JUNE 2021 THE BANNER.ORG Summer Books A Bible for Those Who Can’t Read “Because I heard this Talking Bible, everything is changed for me,” says Mary. Thirty years ago, Mary sought safety in a refugee camp. Today, she’s still there and new refugees are flooding her community. Even though Mary herself knows the pain of being forced to leave her home, she found it difficult to care about her new neighbors. The Solar Talking Bible Easy to use Then she heard the Talking Bible. God’s Word softened Mary’s heart and filled Powerful speaker her with compassion. Mary’s life was transformed by hearing the Good News Solar powered on a Talking Bible! She makes peace instead of picking fights. She worships God instead of practicing witchcraft. And she is a friend instead of an enemy to DONATIONS FROM CANADA her neighbors. ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE! “Now I have a new life! My neighbors and I love each other, and I am serving in the church and help the refugees,” Mary exclaims. “I am very happy!” God’s Word changes everything! Share the comfort and hope of a new life in Christ by giving a Talking Bible today. Enhancing Trust “Accredited for special offerings” Talking Bibles International • www.talkingbibles.org JUNE 2021 2 THEBANNER.ORG 419 East Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025 • Telephone: 855-55-BIBLE (855-552-4253) or 760-745-8105 • Mark S Hoekstra, President 38199 Talking Bible Ad_2021 June.indd 1 4/29/21 11:49 AM A Bible for Those “Lost and Who Can’t Read UnheardThat’s how 9-year-old Amelia felt when ” she began her counseling sessions. But between games of Monopoly, she began sharing her heartbreaking experiences with Ginnette, her counselor. Stories of verbal arguments between her parents and struggles of adjusting to a new home after their divorce. Then Ginnette shared a resource from “Because I heard this Talking Bible, everything is changed for me,” says Mary. ReFrame Ministries that offers biblically- based stories, advice, and activities for Thirty years ago, Mary sought safety in a refugee camp. Today, she’s still there kids and parents involved in a divorce. and new refugees are flooding her community. Even though Mary herself knows the pain of being forced to leave her home, she found it difficult to care “While reading through the pages, about her new neighbors. Amelia’s mom broke down for the The Solar Talking Bible first time in three years since I’d been Easy to use Then she heard the Talking Bible. God’s Word softened Mary’s heart and filled Powerful speaker her with compassion. Mary’s life was transformed by hearing the Good News working with her family,” Ginnette says. Solar powered on a Talking Bible! She makes peace instead of picking fights. She worships God instead of practicing witchcraft. And she is a friend instead of an enemy to DONATIONS FROM CANADA her neighbors. ARE TAX-DEDUCTIBLE THROUGH OUR WEBSITE! “Now I have a new life! My neighbors and I love each other, and I am serving in the church and help the refugees,” Mary exclaims. “I am very happy!” God’s Word changes everything! Share the comfort and hope of a new life in The Christian Reformed Church’s Christ by giving a Talking Bible today. Enhancing Trust “Accredited for media ministry may have a new name, special offerings” but that won’t change the way God’s Talking Bibles International • www.talkingbibles.org story reaches Amelia. JUNE 2021 3 THEBANNER.ORG 419 East Grand Avenue, Escondido, CA 92025 • Telephone: 855-55-BIBLE (855-552-4253) or 760-745-8105 • Mark S Hoekstra, President ReFrameMinistries.org 38199 Talking Bible Ad_2021 June.indd 1 4/29/21 11:49 AM 38847 ReFrame_Banner June 2021 ad.indd 1 4/30/21 6:30 AM VOLUME 156, NUMBER 6 BY THE NUMBERS WHAT’S ONLINE FEATURES Church Juice and ReFrame Ministries Looking for more? Here are just a few of the provided grants to churches and minis- stories you’ll find online at TheBanner.org. tries who needed help with their media (Try typing the headlines into the ministry during the COVID-19 pandemic. search box.) In all, 15 churches received grants total- Partner Churches in Michigan and ing $52,001.93. Grants went to Christian » Honduras Worship Together Online Reformed churches in 12 states and Likes and Prayers: Facebook Tests New provinces. » ‘Prayer Post’ Feature 10 For Granted » Podcast: BECOMING: (us), by Moriah and Joel Smallbone If I’m Such A Good Christian Girl, » Children’s Book: Pugtato Finds a Thing, by Sophie Corrigan Then Why Am I Still Alone? » Movie: Minari Dana Drosdick // A single girl’s perspec- tive on the relational prosperity gospel. 32 5 Reasons to Embrace Hospitality Peter Jonker // Walls of mistrust seem to be thickening. 