Does God Help Those Who Help Themselves?
11/06/2026

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

Deep Secrets
11/06/2026

In 1929 New York City, at the beginning of the Great Depression, 19-year-old Colette is a “prisoner in her own home” like “a porcelain doll, put on a shelf and left to collect dust.” To make matters worse, she’s haunted nightly by terrifying dreams of icy water, darkness, being suspended above the e

When I’m a Moshom
11/06/2026

Author David A. Robertson, a member of the Norway House Cree Nation, now residing in Winnipeg, Man., wrote this winsome children’s book as a companion to On the Trapline, written to honor his father and their relationship with each other and the land. As he was concluding work on that book, his fath

Churches Host Summer Interns to Encourage Exploring Pastoral Ministry
11/06/2026

For many professions, a career begins with an internship, the opportunity as a young person to explore a calling and be mentored by those with experience in the field. This summer four Chicago-area Christian Reformed churches sought to create that opportunity for hopeful future pastors with a Minist

New Kuyper College President Receives Legacy ‘In Trust’
11/06/2026

In an October inauguration ceremony installing him as Kuyper College’s seventh president, Daniel Churchwell gave an address recognizing the school’s history, calling, and continuing potential.“The potential I see at Kuyper exists precisely because generations of trustees, faculty, staff, presidents,

Illinois Church Develops Hispanic Ministry as ‘One Church, Two Cultures’
11/06/2026

Emmanuel Christian Reformed Church, which has been in the Chicago suburb of Sauk Village, Ill., since 1968, has recently developed a bilingual—English and Spanish—ministry with church planter Richard Garcia, creating what it envisions as “One Church, Two Cultures” in its demographically changing nei

Drawn to Jesus
11/04/2026

Ahmet* had seen The Jesus Film maybe a dozen times—but everything changed the night he watched it with Resonate Global Mission missionary Daniel*.Born into a predominantly Muslim country in Asia, Ahmet grew up knowing Jesus as a prophet. But he felt restless, uncertain, and unsatisfied with life and

Love Like a Mother: How the Sacred Work of Motherhood Reveals the Maternal Heart of God
11/03/2026

God is our father, and Scripture is woven through with masculine imagery to describe him. That is all wonderfully true, orthodox, and indisputable. But in this book, Elizabeth Berget gently leads readers to discover a God who also made mothers in his image and who nourishes, comforts, and protects u

My Invisible Sin
11/03/2026

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.How many time

The Giver is the Gift
11/02/2026

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” —1 Thess. 5:16-18I cannot thank You, Lord, for all I see.The world is broken, brimmed with loss and pain.How can I thank and praise continually?How does one trace the rainbow through

Blade and the Blessing Bag
11/02/2026

“Blade,” the disheveled man said when I asked him his name.I thought, who names their baby “Blade”? In my mind, I pictured switchblades and dangerously sharp knives.Blade was anything but knifelike. He was like a gentle breeze, his voice barely audible as he shyly looked at me.During the summer mont

Canons of Dort
11/02/2026

God’s Sovereign ChoiceThe theme of comfort has followed us from the Belgic Confession through the Heidelberg Catechism. Although the Canons of Dort (CD) are less doctrinally comprehensive, we will once again recognize the theme of comfort underlying the teachings.By the end of the 16th century, the

Campus Ministry Hosts Pulitzer Prize Winners to Talk on Hope
10/30/2026

“How Can We Hope When It All Feels Hopeless?” A lecture hall of people turned up at the University of Iowa Geneva Campus Ministry lecture Oct. 19 to hear Pulitzer Prize-winning authors Marilynne Robinson and Nicholas Kristof take on this question.For 50 years Geneva Campus Ministry has been hosting

The Lord Provides
10/30/2026

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.“‘For I know

The Outermost Mouse
10/30/2026

In her debut picture book for children based on the story of a real house and storm in Cape Cod, Mass., in 1978, author Lauren Wolk, renowned for her middle school novels Wolf Hollow, Beyond the Bright Sea, Candle Island, and more, joins forces with illustrator Kristen Adam to introduce kids to a sm

Garden of the Lord EP
10/30/2026

Singer-songwriter Justin Gambino provides listeners with his first collection of worship songs with the EP Garden of the Lord. Known for a more uptempo style, Gambino turns to a mellow sound with this record and its country feel. “The inspiration for this project came from my testimony,” Gambino say

The Brunswick
10/30/2026

Author Callie Murray’s debut historical fiction novel set in 1939 Georgia is loosely based on true events. These include the repercussions of the 1929 Great Depression, the Brunswick Hotel that fell into disrepair after the Great Depression, the imminent war in Germany, the persecution of Jewish peo

Diaconal Ministries Celebrates 25 Years
10/30/2026

Diaconal Ministries Canada marked 25 years of work in Christian Reformed churches across Canada, celebrating stories of love in action Oct. 17. The organization was created by deacons for deacons with a dream to disciple, mentor, and connect Canadian CRC churches.John Wildeboer, national director fo

California Church Emphasizes Prayer and Service With Travel
10/30/2026

Ora et labora. Pray and work. This centuries-old credo from Saint Benedict was the inspiration for two trips that members of Almond Valley Christian Reformed Church in Ripon, Calif., took in 2026. The first trip brought members on a pilgrimage to England, while others from the congregation went to N

Growing Gratitude
10/28/2026

Canadians celebrated Thanksgiving last month. Americans will take a day to give thanks later this November. While news broadcasts are reminding us every day of all the things we have to fear, Thanksgiving Day reminds us to look at all the things we have to be thankful for.Gratitude can feel like a n