Christian Reformed Church

Every child longs to know they are seen, valued, and loved. For children navigating foster care, family separation, or other difficult circumstances, the message of belonging can be especially powerful. Through Scripture and caring relationships, children are discovering the hope found in knowing God as their loving protector and shepherd. Rev. Emily Vanden Heuvel of ReFrame Ministries, the CRCNA’s media outreach ministry, reflects on how her service as a chaplain shaped her understanding of God’s faithfulness and care for children experiencing trauma and uncertainty: “Before I started working at ReFrame Ministries, I served as a chaplain at a residential facility for kids. Many of the children were wards of the state, meaning that they were in government care because—for one...

Reggie Smith, an African American from the West Side of Chicago, came to Grand Rapids, Mich., in the early 1990s to become the pastor of Roosevelt Park Christian Reformed Church, a congregation with a rich, generations-long Dutch-American heritage on the southwest side of town. We learn about this experience from his fascinating new book, Roosevelt Park Rising . When Smith arrived in West Michigan, the book recalls, there were some who looked askance as they first set eyes on him. He was a young man with a baseball cap on his head, a hiphop-like cadence in his voice, and a deft, if somewhat tentative, urban manner about his walk. But naysayers soon turned into supporters when it became clear that...

In a major move welcomed by many faith communities and medical professionals across Canada, a parliamentary committee has officially recommended an indefinite pause on expanding Canada’s Medical Assistance in Dying (MAID) laws to include individuals suffering solely from mental illnesses. The recommendation from the Special Joint Committee on Medical Assistance in Dying, detailed in a comprehensive 88-page report released on June 17, 2026, suggests that Canada is not ready for this expansion, citing widespread concerns over safeguards and medical uncertainty. This development has turned what many feared would be a stressful countdown into a moment of profound gratitude for those who have been praying and advocating for protection. Under current federal law, individuals whose sole underlying medical condition is a...

This summer, Calvin University’s January Series is reaching back into its archives to bring some memorable voices from years past to today’s audiences. The January Series in July offers rebroadcasts of selected presentations from the university’s long-running January Series. On July 15, the series featured Dr. John M. Perkins’s 2014 presentation, “Love Is the Final Fight: The Life and Legacy of John M. Perkins.” The rebroadcast came just months after Perkins, a pastor, author, civil-rights leader, and longtime advocate for Christian community development and racial reconciliation, died on March 13, 2026, at the age of 95. For Perkins, the work of justice and reconciliation became inseparable from his Christian faith. From Mississippi Poverty to Christian Faith Born in 1930 in...

The profound power of a simple invitation is something both Affie Duifhuis and Anneke Wikkerink know well. Affie and Anneke have been friends and Global Coffee Break leaders in British Columbia for decades, and their group has been meeting for 41 years. Affie says word of mouth and simply asking women to join keeps their group thriving, with over 40 participants at present. Sometimes an invitation changes a life, as it did for Annette, they said. When Annette joined Duncan (B.C.) CRC, it wasn’t long before Affie and Anneke invited her to join their Global Coffee Break (GCB) group. GCB is Resonate Global Mission’s small-group Bible study program, originally developed in the Christian Reformed Church and using Discover Your Bible...

For decades, Resonate Global Mission missionaries Abe and Elaine Lee have seen God transform lives through the “God’s Image” seminars they have led throughout Mexico and South America. Now they’re requesting prayers as they partner with church planter Pablo Lee to bring the seminars to a church plant in Hudsonville, Michigan. Iglesia Todas Las Naciones (All Nations Church) in Hudsonville is hosting a “God’s Image” seminar July 17-18 for members of the congregation and the surrounding Latino population. Through biblical teaching, guided reflection, small-group discussion, and prayer, participants explore God’s design for identity, relationships, and healing. “This seminar is a very good tool for Latin American Christians,” said Pablo, who experienced the impact of the ministry firsthand when he attended...

