COVID-19

The Banner shares a glimpse of the experience of three women, in New York and in British Columbia, serving in essential health services through the pandemic.

Campus ministers serving universities through the COVID-19 pandemic have an opportunity to share hope in meaningful ways with a world asking a lot of questions.

The Canadian Council of Churches, the Canadian Interfaith Conversation, and the Canadian Multifaith Federation co-hosted a discussion Dec. 3, welcoming Justin Trudeau to talk about the value of faith communities in a time of pandemic.

Some Christian colleges and universities are reporting record enrollment this past term, despite delivering education in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Ontario and in British Columbia, Friendship Ministry groups—those designed to bring friendship to adults of varying abilities—have made special connections despite pandemic gathering restrictions.

Prompted by COVID-19 to worship outdoors or online, churches are seeing God move in new spaces. A pastor in New York City and in Grimsby, Ont., shared experiences with The Banner.

The Gathering Place, a community outreach founded by three Thunder Bay, Ont., Christian Reformed congregations 35 years ago, continues to serve the community, with some adaptations to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

On Thanksgiving, the Elgersma family from Community Church of Richmond Hill, Ont., helped to make a longstanding community dinner tradition ‘to-go’ for 2020. The outreach will now continue as a monthly meal-making event.

Global Coffee Break, a small group Bible study ministry, turned 50 in 2020 but the coronavirus pandemic put the celebration of that milestone on hold.

As educators face unexpected challenges in the COVID-19 pandemic, members of River Rock Community Church in Rockford, Mich., are ‘adopting’ teachers at two nearby elementary schools to offer monthly encouragement.

Hope Community Church in Riverside, Calif., has been hosting parking lot worship services, with the help of an FM transmitter, in order to stay connected in person while maintaining a healthy distance.

Like a scratched record album, her life is stuck on “repeat” and can only move forward when the needle is bumped, and we remind her of the events of the past.

Bethel CRC and Wolf Creek Community Church, two Christian Reformed congregations in Lacombe, Alta., hosted a one-day immersive Bible story experience to replace their usual Vacation Bible School during the COVID-19 pandemic.

When the Grand Rapids Public Schools opened with only online learning for the first nine weeks of this academic year, First Christian Reformed Church in Grand Rapids, Mich., decided to support students in their community with an in-person daily homework club.

Things were a little different this year.

While closed church buildings affected the typical distribution of print material in this COVID-19 time, one northern B.C. pastor had a solution. As an avid cyclist, Joel Ringma decided to deliver the magazines himself.

Knowing that worship leaders and churches would be scrambling to meet the needs of their congregants, the group tabled its agenda and began to create resources.

Instead of singing to fans on European stages this spring and summer, singer Ann Vriend in Edmonton, Alta., is building community from her front-porch stage every Sunday afternoon.

Following Jesus during the time of COVID is discombobulating. 

Our current moment in history has laid bare my insecurities, deficiencies, and anxieties of being a pastor.

Members of the Neland Stitchers group at Neland Avenue Christian Reformed Church, in Grand Rapids, Mich., are sewing and sharing face masks for use during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Surveying pastors in the United States in April and July, LifeWay Research found an increase in the reporting of disagreement and conflict as high pressure points in ministry.