Creation Care

Creation Care Resources

MOVIES & VIDEO RESOURCES

There are many resources that are available on one or more of the video streaming platforms as well as other portals. Here are some resources our Creation Care Team has found especially helpful.

Cowboy and Preacher - Explores the life and work of Tri Richardson, a retired pastor of a Vineyard Church in Idaho, who has worked to care for the ranch that he and his family live on in rural Idaho. LEARN MORE

The Biggest Little Farm - This winsome film is about a couple with a vision for an experimental farm to test practices that respect and enhance the land and serve as a model for others to learn. LEARN MORE

BOOKS

There are numerous books on the subject of creation or environmental care. Some are written from a perspective of Biblical teaching and others are written from secular perspectives. There is much to learn from both.

Here, Creation Care Team members recommend favorite books we’ve read recently and tell you why.

Currently listed books:

  • Planted, by Leah Kostamo

    • This is the kind of author you want at your next dinner party for her light-hearted but eye-opening stories. Leah and her husband established the A Rocha Christian environmental learning center in Abbotsford BC while raising a young family and hosting a steady flow of volunteers into their lives and home. This playful read explores a Christ follower's serious consideration and action on issues of poverty, hospitality, justice, lifestyle, and the environment.
      Review by Nancy Lewis. (Note: This book is in the BCC library)

  • Surprised by Scripture, by N.T. Wright

    • N.T. Wright serves as Chair of New Testament and Early Christianity at the School of Divinity at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. His takes on many important issues (such as the ordination of women, science and the faith, the problem of evil) are both challenging and refreshing. His theological overview of New Testament literature about “end times” and “the second coming” helps make sense of Christian responsibility toward the creation in the present time. Especially relevant to creation care is Chapter 5, Jesus is Coming; Plant a Tree.
      Review by Mike Merchant

  • Creation Care; A Biblical Theology of the Natural World, by Douglas J Moo and Jonathan Moo

    • Explore the place of the natural world within God’s purposes and celebrate God’s love as displayed in creation and new creation. Theology of creation care, scientific review and suggestions for a Christian response.

  • Saving Us by Katharine Hayhoe

    • Are you a skeptic of climate change? Or know someone who is? Katherine Hayhoe is an evangelical Christian, an internationally recognized climate scientist, and unabashedly hopeful. She spends much of her time talking with others about why climate change matters. She knows facts rarely change minds, or move us to action, but rather we act on what we value.  So, a goal of this book, besides learning about climate change and its impacts, is to help the reader, in conversations, learn how to find shared values behind the facts. You'll be talking about climate change at your next holiday family gathering!
      Review by Nancy Lewis.

ORGANIZATIONS TO CHECK OUT

You might be surprised to learn that there are dozens of active Christian organizations that promote creation care information, resources, and action.  Here are a few of our favorites.

Circlewood 
A local, Pacific Northwest ministry founded by Evangelical Covenant Pastor, Dr. James Amadon. Circlewood is deeply committed to living out a model of sustainable creation care. To this end, they are developing property on Camano Island to serve as a learning center and model for sustainable construction. In addition to a monthly podcast, Earthkeepers, Circlewood consults with churches and other organizations developing Creation Care awareness.

A Rocha/Canada 
A Rocha is a global network that promotes and models Creation Care as a priority for Christian ministry. A Rocha/Canada is based on a wonderful piece of property in Surrey, just over the border between Lynden and White Rock. We visited A Rocha in January 2020 and were inspired by their thoughtful and thoroughly Christian perspective. Visitors and volunteers are welcome on many Saturdays. See their website for details about their many research and conservation projects, environmental education classes, and agriculture initiatives.

John Ray Initiative/Tear Fund
The John Ray Initiative is an educational charity based in the United Kingdom with a vision to bring together scientific and Christian understandings of the environment in a way that can be widely communicated and lead to effective action. JRI’s mission is to promote responsible environmental stewardship in accordance with Christian principles and the wise use of science and technology.

Biologos is an organization dedicated to providing scholarship and resources dedicated to reconciling science and the Christian faith. Founded by Dr. Francis Collins, this group has both a website and the popular Language of God podcast addressing science, race, and creation care topics, among others.

OTHER DIGITAL RESOURCES

We are curating some of our favorite podcasts, sermons, and educational websites here.

The Earthkeepers Podcast
The Earthkeepers Podcast promotes global connection among ecological-minded people who believe that earth care is an integral part of spiritual life. Through conversations about topics like ecology, climate change, gardening, farming, social enterprise, theology, environmental justice, outdoor recreation, conservation and community development, we aim to inspire a movement of ordinary earthkeepers who will help heal the world.

Earthkeepers Podcast

Connecting Faith and Climate with Dr. Katharine Hayhoe
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is an atmospheric scientist and the director of the Climate Science Center at Texas Tech University. As an evangelical Christian and daughter of missionaries, Dr. Hayhoe resides in the unique space between religion and science. Recently, Time magazine listed her among the 100 most influential people in 2014.

Listen to episode

On Being: The Art of Being Creatures with Dr. Ellen Davis and Wendell Berry
In this intimate conversation, we ponder the world and our place in it, through sacred text, with fresh eyes. We’re accompanied by the biblical scholarship of Ellen Davis and the meditative and prophetic poetry of Wendell Berry, read for us from his home in Kentucky: “Stay away from anything / that obscures the place it is in. / There are no unsacred places; / there are only sacred places / and desecrated places. / Accept what comes of silence.”

SERMONS

God's Word to the Church
Interested in a short-ish (45-minute) introduction to the biblical reasons Christians should care about the earth? This upbeat presentation from Rev. Dave Bookless, Director of Theology for A Rocha International (a global organization focused on environmental conservation), provides a solid scriptural basis for caring for God’s world. He also clarifies several misinterpretations of the Bible that may lead Christians to an incomplete understanding of the gospel and God's good earth. Highly recommended.
Review by Mike Merchant.