News

Marinus Harberts, who had ministered for 35 years with the Navajo people in New Mexico, died on March 19.

Teacher Nicky DeBoer lives in Byron Center, Mich.; the band is located in Sunnyside, Wash. The high school’s principal, looking for qualified teachers dedicated to Christ-centered learning, didn’t see that as a barrier.

In Fruitport, Mich., when a school system sought adult mentors to encourage struggling students, the local Christian Reformed congregation joined three other churches to make a difference.

A hospital chaplain described as thoughtful and a man without pretense, Steven Van Heest passed away on March 10. He was 66.

Allen Bultman was a humble, hardworking, and compassionate pastor who served Christian Reformed congregations since 1959. He passed away on March 8 at the age of 89.

World War II veteran, military policeman, minister, chaplain, pastoral counselor, and missionary Ben Ypma lived a full and joyful life. He died on March 7, a month after his hundredth birthday.

The Banner has received Awards of Merit for a denominational magazine in both digital and print categories, and seven higher goals awards in design, individual articles, blogs, and poetry published in 2018.

For the third year, groups in Medicine Hat, Alta., concerned for the state of the family, held an annual conference. Medicine Hat Christian Reformed Church was the 2019 host.

The Indigenous Family Centre in Winnipeg, Man., an urban aboriginal ministry operated by the Christian Reformed Church, had some help repurposing rooms this winter, creating space to promote healing and spiritual growth.

A state championship in boys basketball in March makes three sports in which Unity Christian High School in Hudsonville, Mich., has won the state title this academic year.

The National Trust for Canada, a nonprofit group dedicated to preserving historic buildings, has stats and stories on how disused churches are being repurposed and saved from the wrecking ball

World Renew, a participant in Canada’s Private Sponsorship of Refugees Program since the beginning, estimates that it has welcomed and resettled 7,500 refugees since 1979.

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.

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.

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

Mixed Media, the culture commentary and review section of the official magazine of the Christian Reformed Church has a new...

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. 

Ordained in 1954 and with a nearly 40-year career with the Christian Reformed Church, Earl Dykema passed away on March 1. He was 90 years old. 

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.

A community garden at New Era (Mich.) Christian Reformed Church and its associated farmers’ market is making fresh veggies affordable for seniors and connecting neighbors.

Five Christian Reformed congregations in Grand Rapids, Mich., are hosting a series of workshops to help people learn how to reduce carbon emissions in their everyday lives.

Roger Van Harn, an ordained pastor of the Christian Reformed Church for 42 years, died on Feb. 9. He was 86.