Last month, the University of Pittsburgh released a monumental medical study showing the risks that not only adults face, but also children, due to natural gas (methane) development. The purpose of the study was to explore the relationship between methane and particular health issues such as asthma and birth outcomes. And the results were as shocking as they were alarming. How can Christians defend the lives and health of our children?

“Why is it so hazy outside?” As an apocalyptic, orange haze settled over much of the eastern U.S. earlier this summer, this question was one that many were asking. In this blog, EEN's Pennsylvania Policy and Outreach Coordinator Carolyn Heckman explores the health effects of soot and wildfire smoke, how extreme weather is linked to climate change, and how we can begin to respond and care for God's creation.

In this blog, Julian Burnett shares how Pennsylvania residents are saving money by switching to solar energy. Energy efficiency can help lower bills and raise home comfort but a lesser known benefit of energy efficiency is reducing the amount of pollutants and other environmental hazards coming into your home. As Christians, we can take advantage of this opportunity to care for our very own "Garden of Eden" as well as one another.

In this blog post, Indy Creation Fest organizer and volunteer Shiloh Cating shares how her scope of caring for God's creation has been expanded to include countless kinds of individual actions and work in her community. She also explores how this deepened understanding has brought her renewed excitement and joy in stewarding creation.

In this blog, Creation Care Champion Jack Joseph reflects on his experiences turning his faith into action for God's creation. Whether minimizing personal environmental impact, contributing to his church's community garden, or getting involved in advocacy, Jack demonstrates the variety of ways that Christians can step up to act on climate and defend God's creation.

In this blog post, EEN's Communications Associate Jaime Butler reflects on her experience visiting Washington, D.C. in March for National Public Health Advocacy Week.

There’s no doubt that the conversation around gas stoves is polarizing. As you think about the best way to steward God’s resources in your life and home as you care for creation, you may wonder if there’s any way to cut through the noise and get down to the facts about how gas stoves could be affecting your family’s health and what alternatives are available. If you have been asking these kinds of questions, look no further! Here’s a rundown of why the gas stove debate has become so heated and some reasons why swapping out your gas stove for electric alternatives could be good for your wallet, God’s creation, and your family’s health.

My name is Adelaide Mei, and I had the privilege of working for EEN as a communications intern this past semester. Prior to working for EEN, I had heard quite a bit about creation care as a current student at Calvin University as well as the need for decarbonization as a result of my internship last summer. However, many phrases like “decarbonization,” “decoupling,” “carbon intensity,” and “sustainability” were not very tangible for me and difficult to pinpoint how they applied to me and my life. Working for EEN has solidified for me why we care about pollutants: because they directly affect us and the people around us.

In honor of World Bee Day on May 20, 2023, EEN Upper Midwest Coordinator Tim Olsen reflects on the Biblical relevance of bees and honey, the history of beekeeping in the Church, and how being mindful of pollinators can be a meaningful part of practicing creation care.

Recently, the city of New York made the groundbreaking decision to ban gas stoves in new buildings beginning in 2030. While some may view this as a radical step, many American families are already choosing alternatives to gas appliances in their kitchens as they learn about the potential health risks gas stoves may pose to their families. As Evangelical Christians, we care about these possible harms to our children and communities as well as the impact of gas stoves on God’s creation.

Rev. Tim Olsen, EEN's Upper Midwest Coordinator, shares the story of South Dakota farmer Walt Bones and the stewardship legacy of his family's farms. “As dedicated agriculturalists, the Bones family have been trailblazers in countless arenas. They have been building a legacy of leadership in agriculture, conservation, and sustainability over five generations that has made positive impacts which will continue for decades to come.”  

Rev. Tim Olsen, EEN's Upper Midwest Coordinator, reflects on the importance of Congress passing a conservation-forward 2023 Farm Bill and his experience leading listening sessions this past spring with local midwest farmers, agricultural professionals, and church leaders.

Getting to go with EEN to the Climate Action Campaign (CAC) Public Health Lobby in Washington DC was an absolutely unforgettable experience. Growing up, I had always heard of the importance of participating in our government by voting and calling our representatives, but going to DC and getting to actually meet with them in person both reminded me of the importance of talking with our representatives and the privilege of being able to do so. 

