Churches across North America are discovering meaningful ways to care for God’s creation—through education, advocacy, and practical action in their own communities. Congregations and campus groups have partnered with World Renew’s Climate Witness Project (CWP) to explore how faith and creation stewardship are deeply connected, and how churches can respond faithfully to environmental challenges.
Opening the Conversation in Congregations
In Guelph, Ontario, New Life Christian Reformed Church began a monthly discipleship series inviting people to reflect together on pressing issues facing the world. One session focused on creation care, featuring Dr. Henry Brouwer, a Toronto‑area organizer with the Climate Witness Project. Participants were invited to consider “how God’s majesty, power, and providence are revealed through his creation,” and to reflect on how excessive use of fossil fuels and other human actions have contributed to changes in the earth’s energy balance.
Brouwer has spoken with many churches about their role in caring for creation. His goal is not only to share information, but to help congregations see creation care as part of their Christian calling. “I try to help people see the real problem and to provide awareness on creation care,” he explained. “I also point out ways we can be environmentally friendly.”
Ed Jager, pastor at New Life, said these conversations are an important step for churches looking ahead. “We’re opening up the conversation” about issues like climate change, he said.
For Jager, engaging with creation stewardship is also about making space for younger generations. His hope is that addressing important issues facing the world will resonate with young adults. “If they don’t see the church addressing important issues of the day,” he said, “chances are they won’t stay. We want to make room for them so that they can be part of the discussion.”
From Learning to Action
Education often leads to action, and for many congregations that begins with their own buildings and land. At Meadowlands CRC, Dr. Brouwer helped lead an effort to rethink how the church uses energy. The facility now relies on geothermal energy stored beneath the parking lot to help heat and cool the building—reducing both costs and environmental impact.
Other churches have taken steps such as installing energy‑efficient lighting, tracking energy use, and exploring renewable energy options. These changes not only reduce a congregation’s environmental footprint, but often free up resources for ministry while offering a visible witness to the surrounding community.
Hope Christian Reformed Church in Oak Forest, Illinois, participated in an energy stewardship initiative alongside several other churches. Over several months they received guidance on conducting an energy audit, making low‑cost efficiency improvements, and working toward energy certification.
“They helped guide us through the process of performing an energy audit, taking low‑cost steps to increase our energy efficiency, and applying for Energy Star certification,” said Corenna Rozeboom, a member of the church. “We couldn’t have done it without the guidance and support of the Climate Witness Project.”
Church of the Servant in Grand Rapids, Michigan, has a long history of engaging in creation care. Along with installing solar panels, the congregation transformed part of its property into a bioswale—a landscaped area designed to manage stormwater naturally.
“We worked to turn a low‑lying area into a rain garden,” said David Koetje, a church member and advocate for CWP. “It also, because of the flowers we planted, will double as a pollinating garden.”
Koetje noted that the Climate Witness Project helps bring people together across congregations. It has become a way for churches to connect with others who share a concern for creation, forming a broader network where ideas, questions, and encouragement can be shared.
Faithful Witness, Local Impact
Supporting churches in creation stewardship has not always been easy work, but signs of hopeful change are emerging. According to Andrew Oppong, Justice Mobilizer for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, churches are increasingly taking initiative in their own contexts—often using shared resources while developing approaches that fit their local communities.
“We’ve seen churches take the lead on local initiatives in their communities—not with direct leadership from CWP, but by using the resources CWP provides,” said Oppong.
Creation care looks different in every place, but the thread connecting these stories is a desire to live out faith in tangible ways. When congregations learn together, listen to one another, and take practical steps—even small ones—they bear witness to God’s love for creation and for future generations.
