A wide variety of new articles

Sometimes it feels like the harsh realities of life should respect the church calendar, or at least the general vibe of the Christmas season. I recently found out that a loved one has an aggressive form of brain cancer, and that kind of news would be unwelcome any time of year. It felt especially disheartening so close to the holiday.

But the bad stuff in life does not operate on our schedules. When it comes, we have to face it. Or in the case of a magazine, report on it. My colleague Dawn Araujo-Hawkins, the Century news editor, just wrote a major news story on decades of alleged abuse at a missionary boarding school. Our video of the week is a chat I had with Dawn about how she approaches stories that are this painful and difficult.

We also have some imaginative and hopeful new pieces. Rachel Mann wonders how we might relearn to tell the story of the Christian faith. Kathryn Reklis asks important questions about the imagination of Wakanda Forever. Poet Bonnie Thurston reflects on a Christmas festival from my hometown in West Virginia! Plus more thought-provoking content below.

Email me: How are you dealing with “the bad stuff”? Are you experiencing hope?

Jon Mathieu
[email protected]

Surviving Hillcrest

“It was in this context—children separated from their parents, supervised by adults who were, in turn, supervised by no one—that the Hillcrest survivors say abuse flourished.”

What sort of Christian story is viable in our time?

“Christianity has no monopoly on powerful stories. In the 21st century, narrative is ubiquitous.”

Dawn Araujo-Hawkins on religious journalism and reporting on abuse

Century news editor Dawn Araujo-Hawkins chats with Jon about her role, how she approaches stories about traumatic events, and the problematic theology undergirding much mission work.

In the Lectionary for December 24/25 (Nativity)

God’s faithfulness shows up with wonder and surprise in a weary and heavy-laden world.

by Christine Chakoian
 

How real is Wakanda?

“This is the most provocative idea in this fantastical movie: that a non-White global alliance—one that is fully aware of the realities of racism and colonialism—could offer a different model of power, or resource management, or collaboration.”

by Kathryn Reklis

Light Shines in Darkness

“Everybody knows Christmas
is good for business. . . .”