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What Native American Heritage Month Means to New Immigrants Like Me
12/01/2023

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. On the first

Record Attendance at Eastern Canada Youth Conference
12/01/2023

The annual fall youth conference in Classis Eastern Canada of the Christian Reformed Church brought together 131 guests this year – the largest number of teens since the retreat was started more than 20 years ago. Classis youth ministry team member Ron Hosmar sees the record attendance as evidence t

In Memoriam: Rev. Dale W. Vander Veen
12/01/2023

Dale Vander Veen, who served faithfully in ministry as a campus pastor, preacher, pianist, organist and writer, died Oct. 25. He was 80.After graduating from Calvin College (now University) and Seminary and ordination in 1969, Dale and his wife, Edith, joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (

California Church Planter Writing Punjabi Mission History
12/01/2023

Eric Sarwar, a Christian Reformed church planter in Artesia, Calif., is a global partner with Princeton (N.J.) Theological Seminary’s Overseas Mission Study Center’s 2023-24 Residential Study Program. A pastor, songwriter and author of Pakistani descent with a doctorate in Intercultural Studies from

All Creation Waits: The Advent Mystery of New Beginnings for Children
12/01/2023

In this unique blend of Advent musings on the nature of waiting, fascinating facts about animals and birds, and magnificent artwork depicting creatures in their winter habitats, author Gayle Boss and illustrator Sharon Spitz join forces to develop one theme pointing ahead to the birth of Jesus: “The

Reality
12/01/2023

Reality, starring Sydney Sweeney as Reality Winner (yes, that’s her real name), debuted in May 2023 to little fanfare and limited advertising. That’s a shame because the 85-minute movie is a real-life reenactment that feels as if you’re watching a one-act play. It’s riveting. The mo

The Unfortunate Life of Genevieve Ryder
12/01/2023

It’s 1946, and 22-year-old Genevieve Ryder finds herself in a precarious situation, carrying the baby of a man who is engaged to someone else. Her mother, Antoinette, is controlling, blunt and judgemental, not at all the source of support and care Gen needs at such a vulnerable time. Other family me

Ministry in the Midst of War
11/29/2023

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Wild Faith
11/28/2023

For Patrick Mayberry fans, the wait has ended. After three EP releases, the singer, songwriter and worship leader offers his first full-length project titled “Wild Faith.” “Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus is a son or daughter of the God of the Universe, who intimately knows them and cares ab

’Tis the Season: Family Advent Activity Book: Devotions, Recipes, and Memories of the Christmas Season
11/28/2023

Illustrator Jill Howarth’s cheerful artwork and authors Leslie Calhoun, Bunmi Ishola and Jamie Lapeyrolerie’s celebrative resources for Advent were created with the uniqueness of families in mind. They explain, “Since all families are different, you’ll find multiple options for customizing your fami

Managing Emotions
11/27/2023

Elizabeth is a 40-year-old woman currently going through a divorce after her husband left her for another woman. Elizabeth has been married for 15 years. She has been actively involved in her church community. Elizabeth is feeling depressed and guilty for not being able to make her marriage work. Sh

I’m a boomer who has started to use emojis. Is that a bad thing?
11/27/2023

Not unless you are using the wrong ones!Each generation, it seems, has a preferred way of communicating. Researchers call people born between 1928 and 1945 the Silent Generation because they have traditionally limited their communication. But Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are more inclined to

California CRC Hosts Korean Church Disability Conference
11/24/2023

With recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies estimating that 17 percent of children ages 3-17 in the United States have at least one developmental disability, the importance of churches focusing more of their attention and resources on disability ministry is evident. In response to

Celebrating the Legacy of a Canadian CRC Leader: Rev. Arie Gideon Van Eek (1932-2023)
11/24/2023

After twenty years of parish ministry in three Canadian provinces, Arie Van Eek became the first executive secretary of the Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada (CCRCC), a position he held for the next twenty years. Arie’s ministry has been described as broad, courageous, persistent and

Four Worshiping Communities, One Communitas: Ecumenical Partners Share Ministry in Alberta
11/24/2023

In the heart of Alberta Avenue, described as a mature, inner-city neighborhood in Edmonton, Alta., the worshiping communities of Avenue Christian Reformed Church, St. Faith’s and St. Mary’s Anglican churches and an Indigenous spiritual community called Standing Stones, come together in a shared mini

War in Israel and the Words of Christ
11/24/2023

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 watched th

Killers of the Flower Moon
11/24/2023

I eagerly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon, especially knowing that director Martin Scorsese collaborated with Six Nations Lifetime Achievement Award winner Robbie Robertson. Robertson was also the leader of The Band, instrumental in the establishment of the Americana genre of music. Then Robe

All of Creation: Understanding God’s Planet and How We Can Help
11/24/2023

Betsy Painter, creative writer and conservation biologist, loves God’s good creation and is acutely aware of the problems plaguing God’s world. However, she’s convinced that Christians, her family in the faith, have “the reason, the hope, and the resources to make a difference.” Painter formats her

This is the Way, Walk In It
11/22/2023

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The Libyan Diversion
11/22/2023

The Libyan Diversion (the fifth book in Joel C. Rosenberg’s Marcus Ryker series) can hold its own against any of the late Vince Flynn’s novels, with all the cloaks, daggers and clandestine White House meetings that fans of political espionage crave. But Rosenberg doesn’t use sex and shocking languag