This week, EEN President & CEO Mitch Hescox reflects on Good Friday and what the work of the cross means for all God's creation.

This week, one of EEN's Communications Interns, Adelaide Mei, reflects on what it means to be transformed by Christ and to set our minds on things above.

This week, EEN's Associate Director of PA & OH Outreach Kim Anderson reflects on partaking in the practice of communion.

This week, Rev. Allen Drew, Regional Organizer for the Climate Witness Project, reflects on where we as Christians seek power and how the Kingdom of God may look different from our earthly kingdoms and communities.

This week, EEN's Vice President Kyle Meyaard-Schaap reflects on the limitations of created beings and how the reminder that we will return to dust can draw us closer to our creator.

Throughout the season of Lent, members of the EEN community are invited to send us short reflections of how they are living into following Jesus toward the cross and new creation. Today's reflection comes from Jim Tolbert of Asheville, NC.

In this first week of Lent, EEN's Director of Church & Community Engagement Marqus Cole reflects on why we observe the season of Lent and how Jesus can serve as our guide.

A train derailment earlier this month in East Palestine, Ohio has recently received a great deal of attention across the country. The crash resulted in the derailment of 50 cars, including 11 carrying highly toxic chemicals. In all, thousands of gallons of toxic matter spilled and burned at the site of the crash. These toxins – used in making paint, adhesives, and PVC pipes – were spread into the surrounding air, ground, and water. How can we as Christians respond to this incident and take action to prevent future accidents?

EEN's Director of Church & Community Engagement Marqus Cole begins our Lenten devotional with a reflection on Ash Wednesday.

One option to help decrease indoor pollution is swapping out your gas stove for an electric one. Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), families have the opportunity to change their old gas stoves out for more efficient and safer electric stoves in an affordable way.

In week four of EEN's Christ in Creation Advent Devotional, President & CEO Mitch Hescox reflects on peace.

Rev. Mitch Hescox has announced his retirement from the Evangelical Environmental Network as of August 1, 2023. Mitch has been the President & CEO of EEN for the last 14 years.

In week three of EEN's Christ in Creation Advent Devotional, Vice President for Science & Policy Jessica Moerman reflects on joy.

In week two of EEN's Christ in Creation Advent Devotional, Vice President Kyle Meyaard-Schaap reflects on faith.

In week one of EEN's Christ in Creation Advent Devotional, YECA National Organizer and Spokesperson Tori Goebel reflects on hope.

Since becoming involved in EEN and now as chair of EEN’s Board, I have gained a new understanding, deepening my concern and respect for creation. The vast beauty of God’s creation is certainly a wonder to behold when we take the time away from our busy lives to stop, look, listen, and drink in its majesty. As a champion of creation care and the need for all of us living in this fragile world to care for the future of God’s creation, including addressing the climate crisis, I encourage each of you to support efforts to keep our world clean, safe, and pollution free.

One of the greatest obstacles to our evangelical community accepting the reality of climate change is the impacts of such change seeming distant and far away. While growing numbers of people experience and recognize climate change through increasingly extreme and erratic weather, our community best relates to climate through understanding the great harm fossil fuel pollution causes to the health of our children, both born and unborn. We begin to accept reality when very real threats are brought into our living rooms and into our lives.

This guest blog by creative writer and conservation biologist Betsy Painter introduces and explores the concept behind her new book: "A Christian's Guide to Planet Earth."

A thought-provoking parable about our role in stewarding God's creation.

In this guest blog, Nate Pyle, pastor of Christ’s Community Church in Fishers, Indiana, explores and reflects on his journey from meeting God in creation to answering the biblical call to care for creation.

While Putin’s war on Ukraine may rage an ocean away, skyrocketing gas prices have brought it to America’s doorstep. Increased gasoline prices touch every corner of our economy, impacting us all. However, amid our real fears about energy prices, we must remember that Putin’s war has far more grave consequences. It’s time for Christians to remember our calling to be peacemakers.

This Christmas and throughout the coming year, I have hope that in the Church we will begin to see a great revival. This new revival will be of true evangelism, the Good News, of the God we know best in Jesus. It’s the Good News of our God who casts out fear in His Love and seeks His peace through justice and righteousness for all people and all creation.

