I've read and written for Rejoice! magazine for years, and now as the new editor, I'm eagerly learning more about the publishing side. I'm delighted to be working with a wonderful team that includes the publisher/executive director, prayer request editor/editorial assistant, copy editor, designer, proofreader, the managing editor who put me in touch with an … Continue reading From Writer to Editor
After twenty-five years of pastoral ministry, I sensed a new wind of the Spirit blowing in my life, leading me to invest more deeply in my writing and speaking beyond the local congregation. I still loved the church and still loved pastoral ministry, but I also knew from the movement of the Spirit that it … Continue reading The Gift of Community
This weekend many churches will celebrate Easter online by livestreaming their worship, including their music, sermon, and even communion. For some congregations, this may be nothing new; livestreaming has already been a regular part of their ministry to connect with people beyond their church's physical location. For others, worship online means acquiring and learning new … Continue reading Easter for Everyone
On the day that our province declared a state of emergency, I received an email asking for permission to include some of my writing on a new worship website. How strange, I thought. Here we are in the midst of pandemic with new cases of COVID-19 increasing daily, the death toll rising---and I'm being asked … Continue reading Come, Let Us Worship, Come What May
In high school I wrote poetry and other stories, but never thought of writing as a possible career path. Instead, I felt most drawn to social work. As I read the words of Jesus in Luke 4:18-19, I imagined myself living them out in some form of community service: The Spirit of the Lord is … Continue reading Stories of God’s Provision
It's been 10 months since I last spoke from the pulpit at my previous church. So it seemed strangely familiar and just plain strange to be standing and speaking there last week. The pulpit seemed bigger than I remembered it. The microphone had been replaced with a different model. I felt at home yet not … Continue reading The Hardship of Death is Real, But It is Not God’s Last Word to Us
"To sing is to pray twice" is often attributed to St. Augustine, but just as I've seen different versions of the quote, I've also seen it variously attributed to Martin Luther and anonymous sources. Whoever said it first, and how ever we put it---"the one who sings prays twice," or "singing is praying twice," or … Continue reading To Sing is to Pray Twice
Earlier this month, Christianity Today published "What It's Like When Your Wife is 'Christian Famous'" with brief profiles of the husbands of four well-known women in ministry. When I shared the article on Twitter I added, "I appreciate these glimpses but husbands supporting wives in ministry isn't only for those who are famous. I'm grateful … Continue reading When Your Wife’s the Preacher
April Yamasaki 