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
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
A unique 49-panel mural hangs on the west wall of the fellowship hall in Dresden (Ont.) Christian Reformed Church, still representing the themes of worship and community 25 years after it was created.Made by a collective of artists—both skilled and untrained—in 2001, “the goal was to create a single
Katie Day Good, associate professor of communication at Calvin University, is delivering a lecture at Redeemer University’s Albert M. Wolters Centre for Christian Scholarship for the university’s ongoing The World and Our Calling series next month (Feb. 2). Redeemer announced Good as the 2025 Emergi
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Yonat Shimron, was published on religionnews.com on Nov. 14, 2025 with the title “A monument to answered prayer begins to rise in a secularizing England.” It has been edited for length and Banner style.COLE
Willemina Zwart's ministry with the South Coast Beach Project in Port Dover, Ont., gathers six to seven young adults for four months of communal living and mentorship each summer, but that's not stopping her from exploring the recreation opportunities of Lake Erie in the winter. She's signed up for
“I was at the Multiply Conference, and I cannot remember the last time when I was as energized over the future of the Christian Reformed Church as I am right now.”“It was so exciting to be a part of this event. To be at the beginning of what could be one of the most significant 10-year journeys for
Judy Kupsik, part of the leadership team at Faith Church Highland (Ind.), a multi-site Christian Reformed congregation in five Indiana cities, had an experience while ministering with Hope Mobility in Kijabe, Kenya, that bubbles out of her in the retelling to her church family and in a video testimo
The Banner has a subscription to republish articles from Religion News Service. This story by Michele Chabin, was published Dec. 16, 2025 on religionnews.com.JERUSALEM (RNS)—In 2023 and 2024, David Ha’ivri, an Israeli tour guide, didn’t offer his popular English-language Hanukkah or Christmas tours.
The Christian Reformed Church in North America is pursuing “a vision, plan, strategy, and financial proposal for church planting for the CRCNA for the next decade,” as requested by Synod 2025 (Agenda and Acts of Synod 2025, p. 709). Here’s a snapshot of where we are now.Church plants by region compa
Born in Korea on Dec. 11, 1932, Rev. James Jungkyu Park embarked on a remarkable life journey, spreading love, hope, and inspiration of Jesus Christ worldwide. He died Oct. 29, 2025, just short of 93 years.Rev. Park’s studies included law at Central University in Seoul, Korea, and theological studie
Bill Van Dyk, who served the Christian Reformed Church as a pastor and administrator for over 40 years, has been described as a cherished pastor, an excellent preacher, and an academic highly respected by his peers at Calvin Theological Seminary. Bill, 95, died Nov. 15.He felt God’s call to pastoral
At its meeting Oct. 21-23, the board of directors for the Alliance of Reformed Churches, a network of formerly Reformed Church in America congregations, voted to recognize church in communion status with the Christian Reformed Church in North America. That designation is the closest form of ecumenic
Harrison (S.D.) Community Church lives into its name. The congregation has built community between what had been one Christian Reformed congregation and Harrison Reformed Church, originally a Reformed Church in America congregation, over the past 60 years—first sharing special services like Ascensio