Even with historic progress, a significant gap remains between reality and the healthy and secure future our children and communities truly deserve. For this reason, we are extremely disappointed in Senator Manchin’s announcement that he is stepping away from negotiations on the Build Back Better Act.

On December 15, 2021, Republicans in the Pennsylvania House voted to approve a joint resolution to deny the Independent Regulatory Review Commission’s vote earlier this year affirming that joining The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) is appropriate and necessary. While disappointing, it not unexpected, as our Legislature has—unfortunately—been consistently supporting the fossil fuel industry over our children’s health and the lives of those affected by the pollution the industry generates.

In response to the White House’s American Jobs Plan The Rev. Mitch Hescox, President and CEO of Evangelical Environmental Network, released the following statement.

Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN) has opened applications for their Partners Program. EEN is looking for Christ followers who are ready to take their activism to the next level through community building, civic engagement, and faithful advocacy. 

Mr. Regan’s leadership at both the state and Federal levels coupled with his ability to work with regulated industries such as Duke Energy and his respect for science and public health make him the ideal EPA Administrator. We are thankful that these Senators had the wisdom to do the right thing for our public health. Now, we call on the entire Senate to confirm Mr. Regan.

We are grateful for this significant – and critically needed – down payment towards the bright and healthy future our children deserve and we are called to give. We thank our congressional leaders for acting to protect the health of our children today and their future tomorrow through these important measures. We especially thank Senate and House leadership –Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer – for shepherding through these critical provisions. However, as with coronavirus relief and recovery efforts, Congress can’t stop here. Much more is needed to fully address the pollution and climate crises. We call on Congress to continue to work together over the coming year in this same spirit of bipartisanship with each other and the incoming Biden Administration. 

I am no longer fooled into believing the number on the tag represents the price of food. Price must include the cost to human, animal, and soil health. We must stop mortgaging the future to provide cheap food today.

Part of being a Christian is creation care. Should Christians care about birds? God did and does. When he created them he called them “good.” He ordered Noah to take into the ark “two of every living thing.” 

It is with heavy hearts that we announce and mourn the death of our EEN Moms Director, Elizabeth “Beth” Bond. The EEN team is in shock and mourning over this tragic loss of a friend, colleague, and sister in faith. Beth will be remembered as a trailblazer— for addressing climate change as a critical aspect of Christian discipleship and for the adoption of renewable energy throughout the church and across the Southeast.

In a great show of bipartisan support, 14 Pennsylvania Representatives and Senator Bob Casey voted yes. The Evangelical Environmental Network especially wishes to recognize Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA 1st District) as an original House of Representatives Cosponsor and one of the GAOA House Leaders. As a constituent of Representative Lloyd Smucker (R-PA 11th District) and Senator Casey (D-PA), the Rev. Mitchell C. Hescox, EEN’s President/C.E.O. offers a special thank you.

My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.” John 15:12. These words of Jesus define our ministry and guide our mission. Therefore, we are compelled to speak out to society at large and especially to others in the evangelical community. Any affront to a child of God must be an affront to all Christians and all people. All humans are created in the image of God (Gen 1:26), and what God has created let no one call profane. To keep silent on the injustice of racism is a disregard to Jesus’ command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Our pro-life values flow from these teachings. All human life is sacred. Sadly, that Biblical truth has not been equally valued in America. To our brothers and sisters of color, we can stand with you, shield you, love you and proclaim that your life matters. 

We care deeply for all of those in the U.S. and around the world who are feeling the impacts of this pandemic. During this challenging time, we hope you are staying safe and acting out of love for our most vulnerable neighbors.

If people of faith can come together to find our place in this work, we can help deliver the change we need, tree-by-tree. Churches and other houses of worship have land that can be used to plant and care for trees. People of faith can also take this action around their homes, and become involved in tree planting projects in their communities.

2019 has been a great year for our ministry at EEN. We are so thankful for all of our supporters who helped to make this year meaningful. Below you'll find some of our favorite highlights from 2019. Please consider giving a year-end gift today to help make 2020 our best year yet!

While Thanksgiving is about being with loved ones and pausing to give thanks for the many blessings God has given us, Giving Tuesday is a chance to shift our attention to our hopes for the future. What a great way to end Thanksgiving and move forward into the Christmas season!