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In the heart of Detroit and its surrounding neighborhoods, congregations are reimagining what it means to steward the land—and the Spirit is moving through gardens.  During a recent visit to Michigan, Derrick Weston, Creation Justice Ministries’ Director of Theological Education and Formation, had the opportunity to witness firsthand how local churches are participating in our Thriving Earth project, transforming their properties into spaces of restoration, nourishment, and hope. At New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Pontiac, Michigan—where CJM board member Rev. Keyon Payton serves as pastor—a vision is growing. The congregation is working with their assigned community scientist to bring new life to a currently undeveloped plot of land beside their church. While their numbers have decreased in recent years, their commitment to serving their neighbors is growing stronger. With an abundance of land and a heart for innovation, they are discerning how best to turn open space into a community garden that will not only feed bodies but also build relationships and deepen their connection to the land. A similar story is unfolding at Nazarene Missionary Baptist Church, pastored by Rev. Kevin Harris. This congregation already plays a vital role in food distribution for the surrounding community—and now they’re hoping to supplement that ministry with food they grow themselves. During his visit, Derrick met Rev. Harris and Amanda, a staff member from the Thriving Earth team, who walked the grounds where the garden may soon take root.
Rev. Harris spoke of being inspired by a nearby vibrant community garden, imagining how his church could not only grow food but also grow trust, collaboration, and a deeper sense of neighborhood resilience.
With support from the Thriving Earth initiative and the passion of local leaders, churches like Nazarene Baptist are becoming anchors for food justice and environmental healing. This work reflects the heart of what Thriving Earth is about: helping churches live into their call to care for creation in tangible ways, using the land they already steward to meet urgent needs and cultivate hope. As these gardens begin to take shape, they offer a glimpse into what it looks like when faith, science, and community come together for the good of all. We will continue to keep our Creation Justice community updated as the Thriving Earth projects continue to evolve, but for now, we celebrate the seeds being planted—both literal and spiritual—by congregations choosing to grow something beautiful in the midst of challenges.
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As the year began and the new realities of our world’s landscape began to come into focus, the frigid temperatures, short days, and long nights of winter felt like a fitting backdrop to what was happening in the hearts and minds of millions of Americans. It felt cold, lifeless, and chilling. We had the promise that life was there somewhere under all of that solemnity and yet it felt far off and no one could blame you if you had your doubts about the seasons turning… …but spring is relentless. Even as the horrors continue to unfold, and in some cases multiply, there is no denying the truth that a new season is upon us. On mornings when it would be easy to despair, our eyes are drawn to the daffodils and crocuses springing up in our yards. There are more and more hours of sunlight available to us when we clock out of work, reminding us that light is beginning to turn the tide. And depending on where you live, maybe it’s not exactly warm yet, but those few moments where you can sneak outside without a jacket feel like freedom! Even the rain feels like a life-affirming alternative to the snow. Spring is here.  No, spring doesn’t make everything better. It doesn’t undo the trauma and fear of the last few months nor does it preclude the inevitable pains that are still on the horizon. But there is a promise that comes along with the shifting of the seasons. The promise is that not only is change possible, change is inevitable. But there is a promise that comes along with the shifting of the seasons. The promise is that not only is change possible, change is inevitable. What’s not inevitable is whether change will be for better or for worse. That’s why even as we pray and hope, we also speak out and work. Like the flowers that will bloom this season, the change that will come will be based on the seeds that we plant. It’s not enough to say that what we have now is cruel and unjust, though it is in many ways. We must also start to give shape to the world as we imagine it to be. Spring is a time for imagination!  Every year at this time, I look over my garden and I see the first signs of perennials that I have planted in previous years beginning to wake up. Beyond that, I see a blank canvas of soil and I dream. I dream of lettuce and kale and other leafy greens, I dream of bright sunflowers and marigolds. I dream of tomatoes and peppers. In my dream there are no weeds! I dream of all of the life that could come from my garden, but I’d be a pretty terrible gardener if I left it to dreaming. Seeds need to be planted, soil needs to be turned, and yes, weeds need to be pulled. Spring is for action! Paul told the Corinthians “if anyone is in Christ, that person is a new creation: everything old has passed away; look, new things have come into being!” A new creation doesn’t magically appear as much as we’d like for it to. Being “in Christ” means walking the road He walked, a road of compassion, forgiveness, and sacrifice. It means naming evil for what it is and offering an alternative way of being. As Lent comes to a close and Easter comes into focus, we’re reminded of what it might cost us to declare that the old things are “dead” and lead to more death. But spring is the time when we clear away what has died to make room for what will come. Spring is relentless. It comes even when it feels the winter inside of us will be eternal. Spring is relentless. It comes even when it feels the winter inside of us will be eternal. " It comes despite our exhaustion, our outrage, our cynicism, and our hopelessness. It comes declaring that it’s time for new life, whether we’re ready for it or not. And it invites us to be a part of the rebirth.
