It would be a gross understatement to say we live in an age of division. One only needs to look at world events, read the national or international news, or observe the tone in their own community and networks to see that division and polarization dominate.

How is Christian faith shared from one generation to the next? What help does the local church provide? Parenting Faith, the 245-page report released on April 11, 2023, presents the findings of this uniquely Canadian research that identifies what helps and hinders the transmission of faith from this generation of parents to their children.

Abbeydale Christian Fellowship, where one can only guess what kind of interesting and wonderful surprises are in store. The Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter Sunday worship services were each unique and a blessing in their own way, culminating in a distinctly international experience.

The world is watching as events unfold in the West African country of Burkina Faso. Every week there are more stories of threats and terrorist attacks. These attacks and threats have caused much suffering and anguish due to loss of life and displacement.

What makes for Christian unity? It is my contention here that it is allegiance to lesser gods—including ourselves—that is at the heart of our divisions; therefore, the remedy is being de-centered by and oriented toward Jesus. This is the message of John’s Gospel.

Readers write in, responding to columnist Karla Hein, “Lucy made of light,” the report on Nicaragua, and more from previous issues of The Messenger.

Beauty Out of Ashes (BOA) was established in 2017 through the vision and commitment of Gary and Mavis Unger. The Ungers had spent several years at an orphanage in Haiti when their hearts were touched by the desperate circumstances of young girls forced into domestic slavery in some of the poorest areas of Port au Prince.

From inside our car, we saw four young men sitting quietly under a tree. Their belongings were on the ground. We decided to approach them, to hear their stories.

Several years ago, in a mountain village of Central Asia, I remember watching a coppersmith craft a ceremonial serving dish. He held the broad metal disc in his hand and turned it around, feeling its weight and texture. He looked at it from various angles, observing how it caught the light.

Can the gospel still unite the church at a time when ideological and theological factions are intensifying? I have no doubt it can, but it doesn’t have to. Let me explain what I mean by examining three texts found in the Torah: the Shema Israel (Deuteronomy 6:4–5), the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1–17; Deuteronomy 5:6–21), and the creation account (Genesis 1–3).

Anabaptists had their challenges with peculiar and dangerous interpretations, but they agreed that all believers had the privilege of reading Scripture, and the safeguard against heresy (and silliness) would be the believing community who discussed and interpreted the Bible together. But that’s history.

There is more to the thousands of small churches in Canadian neighbourhoods than many people realize. A new study digs into the realities of these churches and examines their needs and strengths from the perspective of their pastors.