The Banner

James Douma, a former rodeo rider and member of Discovery Christian Reformed Church in Bowmanville, Ont., has been building a part-time rodeo outreach ministry, encouraged by his pastor and supported by his church.

Was Jesus’ death on the cross a form of divine child abuse?

“Depression stole my life in every way imaginable,” said Leenza Thompson, a student at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont. “[I felt] completely empty at some points, like I was just a shell of a human. . . . I really felt like I was a waste of space on earth. I felt that no one could ever love me.”

In the heart of the newly renovated Christian Reformed Church in North America offices in Burlington, Ont. a quilt hangs prominently. It includes blocks from 65 different Christian Reformed people from across North America.

This delightful picture book by Sally Lloyd-Jones, well known for the Jesus Story Book Bible, touches on themes of inclusivity and friendship.   

A wide-ranging assortment of men and women—some Protestant ministers, two Catholic priests, a nun, a lawyer, and others, tell stories of Christian activists. 

This gut-wrenching film asks sobering questions. The world is teeming with hurting children; what does the future hold for them? And what will we do about it?

Since 1988 Camp Dunamis, a ministry of several Southern California Christian Reformed churches, has been bringing children together to celebrate differences and grow in Christ.

It is dawn. A lone figure is bending over a charcoal fire on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. He looks up, scanning the horizon. When he catches sight of a boat heading for shore, he recognizes it as his disciples’ boat.

If we believe that God has already inaugurated his reign and rule, then the primary way to unlock the power of the Holy Spirit is through our believing actions. 

Our denomination has an opportunity to better protect the vulnerable among us. As a follow-up to Overture 2 at Synod 2018, a report on addressing the abuse of power in the CRCNA is coming to Synod 2019.

With the occasional nod to Middle Eastern sounds, this instrumental album gently brings listeners to the caves of Cappadocia where early Christians fled from persecution.

In this timely juvenile novel, author Jacqueline Woodson relates the stories of six students in a Brooklyn, N.Y., grade 5-6 classroom who know they aren’t like other kids.

Redeemer University College in Ancaster, Ont., has begun or announced several new initiatives, including a 42 percent drop in the cost of tuition.

Bev Sterk, a member of Second CRC in Lynden, Wash., has had opportunities to encourage the Christian Reformed Church to continue addressing abuse since bringing it to the fore at last year’s annual general assembly of the denomination. 

확실히 우리 교단의 정체성은 정통 기독교 전통 안에 있습니다. 

우리 교단으로서는 우리 중 연약한 자들을 더 잘 보호할 수 있는 기회를 얻었습니다. 2018년 총회에 올린 2번 헌의안에 대한 대답으로서 북미주 개혁교회의 권력남용을 다룬 보고서가 2019년 총회에 발표될 것입니다.

Every week, Victor (not his real name) tunes in to one of his favorite television programs from his home in Chile. One day, the message felt a little too close to home. “I was tempted to change the channel,” recalled Victor. “But I decided to keep listening.”

A brief rundown of things to watch for.

In the March 1 episode of conservative podcast The Bulwark, “Alienated America,” host Charlie Sykes converses with Tim Carney, author of a book also called Alienated America. Carney set out to understand why people in certain rural areas of the U.S. feel less alienated than others in similar situations. 

In this tender, meaningful picture book set in a loving church community, the late Patricia McKissack celebrates generosity and kindness.

This month Sam Huizenga replaced Gary Bekker as director of Raise Up Global Ministries, the Christian Reformed Church’s unit of training programs working to raise up Christian leaders.