Article Theology Cultural Diversity Pastoral Care

John A. Azumah on Fostering Respect between Muslims and Christians

John A. Azumah grew up in a family that practiced traditional African religions and Islam. He became a Christian in high school and has dedicated his life and scholarship to building bridges between Muslims and Christians, especially in Africa.
Video Music/Song Cultural Diversity

A Conversation with Uzee Brown of Morehouse College

Listen to this March 11, 2020, conversation between Uzee Brown, Jr., legendary composer and educator, and John D. Witvliet, held during a visit to Calvin University.
Art by Julie Quinn
Video Christian Year Leadership Music/Song

Renewed: Ready My Heart

What if we thought about Christ’s birth as an ongoing reality, rather than a one-time event? That’s just what Lois Shuford’s haunting Advent song “Ready My Heart” does: it helps us prepare our hearts for Christ to dwell in us every day.
Video

Worship 101: Introduction to Principles and Invitation to Practice

Learning to lead worship takes practice, but where does one begin? In this seminar, we will present five vital worship leadership practices and the principles that shape and sustain them.
Article Drama Language Arts Psalms/Scripture

Speech Communication in Worship

A showcase featuring some thoughtful resources that can help all who participate in worship through public speaking do so hospitably, succinctly, wisely, and with imagination.
Ron Rienstra
Profile

Ron Rienstra

Ron Rienstra is an associate professor of preaching and worship arts, and chapel coordinator, at Western Theological Seminary in Holland, Michigan. He is an ordained minister in the Reformed Church in America (RCA) and co-author of Worship Words: Disciplining Language for Faithful Ministry. He directed the LOFT, a student-planned and -led worship service, for a number of years at Calvin. He is the author of Ten Service Plans for Contemporary Worship, Vol.
Article Planning Worship Intergenerational

Suzanne L. Vinson on Congregations Creating Liturgical Language

Grace Baptist Church in Richmond, Virginia, often invites members to write words used in worship. They've found that crafting liturgical language, such as calls to worship or stewardship and psalm or song paraphrases, is an easy way to help more people participate in worship and congregational life.
Article Planning Worship Technology

Pandemic Worship Changes Worth Keeping

So much has changed about church worship since the COVID-19 pandemic arrived, soared, waned, and resurges. Those pandemic-forced pivots have created worship opportunities that have helped congregations adapt, find unity amid division, and pursue justice.
Article Christian Year Planning Worship

Thanksgiving Resource Guide

Thanksgiving celebrations were an important part of the people's worship before God. Throughout history, worshiping communities have set aside certain times and days as events of special thanksgiving to God.
Article Language Arts Planning Worship Leadership

Jane Rogers Vann on Trusting the Liturgy

Many worship leaders wear themselves out trying to make worship new, fresh, relevant and, above all, different than it was last year or even last week. Maybe they don’t need to change so much and so often.