Our publishing and resources team lead, Rachel Tranter, welcomes you to BRF Ministries News for November 2026. Having nurtured Tanya Marlow’s Treasures in Straw all the way to publication, Rachel reflects on her own profound experience of both the griefs, and the gifts, of the Christmas story:
In Treasures in Straw, Tanya speaks to something incredibly profound. Sharing many stories of those who find Christmas difficult, she warmly and lovingly guides us through the Christmas period, allowing us to weep and mourn as well as to celebrate and treasure, always pointing us towards God’s blessing. Those who know even a fraction of Tanya’s life story will know that she is well-placed to talk about these things.
Like Tanya, I am also disabled. I am aware that, as the years go by, my chronic pain is only getting worse. Christmas can be a particularly difficult time, with lots of travelling, sitting in uncomfortable chairs, or pews, and not following normal routines. It’s easy to get sucked into despair, but Tanya’s exploration of the season encourages us, without being trite, to look beyond our circumstances to our loving creator.
No matter what emotions you feel around Christmas our prayer is, as ever, that this book will bless you, and every reader, in miraculous and unexpected ways.
Also in this issue:
- Remembering David Winter
- Meet Jim Parratt
- A quiet space
- Permission to be honest
- Power and privilege
- … and more
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