This charming picture book celebrating God’s good gift of children (and other creatures) was first published in 2000 and has sold more than 2 million copies. Now, it has been released in a deluxe format, which includes blank pages on which parents and children can add notes about the newest member o
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.The first tim
Note: The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This interview by Adelle M. Banks was published on Aug. 21, 2026, on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style.(RNS) — A decade after her farewell tour, multi-Grammy-winning Christian singer
The annual denominational survey asks respondents to select from 28 phrases in response to the prompt “To me, the term ‘Christian Reformed’ means … .”In 2026, 13 phrases were selected by at least 30% of respondents.Those top terms, with the ones chosen by the highest percentage of respondents most p
Editor’s note: This essay came in second place by blind judging for the 2026 Young Adults Writing Contest on the topic of “Sustaining Faith.”Has there been a time in your life when your faith was tested, when your heart was left broken, and the suffering seemed pointless? Many of us have been there
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.About a year
Mother-daughter team Jean Stoffer and Grace Start, hosts of their TV show The Established House, join forces with illustrator Megan Lindsey in this tender children’s picture book, which develops the theme of Proverbs 16:9: “A man’s heart plans his way, but the LORD directs his step” (NKJV).In introd
From the first drum beats of Bronze Age percussion in Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey, moviegoers know they have entered an ancient and otherworldly dimension. The score, by Ludwig Göransson, feels different than any other score; its instruments are replicas of those depicted in Greek and Roman art.
Author Matthew Erickson, senior pastor of Eastbrook Church in Milwaukee, Minn., asserts that a fresh metaphor for pastoral ministry is needed in North America today in a time when pastors continue to grapple with the confusion and after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and other recent global events
In Munster, Ind., and St. Catharines, Ont., Christian Reformed congregations host chainsaw sharpening and a community BBQ in support of neighbors affected by August storms and flooding.“Maybe this is where the church shines the brightest,” suggested pastor Jim Hollendoner of Munster (Ind.) Church in
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
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
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
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 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
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
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
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
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
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