It is not good to be partial to the wicked
  and so deprive the innocent of justice.

- Proverbs 18:5

Tariff Wars

Tariff uncertainty can be particularly hard on small businesses in both Canada and the U.S., even when a particular business isn't directly paying a tariff. The key word is uncertainty: businesses don't know what their costs, customers, or markets will look like six months from now.

This is especially relevant right now because U.S./Canada trade tensions have escalated again. On August 24, the U.S. imposed new 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, with Canada planning retaliatory tariffs beginning September 8.

Canada is generally more vulnerable to U.S. tariffs because the U.S. is such an enormous market for Canadian exporters. At the same time, Canadian businesses also face higher costs when Canada retaliates against American goods. That inability to plan is particularly damaging to small businesses because they have less cash, fewer employees, less purchasing power, and less ability to absorb mistakes.

The Canada/U.S. situation is significant even for a small business that doesn't directly import or export anything.

We pray for small and family run businesses facing economic stress and uncertainty. We pray for government leaders to seek the peace of all people they lead and for Canada and US relations to be restored with mutual benefit.

Justice and Recovery in Gary, Indiana

Nearly two weeks after a devastating storm struck Northwest Indiana, some Gary residents are still without power. Residents have faced spoiled food, lost income, unsafe conditions, and challenges accessing essential services. The prolonged outage has highlighted longstanding concerns about aging infrastructure, economic disinvestment, and the disproportionate burden disasters can place on vulnerable communities. 

God of justice and compassion, sustain the people of Gary as they recover. Provide for those facing hardship, strengthen those serving their neighbors, and give wisdom and accountability to those responsible for the infrastructure our communities depend on. Help us work toward a more just and resilient future for all. 

Wealth Inequality

At the global level, wealth concentration is extraordinary. A UN analysis reports that the poorest half of the world's population owns about 2% of global wealth, while the richest half owns 98%; the richest 1% alone owns about 38%.

The UN identifies reducing wealth inequality as Sustainable Development Goal 10 because when wealth, resources, and opportunities are concentrated in the hands of some, others can struggle to access things like decent housing, education, healthcare, and secure work. These inequalities can make it harder for people to move out of poverty and can weaken the relationships that hold communities together. Inequality can become self-perpetuating across generations, particularly when unequal access to resources and opportunity is combined with discrimination.

Christian practices of building relationships, sharing resources, giving relationally rather than simply transactionally, and leveraging whatever influence we have in our votes and workplaces, invite a way of seeing and models of a different kind of economy: one shaped by relationships, generosity, mutuality, dignity, and a commitment to the flourishing of all.

God, show us where we benefit from systems we don't understand. Grant us generous spirits, courage to change our habits, wisdom to know when to use our voices, and make us people through whom your abundance can flow.

Housing Struggles

Across Canada and the United States, many people are struggling to find a safe, affordable place to live. In Canada, CMHC estimates that 2.6 million additional homes beyond projected construction will be needed by 2035 to restore affordability. In the U.S., 22.7 million renter households were already spending more than 30% of their income on housing in 2024.

Housing costs can determine whether a family has enough left for food, whether a young adult can afford to leave home, or whether someone experiencing a crisis has any place to go. In this way, housing is a foundation for human flourishing. 

We need to build more housing, but we also need affordable and supportive housing, stronger protection for renters, and communities where housing is connected to jobs, transportation, and services. 

God of home and hospitality, make room for those who have nowhere to go.

Give us eyes to see those who are struggling, courage to change what keeps people from home, and generous hearts to help build communities where everyone can flourish.

Becoming (part of) the Answer to our Own Prayers

Beyond the Headlines: Faith, Community and the Stories that Shape Us

Join a new justice education series from Thrive, World Renew, and the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue. This four-part series explores immigration, food justice, climate justice, and gender justice through a biblical lens—equipping participants to recognize harmful narratives, understand root causes, and take meaningful, faith-informed action. Learn more and register today!