When the eight-month Hearts Exchanged learning journey comes to an end, a common, weighty question often arises for participants: What’s next? Reconciliation is a lifelong posture. Recognizing this, the Hearts Exchanged team is offering continued support to churches through Communities of Practice (CoPs) in partnership with Thriving Practices through Thrive and their grant from Lilly Endowment, Inc. These groups are designed to extend the learning journey by an additional one to two years, providing coaching, peer connection, and grant funding to help local congregations turn head-knowledge into long-term, transformative action, equipping them to build meaningful relationships with Indigenous neighbors. Liz Tolkamp, a regional connector for Thrive, will be a participant in a British Columbia-based CoP starting this summer. Looking at...

After a four-day, three-state 50th-anniversary tour, members of the gospel group The Singing Hims filed off the tour bus late in the day at Faith Community Christian Reformed Church in Wyoming, Mich. They were tired but pleased to have performed time-honored praise music to audiences in Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin as a way to celebrate five decades of singing their hearts out for God. While several chorus members have been part of the group for many years, two trace their participation to its beginning. One of them is Jack Ponstine, the group’s founder and director. He, in fact, organized the tour as a way to mark the span in which The Singing Hims have been performing in predominantly CRC congregations...

This article originally appeared on Calvin News , the news page of Calvin University. Scoring the golden goal in the final might seem like the pinnacle moment for an athlete competing at this year’s World Cup. But Matthew Torrell is using the airwaves on the world’s biggest stage to convince millions of viewers otherwise. Torrell, a senior studying sport management and business at Calvin University, and his friend and business partner Owen Moore produced a 60-second commercial with the goal of sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ with many nations. The project wasn’t planned out … at least for long. But the way it came together over the past three months seems providential. “I didn’t know how to produce a...

When Resonate Global Mission missionary Joshua* first noticed Jacob’s* Facebook post 10 years ago, he saw a 14-year-old boy in Detroit standing alone. Jacob was posting about his belief in God, and the comments from his peers were brutal. They mocked him, calling his faith “hilarious.” Growing up in a household that struggled with addiction and instability, Jacob was a lone spark trying to remain lit in a dark environment. Joshua felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit. He messaged Jacob with a word of encouragement: “I admire your faith. If no one else wants to talk about it with you, I will.” For the past 10 years, Joshua has walked alongside Jacob through Bible studies, both online and in...

Synod 2026 was an impactful experience—not only for the denomination and its churches but also for the delegates who dedicated their time and energy to further the mission of the Christian Reformed Church in North America. Joseph Kim, an elder who chairs the council of Vision Church in Las Vegas, Nev., shares his insights and reflections on his experience as a delegate at Synod 2026: I have lived within the Reformed faith all my life, but this was my very first time directly interacting with the Dutch Reformed tradition. Attending Synod 2026 on the Calvin University campus as an elder delegate representing Classis Hanmi, I experienced what was for me the most powerful among countless church gatherings I have attended...

Resonate Global Mission has led several Witness Trips with groups from Canada and the United States to experience God at work in various places around the world. This past spring, ministry leaders flipped the script and welcomed a Salvadoran ministry team to the United States. A group from Semillas de Nueva Creación (“Seeds of New Creation”), a Resonate partner in El Salvador, received a warm welcome from churches and ministries in Sioux Falls, S.D. Resonate leaders have designed Witness Trips to give believers an opportunity to experience God at work in a country, culture, or context different from their own. While service projects can be a key part of Witness Trips, these trips emphasize learning from ministry leaders as they...

Ashley Nwaokolo’s life was shaped by her experience studying abroad through Trinity Christian College’s Semester in Spain program. Years later, when she learned the college in Palos Heights, Ill., would permanently close at the end of the 2025-2026 academic year, she and her husband felt compelled to use their skills to preserve the memories and meaning the campus has provided for generations of students, graduates, staff, supporters, and others. “My dad’s college shut down in the 1990s, leaving him with no physical campus to ever go back to,” she said. “I couldn’t bear the thought of that same erasure happening here.” Ashley and her husband, Shalom Nwaokolo, are the founders of Egents, a virtual-experience company launched in 2020. Six years...

