My heart, my hands, they’re kingdom bound — glory.
Where thorns no longer curse the ground — glory.
Trim the wick and light the flame — glory.
My work, it will not be in vain — glory.

Oh, we labor unto glory
When heaven and earth are one,
Oh, we labor unto glory
Until God’s kingdom comes.

~ We Labor Unto Glory, The Porters Gate

Earthquakes in Venezuela

On June 24 in Venezuela, twin earthquakes struck less than a minute apart measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude.. They caused widespread destruction in and around Caracas and the coastal state of La Guaira. Rescue efforts are still underway, aftershocks continue, and international aid has begun arriving. Thousands have been killed or injured, and many more have been displaced from their homes.

Venezuela was already facing significant challenges before the earthquake, including years of political instability, economic hardship, strained public services, and a large humanitarian crisis. The earthquake has compounded these existing struggles, leaving many communities especially vulnerable.

God in heaven, we lift before the nation of Venezuela. We pray for swift aid and for lives to be spared. Amid unimaginable devastation and trauma, we pray for Your peace in the form of provision, supports, and love. Help Venezuela to cope and persevere. We pray in Jesus’ name.

Surveillance Practices in Canada

A recent CBC Indigenous news article revealed that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) operated an extensive “racial intelligence” program in the 1970s to “monitor, infiltrate, disrupt, and counter” Indigenous political movements across Canada.

Under the banner of “security”, the RCMP visibly showed up to photograph and collect data about any group appearing to advocate for land rights, sovereignty, or justice. These actions treated legitimate political organizing as a threat as officers gathered personal information about Indigenous leaders.

As Canada continues to work toward reconciliation, this history reveals how Indigenous voices have been monitored rather than heard. It also illustrates how the use of power in the form of surveillance can leave lasting effects on communities and leadership as the mistrust of government institutions is shared across generations.

Father God, as Canada turns its attention to acknowledging past injustices and pursuing reconciliation, help Canadians to take a hard look at its past and reimagine what moving forward together can look like. May efforts be marked by peace, justice, fairness and healing.

The Price of Chocolate 

Much of the world’s cocoa (the base of chocolate) is grown by small farmers in places like West Africa. Here, poverty is widespread and farmers are willing to settle for very low prices for their crops. Poverty also contributes to child labour, with estimates of over 1.5 million children working in hazardous conditions on cocoa farms.

Fair trade cocoa certification seeks to address these injustices by ensuring farmers receive a minimum fair price, access to community development funds, and prohibition of child labour. However, achieving broad change remains elusive. Many companies still do not fully adopt fair trade practices, and child labour continues to be made readily available due to impoverished families looking for any work they can.

Choosing fair trade chocolate is one way consumers can support more just trade practices. Lasting change, however, also requires institutional change, with corporate accountability and effective government action.  

God of the earth, you delight in giving good gifts to your children. But we confess that our global economy creates a distance from our food sources that can make us unaware of the suffering that may lie behind what we enjoy. Forgive us for our short-sightedness. We pray for consumers, business leaders and governments, and all who influence the global marketplace. Awaken hearts to protect human rights before the pursuit of pleasure and profit.

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!