News

With votes in their congregations last fall, 43 congregations that had been part of the Reformed Church in America were released from their denominational classes (regional groups of churches) as of Dec. 31, 2021. They are now part of the Alliance of Reformed Churches.

Metha Alberda, a member of West End Christian Reformed Church in Edmonton, Alta., volunteers her time to create and provide handmade, infant-sized dresses to families who experience the death of a baby.

The Clothing Closet, a community ministry of New Life Christian Reformed Church in Guelph, Ont., got a boost in donated goods this fall thanks to two community efforts.</p>

Sumas (Wash.) Christian Reformed Church faced major clean-up and restoration after flooding. With help from its classis, the church is sharing resources to support the broader community.

Scholar, missionary, translator, and one who testified to the good news of God’s grace throughout his 90 years, Gene Rubingh died Dec. 20, 2021.

College at Southeastern, the undergraduate school of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, conferred degrees Dec. 15 to 24 inmates who were educated behind bars. It’s a growing American trend.

Cheryl Bostrom, an author and member of Sonlight Church, a Christian Reformed congregation in Lynden, Wash., published Sugar Birds in 2021. Christianity Today magazine named it among “the books most likely to shape evangelical life, thought, and culture” for 2022.

Among the news stories, features, and columns most read on thebanner.org in 2021 are perspectives on vaccines, politics, race, and the CRC’s human sexuality report.

The Sheboygan Christian–Sheboygan Lutheran high school boys soccer team won the 2021 Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association Division IV state championship in November.

Crosstowne Church, an emerging Christian Reformed congregation in Milton, Ont., welcomed children and families to explore crafts and traditions from around the world in a series of drop-in programs each Sunday in Advent.

Long Beach (Calif.) Christian Reformed Church and four neighboring congregations of other denominations stage a yearly “living portrait” Nativity pageant that welcomes more than 1,000 guests each night.

Songwriter and storyteller Mark Lowry co-wrote “Mary Did You Know?” in 1991. He says the song's success is a miracle.

With help from a grant from its classis, Cascade Fellowship in Grand Rapids, Mich., arranged a gospel-focused light display this December.

Two or three times each year, Christian Reformed churches send representatives to their classis, a regional group of churches. In this latest report, classes welcomed candidates into ministry, approved commissioned pastors, sent communications to synod, and more.

After a succession planning workshop in October, directors of the Canada Corporation of the Christian Reformed Church in North America have decided to hire a transitional executive director to serve CRC ministry in Canada.

Headquartered in southern states, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief  and Samaritan's Purse teams were prepared to respond to loss and destruction from Dec. 10 tornadoes.

Mary and Mel Elgersma, members of Oostburg Christian Reformed Church in Sheboygan, Wisc., care for aviaries inside of local nursing homes, keeping the birds healthy and cheering the residents.

Christian high schools in Grand Rapids, Byron Center, and Wyoming, Mich., took the state titles in three different divisions in boys soccer Nov. 6.

Activist and abuse survivor Rachael Denhollander will receive the prize and deliver a lecture at a Dec. 15 event hosted by Calvin University and Calvin Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, Mich.

Sharing food, in increasingly creative ways, is a common faith practice.

Stepping in to host the province-wide tournament just six weeks ahead of its convening, Smithville (Ont.) Christian High School also earned the gold medal—undefeated in all their tournament matches.

The U.S. Supreme Court began hearing arguments this week in a case that some predict could change the course of abortion law in the United States. Reporter Adelle M. Banks reviewed religious news reporting from the 1960s and ’70s, ahead of the Roe v. Wade case that put the law where it is now.

A man of prayer and an inspiration to many, Harvey Ouwinga welcomed each day as a gift and tried to reflect God’s love in every moment. He died Oct. 13.