By Aaron Weaver Leaders from the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and Southern Baptist Convention joined Tuesday to discuss the importance of religious liberty around the world. During the event at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary,…
10 years later, one Baptist group reflects on Katrina and its aftermath
By Aaron Weaver Aug. 28, 2005, should have been a music-filled Sunday morning at St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church in New Orleans. The congregation was scheduled to sing its top 10 favorite hymns. Instead, that Sunday turned out to be…
Between the World and Me: A reflection
Over the weekend, I ventured out to Barnes & Noble in Atlanta to pick up a couple books. I bought March, a graphic novel that is a first-hand account of Congressman John Lewis’ life and struggle for civil rights. I…
Ministers, churches seek end to ‘mission tourism’
By Aaron Weaver Parachute missions. Poverty tourism. Vacationary. These descriptors are frequently invoked to characterize and critique a misguided (western) approach to missions — an approach that many say encourages an unhealthy dependency and paternalism. “Contrary to popular belief, most…
Advocate links with CBF to combat payday lending
By Aaron Weaver In the Appalachian foothills of southeast Kentucky, Scarlette Jasper, one of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s field personnel, is working to educate others about the debt trap that is predatory lending. Jasper, who was commissioned by CBF in…
What’s the matter with Florida?
To channel Thomas Frank who famously asked “What’s the matter with Kansas?” — I have the same question for the Sunshine State. What’s the matter with Florida? Or, more specifically, what’s the matter with the (almost) entire Florida Congressional Delegation…
To countless Baptists, James Dunn was an instrumental influence
By Aaron Weaver “A Texas-bred, Spirit-led, Bible-teaching, revival-preaching, recovering Southern Baptist.” That’s Dr. James M. Dunn (June 17, 1932 – July 4, 2015) in his own words. He definitely was that but he was also so much more. He was…
Cooperative Baptists challenged to build bridge over ‘gaping wound of racism’
By Aaron Weaver and Carrie McGuffin “Salvation is about healing and wholeness. Now our broken world could use some of that,” said Jim Somerville, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., as he addressed the topic of salvation…
Not all RFRAs are created equal: What’s different about Indiana’s controversial law
Move over, Gene Hackman. Indiana is becoming known for a lot more than just Hoosier’s basketball. After the state passed a law purported to restore “religious freedom,” it was met with crushing criticism from those who believe the law grants…