Bert Witvoet -  Op-Ed  Editor 
It goes without saying that I am extremely happy about developments here at Christian Courier. It appears that the Lord is giving us a new opportunity to continue his work in Christian journalism. We have clearly seen God’s hand in a number of instances, including unexpected donations to Reformed Faith Witness.
There have been times that I wondered whether the younger generation is picking up the torch from their parents and whether they are passionate about the task of trying to discern the spirits that shape our society and culture. Do they understand the importance of telling the story of life from a point of view that seeks first the Kingdom of Heaven? Will they even bother with the Christian media?
Today, with the appointment of two young editors to our paper, I am hopeful again. And I thank God for Christian schools who carry the message of cultural awareness and renewal and who produce young men and women who are able to adapt to the post-modern culture of Generation X what we brought in previous times to our generation.
At this time, I would like to urge our current subscribers to help us reach younger readers by either giving them a gift subscription to Christian Courier or encouraging at least one or two to subscribe themselves. I look upon this time as a unique window of opportunity to see in action the prophecy of Joel 2: "Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions." One thing is clear: this old man is dreaming dreams. At age 74, I accept this new challenge of being a courier of the Good News. Please join Angela, Brett and myself in seeing visions and dreaming about the continuation of God’s beautiful work of Christian journalism.

The rest of the crew

Ineke Medcalf - Accounting, advertising, layout, webmaster
Rose DerNederlanden - Subscriptions, mailing, layout
Kim Yungblut and Sonya Vanderveen - mailing

Ineke is on break.

Rose busy with the mailing.

Angela Reitsma Bick
-News Editor
Stories connect
I’m a sucker for stories. A stall at last summer’s Arts Festival, for example, displayed dozens of beautiful, hand-crafted wooden spoons. How to choose? I was stumped, until the artist pointed out a mahogany one. After Hurricane Katrina, he was part of a clean-up crew, removing fallen trees. He was astonished to find a mahogany tree, rare in this part of the world. He salvaged the wood and made this spoon. It was a sale, and now that bit of history sits in my kitchen drawer.
There is no lack of information in the world today; on the contrary, we are drowning in it. We have instant access to more news than it’s possible to absorb. But stories connect people, and it is through story that we make sense of things. The Christian Courier, then, is a place to share stories of faithful living with each other and to grapple with the major events of our times.
My vision for CC is one that expands on its original mission; now, instead of providing the only contact with others in the Christian Reformed community, CC offers a Reformed context for current events. Furthermore, stories connect people of all ages, so I’m hopeful that the subscribers to CC will soon include younger readers. After all, if that wooden spoon is any indication, stories sell.

Brett Alan Dewing
- Features Editor
Language bridges
These are exciting times. In 2009, Christian Courier enters a new era. It is a time of broadening our reach to engage the emerging leaders of tomorrow’s Reformed community. It is a time of fresh thought and fresh voices joining hands with experience and wisdom to not only bring you a paper devoted to the Spirit’s work in our world and Church but also to serve as a model of that Body in these changing times. It is my passion to use language as a way of bridging the divisive generation gaps in society in order to unitedly reach out to our lost and suffering world. That bridge begins here. The time is always now. Let’s use it the best we can.