May we people who answer the call of spring for the sake of God’s people and God’s Creation. Derrick Weston Director of Theological Education and Formation Creation Justice Ministries At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, ‘Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.’ He said to them, ‘Go and tell that fox for me, “Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work. Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed away from Jerusalem.” Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! (Luke 13:31-34)  As he prepares himself and his disciples to enter Jerusalem, Jesus is confronted by the very real threat posed to him by the powers that be. Herod, he’s reminded, has both the desire and the ability to kill him. As he often does, Jesus draws on parallels from nature to contrast who is he as opposed to his adversary. Herod is a fox, wily, lethal and ultimately cowardly. Jesus, is a mother hen, protective and self sacrificial using what power she does have to preserve life. In this moment we see two contrasting views of power, a decidedly masculine one, though female foxes are no less lethal than their male counterparts, and a decidedly feminine one. In the introduction to their collection of essays All We Can Save: Truth, Courage and Solutions for the Climate Crisis, Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katherine Wilkinson discuss the rise of climate leadership that is coming from women and girls. “Look around and you will see on the rise climate leadership that is more characteristically feminine and more faithfully feminist, rooted in compassion, connection, creativity, and collaboration”. It’s not hard to see in this model of leadership a more Christ-like way of being in the world. Johnson and Wilkinson offer four characteristics of the feminine models of leadership that they celebrate in their book. First, is a focus on making change rather than being in charge. “We see women and girls moving beyond ego, competition and control which are rampant in the climate space and impede good work”. Power is found by laying aside individual accolades for a common goal. Second, is a commitment to responding to the climate crisis in a way that heals systemic injustices rather than making them worse. “Equity is not secondary to survival,” they argue, “it is survival”. “Equity is not secondary to survival,” they argue, “it is survival”. Third is an appreciation for leading from the heart and not just from the head. This is a recognition of the emotional (And spiritual) toll that this crisis has on all of us and the need to lead with our whole selves. Finally, there is a recognition that building community is fundamental to building a better world. These leadership principles echo the basic tenets that eco-feminist thought has been built on over the last five decades: gender equality, revaluing of non-patriarchal/non-hierarchical structures, respect for organic processes, holistic connections, and the merits of intuition and collaboration.
As we continue to explore the themes of our annual resource, The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith, it’s hard to ignore that much of what we hold up as ideal uses of power could be seen as feminine. We fully embrace that idea! Much of what has been extractive about our world can be traced to patriarchal notions of domination that desperately need to be rejected and countered. As we move into Women’s history month, we celebrate the women in both the climate movement and the church who have used their power to lead in ways that build connection, preserve life, and and allow for the fullest measure of human flourishing. All quotes taken from All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. Ed. by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine K. Wilkinson. (One World Trade, 2021). Click here to download The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith resource. Derrick Weston Director of Theological Education and Formation Creation Justice Ministries For the second year in a row, Creation Justice Ministries hosted a songwriting retreat to bring the themes of our annual resource, The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith, to life through music and worship. With generous support from the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, this year’s retreat gathered an incredible group of songwriters at Sister Grove Farm, a beautiful retreat space owned and operated by Creation Justice Ministries’ Board President, Sarah Macias. At the heart of this gathering was Ken Medema, the renowned singer-songwriter and storyteller who has been composing and performing for over 50 years. Ken, who is legally blind, has an extraordinary gift for musical improvisation and has worked with communities across the world to create songs that reflect their unique stories. Once again, he served as the retreat’s primary coordinator, guiding our team of songwriters through an inspiring creative process. You can read more about Ken's story here.  A Gathering of Songwriters The group of musicians included both returning and new voices: 🎵 John and Alyssa Creasy – A married duo from Pittsburgh, they have been performing together since high school as the leaders of This Side of Eve, blending folk, rock, and worship music. 🎵 Julian Reid – A musician, speaker, and writer, Julian is the founder of Notes of Rest®, a ministry that invites the weary into God’s rest through biblical reflection and Black music traditions. 🎵 Darrell Adams – A singer-songwriter from Louisville, Kentucky, and the executive director of MedWater, an organization dedicated to community-driven clean water solutions. 🎵 Mark Miller – A Professor of Music at Drew Theological School, Mark has dedicated his career to creating music that inspires justice and inclusion in faith communities. 🎵 Lindy Thompson – A poet and lyricist from Franklin, TN, Lindy’s work explores themes of faith, justice, and connection. 🎵 Thomas Graham – A talented bass player and singer from Kentucky, bringing depth and rhythm to the creative process. A Journey of Reflection and Creation
Before gathering in person, the songwriters met twice—first, to build community and get to know one another, and later to hear a presentation on the impacts of extraction on the climate, grounding their creative process in theological and ecological reflection. At Sister Grove Farm, they spent three days immersed in collaboration, worship, and songwriting. They listened to one another’s music, explored the themes of The Power of God, and reflected on how faith, justice, and creation intersect through song. Dr. Brian McLaren, author of Life After Doom, joined the retreat, offering insights on finding hope and purpose in the face of ecological crises. By the end of the retreat, these gifted musicians had crafted seven original songs, each one a powerful expression of faith, justice, and transformation—a call to reimagine power and renew our commitment to creation. Music as a Call to Action The songs born from this retreat will be featured in The Power of God resource, providing churches and faith communities with worship materials that inspire action. Music has always been a powerful tool for justice, and these songs serve as a reminder that faithful resistance and renewal can be woven into our worship and daily lives. We are incredibly grateful to Ken Medema, our songwriters, the Calvin Institute for Christian Worship, and Sister Grove Farm for making this retreat possible. Listen to the seven songs and learn more about The Power of God: From Extractive Theology to Transformative Faith by clicking here. |
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