Author Jenn Suen Chen masterfully utilizes the metaphor of people gathering around a dim sum table in her gentle, engaging invitation to readers to awaken their hearts to God’s love and presence in their lives. Suen Chen envisions that, at the dim sum table, a steamed and baked meal of sweet and sav
Wake Up Dead Man, the third Knives Out mystery, plunges us into an interesting faith conversation: Shall you know them by their love—or by their power?The story’s protagonist, young Father Jud Duplenticy (Josh O’Connor), finds penance costly. A former boxer, he’s punched a deacon and is sent away to
While many Christian adults might be familiar with Joni Eareckson Tada’s story, young children and middle-grade readers might not be acquainted with it. A biography written for a middle-grade audience, A Paintbrush for Joni fills in the gap by narrating the story of Joni’s childhood experiences, the
Neil Vriend is remembered for his kind, thoughtful, gentle demeanor and his consistent hospitality. He was genuinely interested in others and was recognized by many as a bridge-builder between those with differing perspectives. In his ministry and life, Neil lived his calling to participate in makin
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Tony Onyulo, was published Jan. 14, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been lightly edited for Banner style.MAKURDI, Nigeria (RNS) — When gunfire echoed through villages near her home last month, Grace Tyohem
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Bob Smietana, was published Jan. 12, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been edited for length and Banner style.“Do what God has called you to do,” Nicole Martin quotes her great-grandmother, Estelle Cartledg
Walk As We is a small but growing urban, ecumenical, Indigenous ministry in Calgary, Alta., that is rooted in friendship, humility, and a shared journey toward reconciliation. While not one of the three official Urban Indigenous Ministry Centers supported by the Christian Reformed Church (in Winnipe
Weekly on “Banner day,” my grandma Byker sat by the window watching for the mail. Besides the Lyon County Reporter, The Banner was about her only outside news.Today, I get The Banner instantly, along with many competing publications. The only windows involved are the Microsoft kind.Yet Grandma and I
Even if you have been barely listening to decisions made in the Christian Reformed Church over the past several years, you have heard the term “confessional church” tossed around. You might have quietly wondered what exactly this means. What does it mean to be “confessional”? What are these document
It was a busy Saturday morning, and Safeway was packed with grocery shoppers. Like all the rest I prowled the aisles filling my cart and checking things off my list. After 45 minutes of hustling I had completed my list and headed to the checkout lanes. There was only one lane open, and there were a
When Baba wakes up his two sons early one morning, they are excited. Today is a special day because they will be accompanying Baba and Mama on a trek to their mountaintop tea garden to pick tea leaves. Usually Baba goes on his own, but today the journey will be a family affair.The boys’ loving paren
If you’ve ever wanted to peer deep inside Bruce Springsteen’s soul, his album Nebraska would be a good place to start. Nebraska is a stripped-down album written while Springsteen was struggling with his first huge dose of fame and also with the trauma of his childhood. The film Deliver Me From Nowhe
Set in the Appalachian Mountains, this whimsical, rhyming children’s picture book is rich with luminescent illustrations. It narrates the story of a mother and her three children who wait until dusk to prepare for their magical trip to the moon. Using the resources at hand—an old car, a discarded co
Tony Van Zanten was founder and a longtime leader of Roseland Christian Ministries, a comprehensive ministry caring for the needs of those living in the community of Roseland on Chicago's south side. Tony, 86, died Dec. 15.Tony was born on a farm in Rock Valley, Iowa. After high school he studied fo
Joel Nederhood was a humble, faithful servant of the Lord who proclaimed the gospel for over 30 years through the Christian Reformed Church’s radio and television ministry, The Back to God Hour (now ReFrame Ministries). In a recent post, ReFrame described Nederhood as “the media voice of the CRC.” H
Pastor, evangelist, and church planter Stephen Jung was an easygoing man of quiet confidence whose kindness was evident in his care for many immigrants and newcomers. His son said one of his father’s lasting legacies was an attitude of gratitude. “My dad expressed thankfulness for the blessings that
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Bob Smietana, was published Jan. 7, 2026 on religionnews.com. It has been lightly edited for Banner style.Philip Yancey, a widely read evangelical author and speaker, will retire from public ministry after
A steering committee commissioned by Classis Quinte, a regional assembly of Christian Reformed congregations in Ontario, voted Dec. 4 to stop pursuing a Canada-wide conversation among churches. Saying, “There is insufficient evidence that classes across Canada share areas of mutual concern to substa
Have you ever equated the size or visibility of a church with “successful ministry”? You see the megachurch in town putting up billboards inviting people to Easter services, and you know they will have thousands in attendance. Or you hear about that new and innovative church plant that gets featured
Susan Meissner, a Christian who writes for the mainstream adult fiction market, adds another timely, compelling novel to her collection, which includes The Nature of Fragile Things, Only the Beautiful, and As Bright as Heaven.In an author's note, Meissner shares the process by which she discovered h