The Banner (January 2007)

when i lived in Grand Rapids, i have to admit that i didn´t always read The Banner - perhaps because one gets the idea that being in the centre of the CRC is more than enough to get a feeling for what´s happening in the CRC (but, as anyone living outside of Grand Rapids will vehemently argue, is not really true).
but now being a different continent away for several months, it´s a delight to read it again - to hear about our church and the hopes and the plans and the challenges. and even if we´re not perfect, i´m glad to be part of this church. and am encouraged to know that i get to participate in what´s happening, even if for now it´s mostly just praying.

The article, "Holland´s Post-Secular Future" (forwarded t

the article indicates a growing interest in Christianity in the Netherlands. but the growth is most significantly from immigrant churches, house churches, and non-traditional (often non-denominational) churches. as i participate in a very traditional (high church) Protestant Church, i don´t quite fit. and as excited as i am about the growth of Christianity here (and especially the growing number of prayer groups in various places and the flourishing Alpha programs), i´m a bit disappointed that the traditional churches aren´t growing - and the idea that more contemporary is better.