(Interview with The Reverend Douglas Leonard on January 22, 2010 at Rockland-Westchester Classis meeting, hosted by Clarkstown Reformed Church)

Upstate New York Cortlandtown Reformed Church Senior Minister, Reverend Douglas Leonard, a missionary for 3 months to Islam nation, Oman.

Rev. Douglas Leonard call was strong after the terrorist event on 9-11. The moment the terrorist hit New York City, he was the Associate Pastor serving New York Marble Collegiate Church (Senior Minister, Arthur Caliandro). Remembering 9-11, tears filled his eyes when he shared his reason and motivation toward his mission to the Islam nation. Many members of the Marble Collegiate Church lost their lives and loved ones through the unexpected terrorist event.

The ministers of Marble Collegiate Church, along with Rev. Doug ministered to the members of the church and the community who lost their loved ones. This ministry gave birth to the grief Counseling Group,counseling to many who were devastated through this tragic even. 9-11 drew him to wonder why the Islam terrorists would plan such a brutal and violent act. On that day, Rev. Doug was overwhelmed with agony and shared that God has drawn him to reach out to the Islam nation as a missionary.

Oman is 99% Islam however the RCA(Reformed Church in America) has kept a long-term relationship of 160 years through veteran missionaries who loved the people of Oman.

Reverend Douglas approach to his mission in Oman is the peaceful Strategy(IRENIC approach). He build a trusting relationship based on friendship as Jesus had He ministered to the lost. The IRENIC approach is more effective than the aggressive approach of missionaries who evangelize aggressively with words and no act of love.

Not only through the IRENIC approach, but through one life of prayer, love and actions is the most essential and powerful approach to evangelize to a nation that had caused much terror, agony, and pain. Like Jesus, without any ambition, Reverend Douglas is to love and live the way of Jesus Christ.

This present day, he is raising funds for the mission work for Oman. Today, 23 churches are supporting the mission work however still in need of $10,000 to continue the mission work in Oman.

Reverend Douglas is a descendant of the oldest denomination in America originally from the Netherlands. RCA began with 50 people worshiping in New Amsterdam. From a small worship congregation grew 1,800 RCA ministers serving 20,000 members of churches within this denomination. RCA has a special interest in raising mission churches of immigrant churches, especially within the Korean-American community.

Reverend Douglas is the youngest generation of the RCA denomination. 340 years ago his great grandfather built the Tappan Reformed Church, Tappan, NY, and Trinity Reformed Church, Old Tappan, NJ, his father was the Area Minister of Regional Synod of New York and retired minister of Upstate Orangetown, New York, and himself served Cortlandtown Reformed Church. He had revived the church from 5 people to a thriving church. God has been faithful to those who serve Him.

Through this tiny seed of faith, bearing abundant fruit in the soil of America gave birth to Reverend Doug bearing 100, 60. 30 fold.

Reporter Ms. Oh, Translated Rev. Salome Ryew(The Lamb of God Ministries, Classis of Rockland-Westchester)

RCA

Roger De Young

4500 60th Street SE

Grand Rapids, MI 49512

Payable to: The Reformed Church in America

For: Reverend Douglas Leonard Oman Mission

rdeyoung@rca.org