36 The Other Six: Tell a Better Story Sara Korber-DeWeerd // Revising narratives of disability in the church. Cover: Take a look! It’s in a book! The Mixed Media editor lists this summer’s top reads, including 111 Trees: How One Village Celebrates the Birth of Every Girl. JUNE 2021 4 THEBANNER.ORG CONTENTS NEWS OUR SHARED MINISTRY 14 Candidacy Committee Gets New Director; Koll Editor Kristen deRoo VanderBerg, Retires Director of CRCNA Communications and Marketing 18 Pledge-based Budget Sees Income Down, Allocations Changed 20 New Leadership Structure Recommended Amid Much Disagreement COLUMNS 22 7 Editorial: Revival and Spiritual Pride Shiao Chong // Our churches need a spiritual revival. Responding to the Global Effects of COVID-19 8 Reply All Beth DeGraff and Laurisa O’Brien // Poverty has skyrocketed since the pandemic began. 9 Vantage Point: Vigilance Is Needed Marion Dykstra // We are neglecting discipleship and instruction. 26 The View from Here: A Season of Change Colin P. Watson Sr. // There is always hope in the difficulty. 12 Big Questions What should church councils do about members who disappear? 31 Discover: Cool Summer Animals Christin Baker // Animals find different ways to cool off. 35 Faith Matters: Adam Was Designed to Be a Gardener Rob Braun // Stewardship is part of our creational mandate. 38 Mixed Media: Turning the Pages on a Summer’s Day Lorilee Craker // 12 books for summer reading 2021. 41 Word Play The Banner is the magazine of the Christian Reformed Church 45 In My Shoes: Gripped Editor Shiao Chong Amie Spriensma // A prayer for the hard times and the good. Associate Editor Sarah Delia Heth News Editor Alissa Vernon 46 Still: A Psalm on Time and Busyness Mixed Media Editor Lorilee Craker Jennifer Merri Parker // Giving thanks for all the seasons of life. Art Director Dean R. Heetderks Designer Pete Euwema Contact Us 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids MI 49508-1407 [email protected] Correction Address Changes and Subscriptions 800-777-7270 or visit TheBanner.org Classified Advertising 616-224-0725 [email protected] The name of Rev. Robert Cumings was misspelled in “Classis Display Advertising 616-224-5882 [email protected] Watch: Spring 2021,” May 2021, p. 16. We regret the error. Editorial 616-224-0824 [email protected] News [email protected] Published monthly (except August). Periodicals postage paid at Grand Rapids, Mich. Postmaster, send address changes to: The Banner, 1700 28th Street SE, Grand Rapids MI 49508-1407. Canadian publications mail agreement #40063614. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: The Banner, 3475 Mainway, PO Box 5070, STN LCD 1, Burlington ON L7R 3Y8. Copyright 2019, Christian Reformed Church in North America. Printed in U.S.A. The Banner (ISSN0005-5557). Vol. 156, No. 6, 2021. Member of Associated Church Press and Evangelical Press Association. JUNE 2021 5 THEBANNER.ORG One Gift. One Thousand Churches. You have the unique opportunity to make an impact on all the congregations of the CRC with just one gift. Your gift, in addition to ministry shares, ensures these twelve ministries have the resources to serve the one thousand churches of the CRC in their mission to share the love of God with their communities. By supporting the CRC ministries, your gift reaches one thousand churches across North America. Give your gift at crcna.org/1000churches Faith Formation Ministries / Worship Ministries / Safe Church Ministry / Disability Concerns Office of Race Relations / Office of Social Justice / Indigenous Ministry / Centre for Public Dialogue JUNE 2021Diversity / Candidacy Committee / Chaplaincy and6 Care Ministry / Pastor Church ResourcesTHEBANNER.ORG 38153 Ad_One thousand Churches_Dec 2020.indd 1 11/4/20 3:53 PM EDITORIAL Revival and Spiritual Pride Collectively, we SEVEN YEARS AGO, Henry Wildeboer Jonathan Edwards, the 18th-century wrote a Banner article suggesting the American revivalist preacher, warned are guilty of Christian Reformed Church needs a against spiritual pride and listed a spiritual revival (“These Bones Can number of its symptoms. First, the spiritual pride— Live,” October 2014). I agree. Our spiritually proud often overlook their churches need a spiritual revival more own faults, failing to recognize their pride in our rich than anything else at this time. But pride. Instead, their pride makes them what holds us back is our sinful pride. focus on the faults of others. A spirit of theological heritage Collectively, we are guilty of spiritual fault-finding is a sure symptom of spir- pride—pride in our rich theological itual pride. Humble Christians worry and in getting heritage and in getting our doctrines more about their own sins and faults. “right,” pride in our organizational Second, the spiritually proud are often strengths and in our ability to get things our doctrines harsh in their criticisms of others, done. These are all good things, for sure, even of other Christians. Edwards but we have placed too much trust in “right,” pride in bemoaned how they often would cloak them.