Starting conversations about Indigenous justice in Canada
09/28/2023

Starting conversations about Indigenous justice in Canada

Home on Native Land is a free 10-part course that welcomes participants into an engaging and laughter-filled conversation about Indigenous justice in Canada.“We recognized that there was a real hunger in the national psyche to do something in order to reconcile and be involved in Indigenous issues,”

  Ilana Reimer
A shared story and a new song
09/11/2023

A shared story and a new song

The Blanket Exercise is a powerful tool for strengthening Indigenous-Settler relationshipsWritten by Adam KlineThere is an apathy in our hearts, oftentimes, an indifference to those with another path or perspective. We don’t necessarily wish our neighbour ill, but we don’t care enough to stand along

  Adam Kline
Young Canadian Christians and climate action
08/02/2023

Young Canadian Christians and climate action

Survey shows young Christians want to see churches get more involved in creation careWritten by Abby CionaToday’s young adults have grown up with environmental concerns at the forefront. We are more globalized and connected than ever before, making us in tune with the ripple effects of world events,

  Abby Ciona
Whispers of God
07/27/2023

Whispers of God

Letting go of expectations amid complex griefWritten by Cindy PalinThis article contains descriptions of suicidal thoughts. Reader discretion is advised.During a training session for hospice volunteers, the presenter wisely told the group that not everyone attending would decide to follow through. “

  Cindy Palin
Grief and the kingdom of God
07/21/2023

Grief and the kingdom of God

Sorrow is an expression of appreciation for God’s good, but temporary giftsWritten by Axel Schoeber“When did Marcus die in that accident?” Sheila asked.“Four months ago,” I replied. We were speaking of a congregation member, who I’ll call Maggie, who had recently become a single mother after the dea

  Axel Schoeber
A foretaste of heaven
07/13/2023

A foretaste of heaven

Written by Joshua BelterWhile it is impossible to fathom what heaven on Earth will be like, many of our perceptions regarding heaven lack imagination. The typical image we envision tends to be a large crowd of people all uniformly dressed, standing in some ephemeral white space (usually resembling c

  Joshua Belter
Finding hope in the desert
07/12/2023

Finding hope in the desert

Words by Tara Joi C. S.“People don’t like us,” my husband concluded.While I knew this not to be true, I could not give him answers as to why our lives had been difficult. I turned to the window, and let the tears flow.It felt as though we were living in a desert.Desiring some thoughtful time before

  Tara Joi C. S.
A cleansing process
07/04/2023

A cleansing process

Written by Brenna CovelensWhen God gave me the phrase “purification is a process,” I immediately wrote it down. Above that phrase, I drew a tulip; toxins burst forth from the middle of the flower, shooting and clawing for the sky. I added fresh water droplets falling downward, cleansing the tulip fr

  Brenna Covelens
Neighbouring
07/04/2023

Neighbouring

Edmonton community initiatives are bridging gapsWritten by Jesse KaneMoving into a city has been the most isolating, alienating experience of my life. I grew up in the countryside where people lived far away, but when you did see them there was always hot coffee and warm conversation. Since moving t

  Jesse Kane
Peace is in our hands
07/04/2023

Peace is in our hands

What daycare can teach us about creating harmonyWritten by Leah ReimerThroughout university, I worked in a daycare. It was an extraordinarily challenging, entertaining, and rewarding job. During my first few months, I felt like I was constantly putting out fires, running around separating kids, tell

  Leah Reimer
Bible studies in deep space
06/29/2023

Bible studies in deep space

Christian gaming communities can bring isolated people togetherWritten by Elizabeth DuarteAfter college graduation, I was preparing for a six-month missionary trip to Europe when the floor fell out from under me. Over the next years, I discovered the names and faces of the enemies harming my body—Ly

  Elizabeth Duarte
Why does failure have to be part of leadership?
06/29/2023

Why does failure have to be part of leadership?

