Good Friday services at Madison Avenue Baptist Church are traditional in many ways. Participants are reminded, through music, prayer and scripture readings, of the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ. Themes of sorrow and grief are experienced in an ornate…
Christians, Muslims fear backlash from Brussels attacks
The deadly explosions in Brussels Tuesday morning had some American Muslims and Christians awaking with dismay. “I’d like to say I was surprised, but I wasn’t,” said Joe Bradford, founder of the Houston-based nonprofit American Muslims Care. The previous arrests…
People-pleasing pastors risk health, families and callings
Besides preaching and visiting the sick, too many ministers also are skilled at denying themselves vacation days, putting in extreme time at the office and scaling back on family time. “We are well known for overworking,” said Merianna Neely Harrelson,…
Free prayer in coffee shops inspires marketplace ministry
Pushing the church and its ministry beyond its four walls requires overcoming the fear and uncertainty that usually block the way, Thomas Rusert says. Rusert, a Lutheran pastor in Doylestown, Pa., learned that lesson last summer when he began making himself available for…
Thinking of church membership in new ways, thanks to ‘cyber hospitality’
The way Susan Sparks sees it, congregations are missing a huge opportunity to share the gospel by not livestreaming their worship services. “We represent a messiah who used every available opportunity he had to reach out,” said Sparks, pastor at…
Not all evangelicals afraid of dialogue, Muslims and Christians say
A new study illustrates in numbers what many already know intuitively: evangelicals aren’t big on dialoguing with anyone but themselves. “Evangelicals seem to have a particularly difficult time talking to those outside their group,” the Barna Group reported in a March…
Opponents see indicators that death penalty on its way out in U.S.
Melissa Browning was drawn deep into the anti-death penalty movement when the state of Georgia was trying to kill Kelly Gissendaner last year. There were plenty of ups, including multiple delays in her execution date. And there were downs, too,…
Churches helping refugees despite fear and rhetoric, say those involved in resettlement
For some Americans, domestic and overseas terror attacks, plus a good dose of anti-Syrian political rhetoric, have made refugee resettlement something to be feared. And a lot of the Americans who hold that view are churchgoers – including a lot…
Trade ‘the talk’ for transparency in sex ed, Baptist minister says
LeAnn Gardner shares a lot of uncomfortable information with the churches she visits. For example, she tells the parents of young children that those kids will almost certainly have sex before marriage — and chances are very good they will cohabitate…
Is Trump a moderate or a maniac? Divinity school professor isn’t sure
Last fall, Wake Forest School of Divinity scholar John Senior celebrated the release of his first book, which examines the moral complexities that shape how politicians govern. The book also proposes that those who govern should view their positions as…
Faith, MD motivates inspiring Baylor law grad
Ethan Lange vividly recalls the first time he met Allison Dickson. It was a few years back when they were students at Baylor Law School. “She struck me as a person I can be an influence on, who I can…
Embrace ‘extremist’ Christianity to counter hate, ministers say
By Jeff Brumley Joe Phelps admits he is a Christian extremist. For years, he’s being spreading his brand of faith all over Louisville, Ky., where he’s pastor of Highlands Baptist Church. And now he admits he’d like to see it…