By the Numbers: Christian Reformed Means…
08/31/2026

The annual denominational survey asks respondents to select from 28 phrases in response to the prompt “To me, the term ‘Christian Reformed’ means … .”In 2026, 13 phrases were selected by at least 30% of respondents.Those top terms, with the ones chosen by the highest percentage of respondents most p

Sustaining Faith
08/31/2026

Editor’s note: This essay came in second place by blind judging for the 2026 Young Adults Writing Contest on the topic of “Sustaining Faith.”Has there been a time in your life when your faith was tested, when your heart was left broken, and the suffering seemed pointless? Many of us have been there

Reflections from a New Church Planter
08/28/2026

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.About a year

We Are Home When We're Together: Trusting God Through Life's Changes
08/28/2026

Mother-daughter team Jean Stoffer and Grace Start, hosts of their TV show The Established House, join forces with illustrator Megan Lindsey in this tender children’s picture book, which develops the theme of Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his step” (NKJV).In introd

The Odyssey
08/28/2026

From the first drum beats of Bronze Age percussion in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, moviegoers know they have entered an ancient and otherworldly dimension. The score, by Ludwig Göransson, feels different than any other score; its instruments are replicas of those depicted in Greek and Roman art.

The Pastor as Gardener: A Renewed Vision for Ministry
08/28/2026

Author Matthew Erickson, senior pastor of Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee, Minn., asserts that a fresh metaphor for pastoral ministry is needed in North America today in a time when pastors continue to grapple with the confusion and after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent global events

Churches Support Storm-struck Neighbors
08/28/2026

In Munster, Ind., and St. Catharines, Ont., Christian Reformed congregations host chainsaw sharpening and a community BBQ in support of neighbors affected by August storms and flooding.“Maybe this is where the church shines the brightest,” suggested pastor Jim Hollendoner of Munster (Ind.) Church in

Faithful in the Fields: Cultivating Context in Every Soil
08/26/2026

Recognizing the need for deeper global impact, ReFrame’s leadership moved its major language programs from North America directly into the regional fields we serve. The goal was simple yet important: to shift ReFrame’s messaging away from a Western perspective and place it into the hands of local le

A Presbyterian Falls for the CRC
08/25/2026

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.I never thoug

Too Sick to Pray: A Theology of Outlaw Country
08/25/2026

In 1969, struggling country artist Kris Kristofferson piloted a helicopter across Louisiana while musing about a new song. According to C. M. Howell, as he looked at the landscape, the “narrative of adventure and sudden love, of finding meaning in wandering from one city to another, and the danger o

Faith for the Journey
08/24/2026

Editor’s note: This essay came in third place by blind judging for the 2026 Young Adults Writing Contest on the topic of “Sustaining Faith.”As Christians, we are often familiar with the concept of “the wilderness.” We easily see ourselves in the children of Israel, stumbling on our way toward the Pr

What Are Some Parenting Practices to Help My Children Maintain an Interest in Faith?
08/24/2026

What are some parenting practices for various stages of my child’s development to help them maintain an interest in faith?When asked, most Christian parents say their deepest hope for their children as they grow into adulthood is that they “make their faith their own”. While this goal is widely shar

Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?
08/21/2026

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.*Editor’s Not

Current Gone! Stars Shine Brighter in a Blackout
08/21/2026

Based on author Nessa Bally’s childhood in Trinidad, this lyrically narrated and energetically illustrated picture book relates her experience of having the electricity go off. In an author note, Bally writes, “In Trinidad, we have blackouts from time to time. Electricity is fondly referred to as ‘c

Spider-Man: Brand New Day
08/21/2026

Many movies and films nowadays speak to modern day concerns surrounding mental health and feelings of loneliness. Spider-Man: Brand New Day, directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, does the same. It picks up where viewers were left in Spider-Man: No Way Home. The film follows Peter Parker, played by the

Our Family Is Not a Tree: Stories of God’s Faithfulness on Our Journey as Refugee Foster Parents
08/21/2026

When author Laura Boonstra and her husband Phil began their fostering journey, they had no idea what they would encounter: the contrasting emotions of joy and sorrow, the dramatic changes to their vision of what constitutes a family, their growing desire to seek justice for mistreated refugee foster

In Memoriam: Rev. Elzo Tenyenhuis
08/21/2026

Elzo Tenyenhuis will be remembered for his hospitality, willingness to help, ability to listen and connect, humor, curiosity, and integrity. He held a strong faith in Jesus and shared his zeal for the gospel whenever he had the opportunity. Through life's hardships Elzo chose hope and remained open

In Memoriam: Rev. Roger Dale Kramer
08/21/2026

Roger Kramer was a peaceful, easy-going, humble man of quiet strength who enjoyed creating joy around him with his wit and playful pranks. One of his daughters described Roger’s life as a living embodiment of Philippians 2:3-4, which says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather,

‘Would Jesus Play Guitar?’ and Other Questions From Conference on Contemporary Worship
08/21/2026

The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Bob Smietana was published Aug. 18, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style. The Banner added a sentence to the 14th paragraph and added the final paragraph, to provide cont

Churches ‘Battle’ on Ice Supporting Safe Families
08/21/2026

A summertime hockey tournament that’s been bringing together church teams in Abbotsford, B.C. for three years saw Gateway Community Christian Reformed Church join this August for the first time.“Battle of the Churches” brings together Christians from different denominations for a weekend of hockey,