Meeting People Where They Are: Eugene Callender’s CRC Ministry in Harlem and the “Already, but Not Yet” Kingdom of Christ

This paper examines the Christian Reformed Church’s (CRC) ministry in Harlem under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Eugene Callender, the denomination’s first Black minister. Drawing on archival materials and theological analysis, it traces the formation of the Mid-Harlem Community Parish and situates it within the broader historical and cultural dynamics of 1950s New York. Central to the study is the Reformed theological framework of the “already, but not yet” kingdom—a vision that shaped Callender’s integrated approach to evangelism, justice, and community-building. By holding together spiritual renewal and social engagement, Callender’s ministry offered a compelling model of faithful Christian witness in a fractured world.