The Office of General Secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America announced Lora Copley as the newly appointed interim editor of The Banner on Nov. 18. The publication has been without an editor-in-chief since Shiao Chong resigned the position in June.Copley, currently a campus pasto
An overwhelming sense of responsibility, accompanied by an equal amount of humility and a desire for anonymity, is what you get when asking Jan and Jim Jonker about their time as Today daily devotional delivery drivers for the past two decades.Their story is rooted in family legacy. Jim's father, Je
University of Connecticut men’s basketball coach Dan Hurley probably holds the title of the most disliked coach in the sport despite his winning ways on the court. Hurley cannot seem to help himself. He frequently crosses the line, arguing with officials, players, and even fans from other programs.
The books we read, the stories we listen to, the worlds we spend time inhabiting—these are the things that make us. Proverbs 18:15 tells us, “The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge, for the ears of the wise seek it out.” Poet Ralph Waldo Emerson is quoted as saying, “I cannot remember the bo
Too often, sin is reduced to a list of wrong actions—lying, cheating, stealing. But Scripture shows us that sin is far more than bad behavior. At its root, sin is a broken relationship: with God, with one another, and even with creation. It’s not just about doing wrong; it’s about turning away from
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 Banner h
The World Communion of Reformed Churches met Oct. 14-23 for its General Council in Chiang Mai, Thailand, a gathering that convenes about every seven years. Zachary King, general secretary of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, and Elly Boersma Sarkany, a commissioned pastor and member of
The group called Toward CRC Canada, a movement formed in 2023 to promote an independent Canadian Christian Reformed Church distinct from the binational denomination it grew up in, is still working to develop “a new way of being Canadian churches together.” About 150 people met under that umbrella fo
In this second book in the Big Adventures for Growing Minds series—the first is God's Little Astronomer—author Tina Cho invites children to join a young oceanographer as he climbs into a submarine and takes a trip down, down, down beneath the waves to explore the wonders God made.Cho interweaves sci
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry is a tender love story that older adults will appreciate, reminiscent of Richard Farnsworth in The Straight Story.When British retiree Harold Fry learns that Queenie, a past friend, is dying, he begins a very unexpected journey—on foot.“Tell her,” he says into t
When a young First Nations child named James wakes up in the middle of the night, he can’t get back to sleep as he recalls his science class and wonders about the way the earth spins and gravity functions. He gets out of bed, pulls aside the curtains, and moonlight floods his room, creating an illum
Retired Christian Reformed pastor and one-time home missionary serving two Chinese churches in California, Peter S. Yang now lives with his wife, Li Ui Yang, in San Bruno, Calif. This summer as he attended 60th anniversary celebrations for Golden Gate Christian Reformed Church in San Francisco, The
Mike Liang came to Calvin with a clear goal: to prepare to become a doctor.One year in, his goal hasn’t changed, but he says Calvin’s liberal arts education is giving him a broader perspective with direct value-adding benefits to his career path.“Calvin’s approach to education is preparing me well.
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.After World W
Author Ian Morgan Cron (The Road Back to You) turns his attention from the Enneagram to the 12 Steps in this book that manages to be both entertaining and sobering, fun and deadly serious.Lest readers think the 12 Steps are not for them, they are: “We’re all addicts. It’s what human beings do with t
When prayers are not answered the way we want, how do I help my child understand?Children sometimes can think of prayer as a way to present God with a list of things they’d like God to do. This makes sense because, in Philippians 4:6 we read, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation
Fall has me thinking of birthdays. Mine and my two siblings’ are within a month of each other in October and November. Last year, a significant round number for me, had me wanting to spend it with them—a rare treat since we live four Canadian provinces apart. This November, as I take my turn for a g
To send letters to the editor, please see our guidelines at thebanner.org/letters.Maddi’s BraceletI enjoyed reading Andrew de Gelder's column about the bracelet he wears to remind him of a spiritual insight (“Maddi’s Bracelet,” June 2025). Many years ago, I picked up a small stuffed rooster at a cra
The board of trustees at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Ill., announced Nov. 4 that the school will close at the end of this academic school year. The final convocation for the 66-year-old school will be May 8, 2026.Board chair Ken Dryfhout and acting university president Jeanine Mozie,
As regional groups of churches, or “classes” as we call them in the Christian Reformed Church, gathered for meetings this fall, there were heavy and celebratory things to note.This report records actions—including the welcoming of new ministers, separations of pastors and congregations, departures o