Two powerful earthquakes have struck central-northern Venezuela, leaving widespread devastation and significant humanitarian needs across the region. On June 24, 2026, earthquakes measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 impacted densely populated areas including La Guaira, Caracas, Miranda, Carabobo, and Yaracuy. La Guaira has been identified as the most severely affected area, with extensive destruction reported. At least 920 people have died and more than 3,360 people have been injured, with casualty figures expected to rise as search-and-rescue operations continue. Over 214 aftershocks have been recorded, further increasing fear and instability for affected families. Critical infrastructure has been significantly disrupted, including electricity and water systems, telecommunications, public transportation such as the Caracas Metro, and operations at Maiquetía International Airport. The Government of...

For the past several months, readers of The Network have been engaging with a thoughtful series by Bev Sterk examining women in leadership through the lens of Scripture. The series has sparked discussion, encouraged reflection, and invited readers to take a fresh look at familiar biblical passages. For Sterk, the project began as a desire to understand Scripture more fully and to consider how the church's interpretation of key texts affects the lives of people around the world. "My main reason [for this focus] at this point is that a growing number of women in the Middle East, especially Iran, have become Christians in the past five years," Sterk explained. "How the West views women in the church influences the...

This year nearly 200 delegates, denominational staff, and guests gathered at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich., for Synod 2026. Meeting from June 12-18, attendees came together to pray and discuss current matters facing the Christian Reformed Church in North America (CRCNA). During Synod 2026, many vital discussions took place. Key highlights included plans for church planting and renewal, the ratification of appointments for two new ministry directors and the editor of The Banner, and the celebration of 36 new candidates for the ministry of the Word. Delegates also addressed whether synod will continue to meet annually, examined the confessional alignment of Calvin University faculty, and discussed current partnerships with other denominations. The prominent themes of church planting and renewal...

When Adrian Jacobs first gathered a small group in 2007 for a "Strawberry Thanksgiving and Communion," about 40 people showed up. A second gathering the following year drew about 50 people. Then the initiative went quiet for over a decade while Jacobs served in Alberta and Manitoba. Returning to Ontario to work as the senior leader for Indigenous justice and reconciliation for the CRCNA in Canada, Jacobs has helped organize an annual gathering since 2024, and the June 2026 Strawberry Thanksgiving was a sold-out event. This year’s ecumenical event was led by Jacobs and supported by a planning team from Mennonite, Christian Reformed, United, and Lutheran churches and organizations. The event was held at Six Nations Polytechnic postsecondary school in...

Resonate Global Mission is celebrating the appointment of five new missionaries so far this year—whom the Christian Reformed Church in North America is sending to share the gospel, disciple believers, equip leaders, and strengthen the church around the world. "Seeing five new missionaries joining with Resonate in such a short period of time is a tremendous encouragement," said Resonate director Kevin DeRaaf. "These appointments reflect God's faithfulness, the denomination’s ongoing commitment to global mission, and the willingness of these individuals and their families to respond to God's call. We look forward to seeing how God will work through them as they serve alongside local ministry partners around the world." Several of these new missionaries have previously served with Resonate as...

Synod 2026 opened with a convening session online May 27 at 7 p.m. (EDT). The in-person gathering of synod will start this Friday, June 12, at 8:15 a.m. in the Calvin Chapel on the campus of Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Mich. All are welcome to attend or watch the proceedings online. The agenda for this year’s synod includes three task force reports, Resonate’s 10-year church planting plan, numerous ministry and other reports, 36 overtures, and two communications from classes, councils, and individuals ( Agenda for Synod 2026; Agenda Supplement). To help clarify the topics to be discussed at this year’s synod, a guide has been provided, in accordance with a recommendation by the Synod Review Task Force in 2019...

This year at Synod 2026, delegates will consider two significant ministry plans: a church renewal plan from Thrive and a church planting strategy from Resonate. Although these plans have distinct focal points, they share a common mission: strengthening and expanding the CRCNA’s gospel witness by revitalizing existing congregations while establishing new communities of faith. These proposals come at an important moment in the CRCNA's ministry journey and have been developed to help the denomination faithfully navigate the future through complementary approaches to renewal and growth. Church Renewal Proposal Thrive's church renewal plan was developed in response to a church renewal mandate issued by Synod 2023. It began with 10 Gather events, where church members from across North America connected to...