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. On the first
The annual fall youth conference in Classis Eastern Canada of the Christian Reformed Church brought together 131 guests this year – the largest number of teens since the retreat was started more than 20 years ago. Classis youth ministry team member Ron Hosmar sees the record attendance as evidence t
Dale Vander Veen, who served faithfully in ministry as a campus pastor, preacher, pianist, organist and writer, died Oct. 25. He was 80.After graduating from Calvin College (now University) and Seminary and ordination in 1969, Dale and his wife, Edith, joined the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (
Eric Sarwar, a Christian Reformed church planter in Artesia, Calif., is a global partner with Princeton (N.J.) Theological Seminary’s Overseas Mission Study Center’s 2023-24 Residential Study Program. A pastor, songwriter and author of Pakistani descent with a doctorate in Intercultural Studies from
In this unique blend of Advent musings on the nature of waiting, fascinating facts about animals and birds, and magnificent artwork depicting creatures in their winter habitats, author Gayle Boss and illustrator Sharon Spitz join forces to develop one theme pointing ahead to the birth of Jesus: “The
Reality, starring Sydney Sweeney as Reality Winner (yes, that’s her real name), debuted in May 2023 to little fanfare and limited advertising. That’s a shame because the 85-minute movie is a real-life reenactment that feels as if you’re watching a one-act play. It’s riveting. The mo
It’s 1946, and 22-year-old Genevieve Ryder finds herself in a precarious situation, carrying the baby of a man who is engaged to someone else. Her mother, Antoinette, is controlling, blunt and judgemental, not at all the source of support and care Gen needs at such a vulnerable time. Other family me
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For Patrick Mayberry fans, the wait has ended. After three EP releases, the singer, songwriter and worship leader offers his first full-length project titled “Wild Faith.” “Anyone who has put their faith in Jesus is a son or daughter of the God of the Universe, who intimately knows them and cares ab
Illustrator Jill Howarth’s cheerful artwork and authors Leslie Calhoun, Bunmi Ishola and Jamie Lapeyrolerie’s celebrative resources for Advent were created with the uniqueness of families in mind. They explain, “Since all families are different, you’ll find multiple options for customizing your fami
Elizabeth is a 40-year-old woman currently going through a divorce after her husband left her for another woman. Elizabeth has been married for 15 years. She has been actively involved in her church community. Elizabeth is feeling depressed and guilty for not being able to make her marriage work. Sh
Not unless you are using the wrong ones!Each generation, it seems, has a preferred way of communicating. Researchers call people born between 1928 and 1945 the Silent Generation because they have traditionally limited their communication. But Boomers (born between 1946 and 1964) are more inclined to
With recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studies estimating that 17 percent of children ages 3-17 in the United States have at least one developmental disability, the importance of churches focusing more of their attention and resources on disability ministry is evident. In response to
After twenty years of parish ministry in three Canadian provinces, Arie Van Eek became the first executive secretary of the Council of Christian Reformed Churches in Canada (CCRCC), a position he held for the next twenty years. Arie’s ministry has been described as broad, courageous, persistent and
In the heart of Alberta Avenue, described as a mature, inner-city neighborhood in Edmonton, Alta., the worshiping communities of Avenue Christian Reformed Church, St. Faith’s and St. Mary’s Anglican churches and an Indigenous spiritual community called Standing Stones, come together in a shared mini
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 watched th
I eagerly anticipated Killers of the Flower Moon, especially knowing that director Martin Scorsese collaborated with Six Nations Lifetime Achievement Award winner Robbie Robertson. Robertson was also the leader of The Band, instrumental in the establishment of the Americana genre of music. Then Robe
Betsy Painter, creative writer and conservation biologist, loves God’s good creation and is acutely aware of the problems plaguing God’s world. However, she’s convinced that Christians, her family in the faith, have “the reason, the hope, and the resources to make a difference.” Painter formats her
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The Libyan Diversion (the fifth book in Joel C. Rosenberg’s Marcus Ryker series) can hold its own against any of the late Vince Flynn’s novels, with all the cloaks, daggers and clandestine White House meetings that fans of political espionage crave. But Rosenberg doesn’t use sex and shocking languag