More than 60 Christian Reformed ministry leaders, local church leaders, and members met virtually Jan. 27 to hear and discuss stories and strategies of church planting in Canada.

A pastor to fellow pastors, who was passionate about preaching, Archie Bazuin lived to 97 years. He died Jan. 12.

A pastor, seminary professor, and leader of prison ministry, David Schuringa, had a commitment to the Christian Reformed confessions and an impact beyond the denomination. He died Sept. 14, 2023, at age 70.

From naming and renaming what eventually became the Christian Reformed Church in North America to the first publication dates of denominational periodicals, quite a number of memorable events in our denomination happened in February. Here are a few:

The report also raises the alarm on a degrading situation for Christians amid attacks on Christian schools and hospitals in India.

Gateway Community Church in Abbotsford, B.C., partners with BC Housing to run an emergency shelter. It isn’t all success stories, but volunteers say they still experience hope.

The 10 most-accessed articles on thebanner.org between January and December 2023, in order of most views to fewer. For links and 15 more of our most popular articles from the past year, visit thebanner.org/2023-top-25.

Immanuel Christian Reformed Church in Cornwall, Ont., began sponsoring refugee families in 2015 and has grown organically through those connections.

Described as compassionate, affectionate, and generous, Jerry Alferink was a pastor and chaplain who loved preaching. He died Dec. 29 at age 78.

The Reformed Church of America’s Commission on Christian Unity meeting with a delegation of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the USA in October included CRC pastor Anthony Elenbaas.

Journeymen is a men’s speaker series at Elmhurst (Ill.) Christian Reformed Church where guys see how “God is at work in the mundane things in our lives.”

A steady, compassionate man who was a highschool teacher before he was a pastor, John Pasma lived his final years with Parkinson’s disease and esophageal cancer. He died Nov. 22 at age 73.

Regional groups of congregations of the Christian Reformed Church in North America meeting this fall have responded with varying approaches to instructions from the 2023 general assembly.

The 2023 CRCNA Congregational Survey asked participants to “indicate how many hours you spent during an average month over the last year in each of the following:

Josh Newell, executive director of Jesus Film Project, said he views animation as a fitting means to speak to younger generations about the life of Jesus.

Described as a righteous man who was quick to offer compassion and forgiveness, Art Stienstra died November 26. He was 93.

Clergy resource groups like One America Movement and the Colossian Forum find pastors are seeking ideas for how to preach in ways that heal, rather than widen, congregations’ social and political divides.

From spelling out words with letter tiles to tasting different foods representing characteristics of Jesus, Grace Community Christian Reformed Church in Oak Lawn, Ill., used a multisensory approach to prayer for Advent.

Pastor and missionary, Ken Van De Griend, was a passionate, humble man with a heart for missions. He died Nov. 22, at age 79.

Christian Reformed churches meet together in regional assemblies two or three times per year. Actions of classes in the past several months include approving new ministers, recognizing retirements, establishing discernment committees and processing disaffiliation requests.

An interest in a former pastime from 19 years ago led pastor Diego Flores to connect with one young person through martial arts, creating a Bible study program he calls The Way.

Seeking to help ethnic minority leaders feel less isolation and more belonging at regional assemblies of Christian Reformed churches, Thrive is rolling out the One Family Conversation project.