Taking a break from the news (and what it’s showing me)
This encouragement is written by Colin Hoogerwerf, the Podcast Producer at BioLogos. BioLogos empowers people to explore, embody, and delight in the harmony of faith and science. I’m not reading any news right now. The decision has brought a kind…
Why your fear isn’t the enemy — but has something important to show you
This encouragement is written by Dr. Rebecca Konyndyk DeYoung, Professor of Philosophy at Calvin University in Grand Rapids, Michigan. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them… Indeed, Herod…
What a group of middle-schoolers taught us about listening
This encouragement is written by Pastor Jennifer Holmes Curran, Senior Pastor at Sherman Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Read more of Jen’s work by checking out her substack. When the middle schoolers got kicked out of Sunday school, they…
When forgiveness starts to feel like avoidance
This encouragement is written by Tanner Smith, Chief of Staff at The Colossian Forum. For a long time, I assumed forgiveness meant letting things go. I have a relationship with a person who has a pattern of saying hurtful things…
Hope for Complicated Relationships: An Advent Prayer Practice
A reflection written by Rev. Michael Gulker, President of The Colossian Forum. If you’re like me, this time of year has a way of amplifying both joy and sorrow. Rich Advent longings culminating in Christmas delight shared with loved…
What I Learned When Consensus Failed
This encouragement is written by Jenell Paris, Ph.D., an anthropologist, author, active church leader, and a Professor of Anthropology and Criminal Justice at Messiah University. It was an exciting church plant. We imagined: theology that we’d really live out,…
The Moment I Realized Good Intentions Weren’t Enough
This encouragement is written by Craig Mattson, writer and host of “The Mode Switch” podcast and newsletter, author of Digital Overwhelm: A Mid-Career Guide to Coping at Work, and the Arthur DeKruyter Chair in Faith and Communication at Calvin University in Grand…
NEW RESOURCE: Staying Grounded in the Heat of Conflict
When tension rises, do you ever feel yourself slipping into autopilot? Shutting down, pushing harder, carrying more than your share — or maybe blaming someone else? You’re not alone. Conflict has a way of pulling all of us off center,…
Clarity is Kindness: the Surprising Gift of Honest Feedback
This encouragement is written by Jess Shults, Chief Partnerships Officer at The Colossian Forum. A lot of times, the most important things are said in the hallway after the meeting ends. Why is that? A meeting ends, the door closes,…
How to Engage Faithfully in Online Conversations
Why This Matters: Practicing Faithful Presence Online At The Colossian Forum, we often explore what it means to show up faithfully in the midst of tension — not just in personal relationships, but also in public conversations. As Christian leaders…