Recently, I was having a conversation with a friend I used to mentor. Our discussion veered toward leadership. One of the issues concerning him was failure. As I reflected back after our conversation, my head was flooded with my many leadership failures. As just one example, there have been many peo

  Shawn Naylor
Losing a mother
05/15/2023

Losing a mother

God’s presence amid interwoven joy and sorrowWords by Zammie KingGrief is an honest meeting. It is to break and become undone—to sit in the fragility of our humanity and let God hold us together. As believers, we know that death is not the end, yet the gore of pain still presses on our hearts and cr

  Zammie King
Plugging into community
05/11/2023

Plugging into community

Written by Morenike AjidagbaAs a self-professed introvert, I like the idea of community without the commitment of actually plugging into one when I need it. But then I started struggling in school, especially with the research portion of my degree program. I hoped to complete the degree without much

  Morenike Ajidagba
Unpredictable gifts and other gardening lessons
05/01/2023

Unpredictable gifts and other gardening lessons

What planting and cultivating a piece of earth can teach us about lifeWritten by Elizabeth DuarteEach February, my mom fills boxes with earth and put them in a warm area of the house. The dirt is dark and empty—not unlike the canvas God looked at before creation. Then, she starts to plant. Hundreds

  Elizabeth Duarte
Spoiler alert: how storytelling techniques hook us
04/25/2023

Spoiler alert: how storytelling techniques hook us

When finding out how the movie ends isn’t worth itWritten by Jaclyn WhittThe most memorable movies are the ones where we experience a week’s worth of emotions in just two hours. We laugh, cry, ache, cringe, fear, hope, and hold our breath over characters we were introduced to just minutes earlier. H

  Jaclyn Whitt
Transformation amid grief
04/18/2023

Transformation amid grief

Written by Luke CrawfordThe winter of 2023 marks ten years since the suicide of my friend Greg. Like a blow to the chest, his death left me with a gaping emotional and spiritual wound. As I grieved his passing, the silence of the divine was deafening, and my response quickly followed suit. Personal

  Luke Crawford
To my younger, incel self
03/16/2023

To my younger, incel self

Written by Jesse KaneThat shame you feel from being blacklisted by a whole women’s dorm at college—it’s haunting you. It’s nakedness without a fig leaf. It’s humiliation on a high place. Granted, asking several of your ex’s friends out directly after your breakup wasn’t the best choice. But belabour

  Jesse Kane
Praying with strangers
03/13/2023

Praying with strangers

The unexpected ways prayer can foster unity and connectionWritten by Ilana ReimerThe Calgary church sanctuary was dimly lit, blue lights creating a soft glow on the stage. I could hear a woman in the row behind me crying quietly. I hesitated. Possibly the last thing she wanted was to be approached b

  Ilana Reimer
Wayfaring with creation
03/07/2023

Wayfaring with creation

Cultivating hope and action in the muddy and mundaneWritten by Laura Naftel I work and live at an A Rocha creation care centre in the Pacific Northwest. Nestled next to a threatened forest of towering Douglas fir trees that are being encroached by cookie-cutter suburban sprawl, A Rocha is working to

  Laura Naftel
Living faithfully now
03/01/2023

Living faithfully now

Entrusting our dreams to God one day at a timeWritten by Riley TridhardtIn the book of Ruth, when Naomi was left a widow and without sons in Moab, she resolved to return to her hometown in Judah. She insisted that her daughters-in-law should return to their Moabite families where things would be eas

  Riley Trithardt
Stewarding friendships
03/01/2023

Stewarding friendships

Prioritizing friends is worthwhile workWritten by Bethany BrownAll my life, I’ve wanted a friend like the one Proverbs 18:24 describes: one “who sticks closer than a brother.” However, such a friendship does not simply pop into existence. Just as we must work continually on our relationship with God

  Bethany Brown
Slowing to the speed of love
03/01/2023

Slowing to the speed of love

How stewarding the small moments can open our eyes to othersWritten by Taeryn NovakHow many of us, when waiting in line, can’t help but glance at our phones to see what we’re missing? But maybe what we’re actually missing is all that is here in the present moment. There was a time when I found mysel

  Taeryn Novak
Mending two identities
03/01/2023

Mending two identities

An Aboriginal Christian perspective on illuminating sin and creating new unityWritten by Diego Bascur To be Aboriginal, to be Christian. These identities conflict with each other; brokenness defines their relationship. A break that should have never occurred, a manipulation of faith that scars one p

  Diego Bascur