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,

Serving the Nations on Campus
08/19/2026

Resonate Global Mission is celebrating the newest partnerships in the Christian Reformed Church’s growing campus ministry network: international student ministries led by Hilda Vanderklippe in the Niagara region and a team including Jenica Groot-Nibbelink in the London, Ont., area. Though both leade

The Fabric of Reality: How Physics Reveals the Mind of Our Creator
08/18/2026

To the casual observer, the modern world feels entirely mechanical and predictable. You sit in your car, type a destination into your smartphone, and are guided across town with pinpoint accuracy. But this everyday routine masks a profound truth: the daily technology we rely on is completely depende

When Mikan Road Was Ours
08/18/2026

We all have those family members who seem to know more about us than we do about them. D.K. Furutani, author of When Mikan Road Was Ours, is a master at conveying the awkwardness of that feeling. When his protagonist, who works as an English professor, attends a great-uncle’s funeral, a cousin he do

Basic Christianity: Heidelberg Catechism, Part 2
08/17/2026

My previous article explored the historical background and theme of comfort in the Heidelberg Catechism. This article will look at the structure of the HC and the first two sections. The HC is structured into three sections, something unique at the time. These sections are human misery (Q&A 3-11), d

Sustaining Faith in the Classroom
08/17/2026

Editor’s note: This article won the honorable mention in this year’s Young Adult Writing Contest, sponsored by Plough Publishing House. This year’s topic was “sustaining faith.”When I started ninth grade, I expected to fit in with my peers immediately. Instead, I struggled to adjust and find my plac

Banner On Air: What’s Next?
08/14/2026

What a run! 20 episodes, 16 guests and folks around the denomination joining in the conversation. In this quick update, Banner editor Lora thanks everyone who listened, produced and supported our first season. She also shares the exciting news that the podcast is now available on Apple Podcasts and

Called to Bear the Image, Not Build One
08/14/2026

Editor’s Note: This article is the first in a three-part series about social media and how easily it can shape us. It explores how Scripture offers a deeper vision of who we are and what we're called to.Born in the late 1990s, I belong to one of the first generations to grow up alongside social medi