Is Toxic Empathy A Problem in the Church?
10/02/2026

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.A psychologis

Isaiah Johnson and the Big Game
10/02/2026

In this third picture book in renowned theologian and author Esau McCaulley’s Johnson Family series—the others are Josey Johnson's Hair and the Holy Spirit and Andy Johnson and the March for Justice—children will learn what it means to offer forgiveness when feelings are hurt and disappointments cau

The Sheep Detectives
10/02/2026

What is this about? I munched popcorn as The Sheep Detectives began. A voiceover made me wonder. But soon I was in. The Sheep Detectives is a winsome fairy tale-ish, morality play-ish. Overall, though? This flick is delightful and poignant family fun.Pithy maxims abound as the sheep tell their story

Three Book Club Picks for Hispanic Heritage Month (and All Year Long)
10/02/2026

The Lost Story of Eva FuentesBy Chanel CleetonReviewed by Lorilee CrakerI love a book that connects the past with the present, and when that book teaches me about a little-known piece of history and another country and culture? Even better.The Lost Story of Eva Fuentes weaves the stories of three wo

As Violence Escalates in Nigeria, Christian and Muslim Leaders Unite
10/02/2026

The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Tonny Onyulo, published Sept. 23, 2026 on religionnews.com, has been edited for length. The Banner added the final paragraph, with context for the Christian Reformed Church.(RNS) — As killings and mass kidn

What Are We Fighting For?
09/28/2026

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.“Was there no

The Way Will Provide
09/25/2026

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.Through the g

The River of Caregiving
09/25/2026

Winsome and captivating, this gently narrated and warmly illustrated children’s picture book portrays the loving care that runs in a family through the generations.As a young girl walks alongside her grandmother, she narrates, “My a-ma told me that in our family, our care for one another flows like

Story Telling: A Writing Life
09/25/2026

Born Aug. 2, 1942, Isabel Allende, renowned 84-year-old Chilean-American author of more than 30 books spanning a career of four decades, invites readers to explore the craft of writing in her most recent publication. Part memoir, part instruction manual, Story Telling is more than a list of things w

Mission Church Builds Trust Through Community Engagement
09/25/2026

Starting a church in Tucson, Ariz.—a city identified as the 12th-most “post-Christian” in the U.S. on Barna research group’s 2017 scale—was daunting. Even the neighbors didn’t want it. Asked for letters of support in 2017, local entities in the Arroyo Chico neighborhood instead responded to Mission

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom
09/25/2026

Born into a devout Catholic community on Aug. 5, 1917, in Lubcan, a town in the Philippine Islands, Josephina Veluya—called Joey by her family—grew up with a longing to be like Joan of Arc. As she played, she imagined her heroine’s life: “What would it be like, Joey Veluya wondered, to have God spea

Why True Christians Need True Churches
09/22/2026

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.You know the

Unbreakable Courage: Strong Faith in an Age of Anxiety, Chaos, and Exhaustion
09/22/2026

Pastor and author Max Lucado has a simple message for Christians in his new book: Keep going. Keep working! Be steadfast. Ours is a call to wait on the Lord even when circumstances around us make no sense; ours is a call to trust in God when there’s no rain in the forecast for our parched land.Lucad

Rev. John Yeury De Baun, First Editor
09/21/2026

Note: This online-only article is part of a series showcasing past Banner editors. You can read all the content celebrating The Banner’s 160th anniversary here.Rev. John Yeury De Baun, a pastor of the True Reformed Dutch Church in America in New Jersey, published the first issue of The Banner of Tru

Reply All: September/October 2026
09/18/2026

To send letters to the editor, please see our guidelines at thebanner.org/letters.Books About GazaRegarding the reviews of two books of the Palestinian West Bank and Gaza (Daughters of Palestine, online): in 1972 through 2019, I worked as an archaeologist in and out of the West Bank, and since I was

Giving Ourselves Some Grace
09/18/2026

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’m the kind

Because of a Bee
09/18/2026

In this marvelously formatted and illustrated picture book narrated with simple text for very young children, author Lola Schaefer and illustrator Frenci Sanna relate the intricate connectedness of God’s created world: “Because of a bee, / a strawberry. / Because of a strawberry, / a butterfly. / Be

In Honor of Dolly: Revisiting Steel Magnolias
09/18/2026

In memory of the beloved Dolly Parton, I watched a film full of timeless quotes, witty comebacks, sweet Southern hellos, and heartfelt goodbyes. Steel Magnolias, based on the play by Robert Harling, showed viewers how six Louisiana women navigate the ups and downs of life, family, friendship, mother

Where Wilted Flowers Bloom
09/18/2026

Sandra Brown has always felt secure in her marriage to her husband Aaron, in her role as a parent of two children, and in her prestigious career, which regularly boosts her self-esteem and affirms her gifts. And she loves living in New York City with her extended Colombian American family nearby, es

Synod 2026 Update: Teams Appointed for Studies, 10-year Plan Implementation
09/18/2026

Synod 2026, the annual general assembly of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, made several consequential decisions for the future of the CRCNA, including adopting a 10-year strategic plan for discipleship, church planting, and renewal. It also requested a study of Christian nationalism,