How Indigenous Ministries Live the Gospel
04/02/2025

“Welcome to our ceremonial garden” boomed Bert Adema from an outdoor stage set up at the Indigenous Christian Fellowship in Regina, Sask. This vibrant space was once an abandoned lot but is now complete with benches, a fire pit, and murals that tell stories of resilience and reconciliation.Adema, di

Living Out Our Collective Calling
04/02/2025

In North America, we have automated solutions for labor-intensive work. A cement mixer with a couple of operators, for example, can quickly pour a massive concrete slab. In contrast, much of the world works on the “principle of the ant.” There is a Haitian proverb Men anpil, chay pa lou (Many hands

So God Made a Grandma: Caring, Faithful, Creative, Devoted, Wise, Generous, Resilient—Just like You
04/01/2025

In her follow-up volume to So God Made a Mother, author Leslie Means shares her personal experiences of her grandmother and invites numerous other women to relate theirs, too. Some of the contributing authors are grandmothers, others are granddaughters writing about their grandmothers, and still oth

Prepared or Ready?
03/31/2025

We weren’t prepared. COVID-19 restrictions were just winding down, and we weren’t yet getting very many drop-in visitors at the church offices. Besides, it was spring break for school families, so we weren’t counting on seeing many people.But the doorbell rang—and we weren’t prepared for the way wha

Are Children in the Church Capable of Taking Lead Roles in Our Worship Services?
03/31/2025

Are children in the church capable of taking on lead roles in our worship services? If so, how might we encourage this?Years ago it was rare for anyone but the pastor to speak in the worship services we attended. In many Christian Reformed churches, though, people have since realized that if worship

I Am Somebody
03/28/2025

The Bible has many places teaching children about taking responsibilities, including how we act toward others (Luke 10:30-37), how we treat our families (1 Tim. 5:8), and how we pursue justice (Micah 6:8). In reality, a child’s daily encounters also present lessons to speak up or to care about fairn

Frasier
03/28/2025

When I was a kid we didn’t watch sitcoms, though I have early memories of my dad watching Cheers for a while. It wasn’t until I was out of college that I explored the big three TV comedies of the 1990s: Friends, Seinfeld, and Frasier. Of the three, the trials of tribulations of Dr. Frasier Crane (Ke

His Face Like Mine: Finding God's Love in Our Wounds
03/28/2025

Author Russell W. Joyce was born Nov. 17, 1988, with a rare craniofacial disorder called Goldenhar syndrome. Joyce describes his condition this way: “Put bluntly, the left side of my face and parts of my body were badly broken.” Joyce’s childhood was punctuated by countless visits to doctors, hospit

Christian Groups Hold Prayer Vigil for Foreign Aid
03/28/2025

The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Jack Jenkins was published March 11, 2025, on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style. The Banner added the 12th paragraph to provide context for the Christian Reformed Church.In mi

New U.S. Refugee Policies Impact CRC Congregations
03/28/2025

Recent changes in U.S. federal refugee support have directly affected several Christian Reformed churches engaged in refugee resettlement. As the government has suspended the refugee admission program and funding for those already admitted, congregational ministries helping to resettle refugees have

World Renew Extends Local Empowerment Approach to New Bangladesh Project for Vulnerable Youth
03/28/2025

World Renew’s 40-year track record of working with community partners on anti-poverty initiatives in Bangladesh contributed to its recent success in being awarded a $7,886,330 CAD grant over five years from Global Affairs Canada. “Matched by World Renew’s church and household donors with a $417,708

Former Home Missions Director Returns to Resonate to Lead Ministry in Asia
03/28/2025

Resonate Global Mission, the Christian Reformed Church’s mission agency at home and abroad, is consolidating its South &Southeast Asia and East Asia ministries under one new regional leader, Moses Chung. Chung starts in the role April 1. It’s a return to Resonate after his most recent role with the

Mixed Media Roundup: April 2025
03/27/2025

So God Made a Grandma: Caring, Faithful, Creative, Devoted, Wise, Generous, Resilient—Just Like YouBy Leslie MeansReviewed by Sonya VanderVeen FeddemaIn her follow-up to So God Made a Mother, author Leslie Means shares her experiences of her grandmother and invites other women to relate theirs, too.

Building Community Through Media
03/26/2025

In a world increasingly connected through digital platforms, the role of media ministry has never been more critical. For millions of people who live in remote areas or places with limited access to churches, media ministry offers a lifeline—a way to hear the gospel, grow in faith, and connect with

Looking Up
03/25/2025

Sidewalk Prophets’ signature lyrics feature storytelling, relationships, and life matters, and their fifth full-length album, “Looking Up,” beautifully fits their objectives. The album features high-energy pop with a couple of ballads and a hip hop selection welcoming Mr. Talkbox. Themes include fol

What Can I Do When I Have Too Many Jobs?
03/24/2025

I have multiple jobs. I don’t think I can afford to drop any of them, but I feel like I’m being pulled in different directions. What can I do?Having several ‘gig’ jobs is becoming the new “normal” for many people, but this doesn’t make it any easier. It can feel as if you’re always working and still

God’s Red Mittens
03/24/2025

Cathy sat on a bench by the library, smoking a cigarette and clutching a cup of coffee. Tiny, wizened, and perennially distraught, Cathy looked up when I called her name.Over the past several years I would occasionally see her on my walks. One of my first encounters with her was as she stood near th

Decomposers, Resurrect!
03/24/2025

Have you ever thought about decomposers? Without decomposers such as fungi, mushrooms, and bacteria, our world would be littered with the carcasses and remains of every plant, animal, and person who ever lived on Earth.But because God is so good, God has orchestrated creation to take care of its own

If God Has Promised to Always Be With Us (Matt. 28:20), Why Does God Sometimes Seem So Far Away?
03/24/2025

If God has promised to always be with us (Matt. 28:20), why does God sometimes seem so far away?It is important, as you note, for God’s promises to be the grounding of our faith. This means our faith does not rest in our capacity to predict what God is doing or our ability to perceive God’s presence

Returning to the CRC
03/21/2025

As I Was Saying is a forum for a variety of perspectives to foster faith-related conversations among our readers with the goal of mutual learning, even in disagreement. Apart from articles written by editorial staff, these perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of The Banner.Trading trave