In Joshua Coutts’s article, “Good news in a secular age,” he points out how Christians behaving badly is an obstacle, even for Christians themselves, to believe in the good news of the gospel. This is not a new problem.

Is the good news really good? Many of us believers are feeling less confident about our faith—perhaps even embarrassed by aspects of it.

Do you ever feel a burning pressure inside to sing the visions in the book of Revelation? Strange question.

Every now and then events in history come together in the power of the Spirit and the apocalypse of Jesus explodes in the church with stunning power, and the expectation of Christ’s return is stoked again.

When I share with people about my new work as the EMC Director of Next Generation, many people respond with some comment that indicates they are glad someone is doing this. They often say that this generation is facing more challenges being a follower of Jesus than at any time in history. Well, maybe they don’t say it exactly like that, but I do find that often the conversation turns to the challenges young people face today that those of us who are a little older didn’t face.

Letters & responses.
September / October 2023

It was a moment of simple joy. You have likely experienced similar moments. Sitting on the grass in the cool shade of a tree, I bit into a fresh peach. It was perfectly ripe. I could smell its rich, fragrant aroma already, before I brought it to my mouth. What a beautiful picture of the way God has designed every aspect of his creation.

Reviewed by Mitchell Martens, associate pastor of youth at Blumenort Community Church.
I’ve been a youth pastor for a little while, and it can sometimes feel like I’m in a rut. Year after year goes by, and things more-or-less stay the same. For me, this is sometimes discouraging, but it can feel overwhelming to think about how we might change things up. How can we be sure that something new will actually work? How can we know our changes will do what we hope they will?

The ministry began in South Sudan almost 20 years ago, but in recent years fighting and unrest have pushed us south over the border into Uganda. Northern Uganda hosts many refugee camps with over one million South Sudanese refugees. Our main focus is a holistic church planting training developed with African partners. The training includes teaching and tips on self-sustainability. God is using the training to impact and change people, their families, and their communities!

Living and working in the North End of Winnipeg for the last 18 years, I have learned it is easy to get consumed in the pain, trauma, loss and tragedy, and to lose track of gifts and strengths. But it is important to me to have an appreciative inquiry lens in the work I do in the North End community.

We are grateful to God for his unwavering guidance, which often exceeds our own plans and expectations. The year began with the establishment of new connections and partnerships, enabling us to train previously untrained leaders in unexplored locations and territories.

The math of Psalm 145 according to Abbeydale Christian Fellowship may leave some readers perplexed … but like the Ethiopian eunuch’s confusion, it can be explained. Apparently, Calgary is home to people of 240 different ethnic origins, speaking 120 different languages.

Church camp is a highlight for many people at Stony Brook Fellowship. We enjoyed being together and connecting as a church family during this event held June 9–11, 2023.