Rev. Henry J. Kuiper, 1928-1956

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.One hardly knows where to start in writing about Rev. Henry J. Kuiper. He was the longest-serving editor of The Banner, leading in that role

Stop Exchanging the Glory of God for Images on a Sanctuary Screen

Stop Exchanging the Glory of God for Images on a Sanctuary Screen

When one of my college students was in elementary school, he enjoyed watching hour-long videos. But now watching something that long is stressful, and he can no longer pay attention in class. The cause, he said, is TikTok, a social media platform that delivers an “infinite stream” of short videos.My

Life After Cancer

Life After Cancer

Just over two years ago I emerged from surgery to remove a tumor from my cerebellum. Scans had suggested that the tumor was contained, relatively easy to remove, and probably not malignant. I’d likely be back to regular life in a month, maybe two at the outside.But the tumor was closer to the brains

First Vancouver CRC: Centennial Year of Discernment, Commemoration

First Vancouver CRC: Centennial Year of Discernment, Commemoration

A white, steepled church stands as a landmark on Victoria Drive in Vancouver’s Eastside. It is home to the First Christian Reformed Church of Vancouver. The congregation marked its Centennial year with a celebration service on Oct. 18. One hundred years earlier, on Oct. 21, 1926, a small group of po

Clamless Clam Chowder

Clamless Clam Chowder

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.Darkness is c

Behind Five Willows

Behind Five Willows

Set in Korea in 1792, this young adult novel melds historical events, romance, cultural critique, and engaging characters in an emotionally charged narrative.In an author’s note, June Hur points out the two decrees that shaped the period in which the book is set. The first was the marriage edict by

Preaching Disability: A Resource for Pastors

Preaching Disability: A Resource for Pastors

Author and longtime chaplain Bill Gaventa is a notable influencer when talking about disabilities because he has spent so much of his working life serving with and among people with disabilities.In this book, Gaventa wants to help people and communities as they come together to worship, learn, and s

Homecoming

Homecoming

For her latest release, a six-song EP called Homecoming, Sandra McCracken prepared by going to Oxford, England, for four months to reflect on the subject of heaven and to have conversations with theologian and Anglican bishop N.T. Wright as he was finishing work on his book, God’s Homecoming.The res

Refreshed Mandates Approved for Canadian Justice Ministries

Refreshed Mandates Approved for Canadian Justice Ministries

The directors of the Canadian Ministry Board, the operational governance board for ministry among the Christian Reformed churches in Canada, adopted refreshed mandates for Indigenous Ministry, Intercultural Ministry, and the Centre for Public Dialogue at their October meeting. The changes, worked ou

Boards Approve Investigating Corporate Restructure for ReFrame

Boards Approve Investigating Corporate Restructure for ReFrame

ReFrame Ministries, the 87-year-old media ministry of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, is an agency of the denomination “subject to the authority of synod” (ReFrame -US Corporate Bylaws) and regulated by the “denomination’s Church Order, its Rules of Synodical Procedure and the mandat

Director’s Desk: Meet Jul Medenblik

Director’s Desk: Meet Jul Medenblik

In what ways does Calvin Theological Seminary equip local CRC people and churches to do Kingdom work?Our mission to serve the church is what Calvin Seminary was founded on 151 years ago, and it has been our focus ever since. At our core from the beginning, we form leaders for the church and provide

New Documentary Looks at the Changing Face of Christian Churchgoing

New Documentary Looks at the Changing Face of Christian Churchgoing

Note: The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This interview by Yonat Shimron was published on Oct. 1, 2026, on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style.(RNS) — A 120-year-old United Methodist Church in rural Michigan shutters. A tradit

Artificial Intelligence: The Church Responds

Artificial Intelligence: The Church Responds

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.Stepping thro

What Does God’s ‘Impassibility’ Mean?

What Does God’s ‘Impassibility’ Mean?

Does God have feelings? What does his ‘impassibility’ mean?“Impassibility” can, on first blush, be a bit of a strange, scary, or even off-putting word, especially ascribed to God! It might make us imagine God as distant, uncaring, even apathetic.Thankfully, a description of God as impassible is in n

Over in the Meadow

“Over in the meadow, in the sand, in the sun … .” Have you ever heard that children's song? Maybe you have sung it yourself!But what exactly is a meadow? A meadow is a wide-open habitat that plays an important role for ecosystems and wildlife, and meadows are found on every continent on Earth. Anima

How to Save a Dolphin

How to Save a Dolphin

In Galveston, Texas, 12-year-old Dany is having a tough summer break. Her life seems boring and ordinary compared to the lives of her three siblings who excel at various endeavors. Besides, Dany is lonely and feels forgotten by her best friend Courtney, who moved to another city and immediately made

The Spiritual Significance of Birding

The Spiritual Significance of Birding

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.There is a lo