Introducing Do Justice Columnists!

We’re trying something new on Do Justice. We’ve been around for over 3 years now, and until now, story and series ideas have usually come from our teams at the Christian Reformed Centre for Public Dialogue and the Office of Social Justice. We’ve worked hard to respond to the interests and questions we’re hearing about from people in the pews across Canada and the United States, but we’d like to try taking that a step further, to regularly elevate the voices of CRC people working at the grassroots. The Holy Spirit is on the move in the CRC, inspiring leaders young and old, brown and white, male and female across the denomination to follow God’s call to:

“Learn to do right; seek justice.

Defend the oppressed.

Take up the cause of the fatherless;

plead the case of the widow."

Let’s hear how the Spirit is moving!

So starting this November, you’ll be hearing regularly from 7 columnists from across the CRC about their questions, passions, and thoughts as they seek to do justice in their contexts. The goal of Do Justice is to stimulate grassroots discussion of the intersections of justice and faith in the CRC—and we like to be a place where people of various convictions and passions can find a platform to write and read about the joys, difficulties, and questions of following God’s call to do justice, in this place, at this time, among these people.

Meet our columnists!

John Eigege

John Oihoma Eigege is a missionary from Nigeria to the United States. He serves as a Community Chaplain with the Christian Reformed Church in Houston's historic Third Ward neighborhood. He loves seeing followers of Jesus catalyzed to join Christ in the renewal of all things. He is married to Chinyere, and they have a lovely daughter, Jaya. When John isn't working, he enjoys playing, watching, and talking about futbol.

Trixie Ling

Trixie Ling is passionate about connecting people, food and land, and building community through eating and sharing food, stories, and life together. She lives out her beliefs through her work as a Community Connections Coordinator at the First CRC in East Vancouver by creating welcoming spaces and building relationships with neighbours through community night dinners, movie nights, and public talks. She is also a cook at Le Marché St George, a friendly neighbourhood cafe/general store making delicious crepes and serving the community. Trixie has a Masters Degree in Public Policy from Simon Fraser University. She is a member of the Board of Directors at Citizens for Public Justice.

Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning

Jonathan Nicolai-deKoning lives in Edmonton, Alberta, where he and his wife Sarah are grateful to get to spend time with marginalized communities at the inner-city agency where they work.  Jonathan is a reintegration chaplain for the Open Door program, partnering with local communities to provide support, accountability, and welcome to folks leaving prison.  Jonathan lives, reads, gardens, cooks, and bakes bread in a big old house in the Sherbrooke neighbourhood with his wife and young children. 

Thyra VanKeeken

Rev. Thyra VanKeeken is the Pastor of First Christian Reformed Church in Brandon, Manitoba. Thyra is a native of Edmonton, Alberta, a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary, and a former intern at the Office of Social Justice. Currently Thyra serves on the committee that supports the Centre for Public Dialogue in Ottawa. 

Joella Ranaivoson

Joella Ranaivoson is the Associate Chaplain of Upper Class Students at Calvin College, her alma mater. She is a native of Madagascar, but was raised in Papua New Guinea, the US, and Kenya. The world, its cultures, and the global church are among her loves. She completed her Master of Divinity at Calvin Seminary (she’s clearly fond of Calvin), and she lives in Grand Rapids. Joella is currently the Associate Chaplain of Upperclass Students at Calvin College. 

Daniel José​ Camacho

Daniel José Camacho is currently a Masters of Divinity student at Duke Divinity School. Originally from Uniondale, New York, He graduated from Calvin College with a B.A. in Philosophy. He is passionate about combining academics, faith, writing, and social justice work. Daniel has worked in multiple congregations, residence life, as a research assistant at The Colossian Forum, and for the Long Island civil rights non-profit ERASE Racism. His writing has been published in the Perspectives Journal of Reformed Thought, Christian Century, and Religion Dispatches, and his commentary has appeared in the New York Times. Daniel is pursuing ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).

Neil

Neil (not his real name) is an employee of the Christian Reformed Church in North America, serving in the Middle East. 

Watch for our first post from John Eigege this Monday, November 7!