While the biggest part of each edition of ChristianWeek is determined by what is happening now ("news"), the editors count on a lot of pre-planned items to make sure the newspaper is full of articles that inform and enlighten, that help to stimulate sound thinking and equip our readers to be more effective leaders.

We depend on columnists to carry a major part of that load and are very grateful for the gifted writers and analysts who roll yet another commitment into their active lives. Writing a column is kind of like preaching a sermon: it requires a judicious blend of knowledge and wisdom, and must be presented persuasively within a fixed format. Few there be who do it well.

In the natural course of things, the availability of these freelance contributors to work for ChristianWeek waxes and wanes. Thankfully, it’s our experience that as one moves on to other life priorities, another appears to fill the void. I like to think that we "discover" gifted writers and columnists, but the truth is they most often find us.

For the record, while ChristianWeek makes it a practice to pay all our writers, none of them do it because of the money they make with us. Occasionally a writer will return a payment in exchange for a receipt eligible for tax deduction (we are registered charity). One has long insisted on working gratis. The opportunity of a platform and a simple desire to share useful information and advice is apparently sufficient. We all benefit.

Beginning with the September editions of ChristianWeek you will be meeting some new writers and reading some new columns.

But now we are bidding farewell to two writers: Esther Barnes’ poignant series on living as a widow is wrapping up, and Danielle Shaw is leaving the Faith and Law beat in order to pursue graduate studies while continuing her full-time job. Dani has been very faithful at providing readers with solid information and practical advice about new and existing legislation affecting Christian faith and life in Canada. And she’s not going out quietly: two of her articles appear in this edition of ChristianWeek.

Reader alert: ChristianWeek is developing an online archive of PDF format columns for you to download, link to, duplicate or forward as desired. We’re starting with Nancy Lindquist’s "Inside Story" columns, which shine a much-needed spotlight on Canadian writers who are Christian. This process enables ChristianWeek to spread good news even further, to inform and equip a wider group of readers and to promote subscriptions to our newspaper. Please check out the "Inside Story"