our children are now married, one is engaged, and our youngest son Mark is attending Dordt College, so we are “empty-nesters.”  We are planning an extended home service for the fall of 2016, mainly in New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania, with trip to Michigan and Florida included. We hope to see many of our faithful prayer and financial partners at that time.