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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Stewardship turns our focus toward what we have, not what we don’tWritten by Lindy BrownIn April, we see proof of the strange truth Jesus demonstrated for us at Easter: new life comes out of sacrifice. Small seeds given away in hope, later producing a harvest. Jesus who had no earthly possessions ga
Written by Shawn NaylorOne year as the spring equinox approached, I was hiking on a friend’s farm. I left the cornfields into a field of grass with the forest as the backdrop. Scattered throughout all the green I saw different coloured flowers. I was confronted by two sequential questions: Are these
The blessing of volunteering at churchWritten by Mike GordonA few years ago, my church had a healthy roster of weekly volunteers. From older people to young adults, the church thrived off generous people who intentionally donated their time, talents, and skills to the church. Some, especially the yo
Seeing temperaments as gifts not limitationsWritten by Abby Ciona While my university roommates have a dance party in the living room, I bake cookies by myself in the kitchen. When my friends have long chats past midnight, I prefer reading in my bedroom or going for a walk alone.Sometimes I wonder i
This interview with Taylor Hyatt, a disability rights activist, was orginally published in a resource called Life Together: Disability and Belonging in the Church. Reprinted with permission.Q. Why is Christian witness/Church teaching on human dignity important for disabled people in particular?A. As
Saying no is a necessary part of stewarding our resourcesWritten by Sarah RobinsonSometimes stewardship means stopping. Or at least pausing. But more often than expected, stewardship looks like letting go of good things. Especially when it comes to ministry roles and activities, good things can be h
More than a popular buzzword, loving ourselves is a profound acceptance of our God-given identitiesWritten by Stephanie MassicotteIn Mark 12:29-31, Jesus states that the first most important commandment is to love God with all our heart, soul, and strength and the second is to love our neighbours as
Despite challenges, internet platforms are key for reaching those who are isolated or home-boundWritten by Elizabeth DuarteWhen pandemic mandates were lifted in Canada, we breathed a collective sigh of relief. For some, life returned to what they would consider normal. For others, “normal” remained
Intentionally mentoring younger generations is a key part of building up the ChurchWritten by Emily LaRoseLife is complicated, especially at a young age. Often, what youth need is someone who’s a few years ahead of them who they can relate to, and who can guide them. Looking out for younger people i
The need to reach and equip Christian women is only growingWords by Cathie Ostapchuk A few years ago, as I flew home to Canada from yet another American women’s conference, I reflected on a challenge offered by one of the speakers, Eugene Cho: “The grass is always greener on the other side,” he said
God’s presence can be embodied through community Written by Zammie KingI used to be an “I don’t need people” person. I was hesitant to ask for help due to the hurt of past experiences where people dismissed my groans, and my pain was not welcomed or heard. For too long, I believed that my suffering
Sana’ Watts, the author of Fragile and Flourishing on the healing process of writing a memoirWritten by Emily LaRoseIn the summer of 2019, Sana’ Watts wrote a poem titled “Fragile.” The poem was about struggling with anxiety and suicidal depression as a Christian and how God used this experience for