Who’s At Our Doorstep? Planting Churches with Newcomers

11/26/2025

It was a chilly January morning in 2024 when Ada Christian Reformed Church, a predominantly white congregation of Dutch ancestry in Ada, Mich., welcomed a Chinese family. From that day on, Calvin Theological Seminary student Matthew Sun, his wife, and their four daughters found a warm and inviting h

The Reason You Walk: A Memoir

11/25/2025

A full decade before Wab Kinew took office as Manitoba’s first Indigenous premier (the equivalent of governor in the U.S.), he said a long goodbye to his Ndede, Tobasonakwut, his beloved father. In this captivating, page-turning memoir, Kinew tells the story of a father and a son and the careful, ha

Across the Ice: How We Saved the Ojibwe Horse

11/25/2025

Authors Darcy Whitecrow and Heather O’Connor employ fictional narrative—an Ojibwe grandmother, Nookomis, retelling the history of the Ojibwe horse breed to her grandchildren on a momentous night—to relate the true story of how the Ojibwe breed was saved from annihilation.In an authors’ note, Whitecr

What is the CRC Stance and Christian View of MAID (Medically Assisted Induced Dying)?

11/24/2025

What is the CRC stance and Christian view of MAID (Medically Assisted Induced Dying)? How can we support loved ones who are asking about this and making these decisions?The CRC has a strong word on this. Synod 2025 unanimously voted to approve this language: “that synod deplore the legalization and

What Stinks?

11/24/2025

It's 200 pounds. It's six feet tall. It smells incredibly horrible—like a dead animal.Is it your great-uncle Fred? Surprisingly, no! It's the world's stinkiest plant: the corpse flower.The corpse flower, or carrion flower, got its name because of the disgusting stench it emits when its flower blooms

Slowing Down: Rediscovering the Sacred in a Hurried World

11/24/2025

Pastor Jim had always prided himself on his tireless dedication to his congregation. But one evening, as he prepared yet another sermon late into the night, his young son walked into his study and climbed onto his lap. "Daddy, when do you rest?" the boy asked. Pastor Jim hesitated, realizing he had

Coming Near in The Face of Loss

11/21/2025

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.It was the mi

Ontario Church Creates Community Poppy Display for Remembrance Day

11/21/2025

Calvary Christian Reformed Church in Flamborough, Ont., created and hosted a display of handmade poppies to mark Remembrance Day 2025, with help from members of the church and the surrounding community.The cascade of 1,700 crocheted or knitted poppies was assembled on the front of the church buildin

B-I-N-G-O and the B-I-B-L-E

11/21/2025

Having a personal Bible is a very treasured possession for many people. This includes members of Cornerstone Prison Church in Sioux Falls, S.D. That is why Bingo for Bibles has become an activity staple for the congregation that meets within the South Dakota State Penitentiary. Usually hosted twice

Journey With a Giant: Choose Your Guide, Pursue Your Purpose, and Grow in Your Walk with God

11/21/2025

Few Christian living books have a premise as unique as Lori G. Melton’s Journey with a Giant. The Allegan, Mich.-based spiritual director shares her formative journey with Mister (Fred) Rogers as she guides readers in choosing their own “giant” of the faith.Drawing from Hebrews 12 and the “cloud of

Veritas

11/21/2025

It is the prevailing theory that the punk-rock-rap-numetal-reggae band, P.O.D, came to success after 9/11. America was grieving, and the positive, faith-filled message of P.O.D was the needed balm for the nation. Since then, P.O.D (which stands for Payable on Death) has been a perpetual underdog, ne

Pumpkin Day for Boo and Belle: A Celebration of Friendship and Thanksgiving

11/21/2025

A rabbit named Belle and a squirrel called Boo share a wondrous friendship that appears to be unshakeable. Each year, they enjoy a Pumpkin Day Tea where they express their thankfulness for their friendship and all that is good in their lives.This year, Belle is hosting, and she sends an invitation t

Interim Banner Editor Appointed

11/19/2025

The Office of General Secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America announced Lora Copley as the newly appointed interim editor of The Banner on Nov. 18. The publication has been without an editor-in-chief since Shiao Chong resigned the position in June.Copley, currently a campus pasto

75 Years of Today: A Legacy Carried by Faithful Hands

11/19/2025

An overwhelming sense of responsibility, accompanied by an equal amount of humility and a desire for anonymity, is what you get when asking Jan and Jim Jonker about their time as Today daily devotional delivery drivers for the past two decades.Their story is rooted in family legacy. Jim's father, Je

Never Stop: Life, Leadership, and What It Takes to Be Great

11/18/2025

University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley probably holds the title of the most disliked coach in the sport despite his winning ways on the court. Hurley cannot seem to help himself. He frequently crosses the line, arguing with officials, players, and even fans from other programs.

The Books That Made Us

11/17/2025

The books we read, the stories we listen to, the worlds we spend time inhabiting—these are the things that make us. Proverbs 18:15 tells us, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “I cannot remember the bo

Sin: A Broken Relationship

11/17/2025

Too often, sin is reduced to a list of wrong actions—lying, cheating, stealing. But Scripture shows us that sin is far more than bad behavior. At its root, sin is a broken relationship: with God, with one another, and even with creation. It’s not just about doing wrong; it’s about turning away from

Tolkien, Lewis and the Problem of 'Christian' Art

11/14/2025

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. The Banner h

‘Shared Stories of Struggles and Successes, Pain and Joy’ At World General Council

11/14/2025

The World Communion of Reformed Churches met Oct. 14-23 for its General Council in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a gathering that convenes about every seven years. Zachary King, general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, and Elly Boersma Sarkany, a commissioned pastor and member of

Summit Marks Transition from Toward CRC Canada to ‘Movement of Churches’

11/14/2025

The group called Toward CRC Canada, a movement formed in 2023 to promote an independent Canadian Christian Reformed Church distinct from the binational denomination it grew up in, is still working to develop “a new way of being Canadian churches together.” About 150 people met under that umbrella fo