By Jeff Brumley Publishers and marketers are certainly aware that Americans, thanks to smart phones and tablets, are reading fewer and fewer paper books these days. But pastors and other church leaders need to track those trends as well, the…
Religious leaders urge faithful to action in wake of Calif. mass shootings
By Jeff Brumley Wednesday’s shooting massacre in California was more than tragic news for Julie Pennington-Russell. It was personal. The former pastor of First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., Pennington-Russell shared with Facebook friends on Thursday that a relative was…
People of faith explore upside of web: community building
By Jeff Brumley and Bethany Harper There’s a lot about the Internet and social media that’s good for humankind and religion, says Rabbi Joshua Stanton. “It demonstrates the creative potential of human beings and provides evidence that human beings are…
Advent story filled with drama and stress, says minister
By Jeff Brumley Many who observe Advent struggle finding balance between its call for quiet joy and anticipation in a culture exploding with revelry and unbridled consumerism. That tension is one of the reasons ministers of formation have jobs. But…
Online hymn collection aims to comfort those grieving after events like Paris attacks
By Jeff Brumley Those still in shock from last week’s terrorist attacks in Paris and other places should try joining others in song, Deborah Carlton Loftis says. Ditto, she adds, for those grieving the sudden death of a church member,…
Fighting poverty about more than serving meals, advocates say
Lauren Sturdy and Jeff Brumley Imagine standing on a riverbank looking up at a roaring waterfall, watching as person after person washes over the edge, plunges into the water and drowns. A caring person has two options — pull them…
Prayer and action best in wake of terror attacks, ministers say
By Jeff Brumley Paris is attacked and about all most Americans can do is change their Facebook and Twitter profile pictures to French flags. Take that, ISIS. But for many there is a lot of frustration that goes along with…
Ministers: take spiritual, missional action to counter terrorism from afar
Dissent and debate at church? Embrace it, experts say
By Jeff Brumley Churches should welcome, not shun, debate and dissent, a pastor told a gathering of Baptists last week. In fact, spiritual growth depends on tolerating and engaging those who hold divergent views, Taylor Sandlin of Southland Baptist Church…
Baptist woman breaks ground — into coaching football
By Jeff Brumley Some women are called to break barriers by becoming deacons, senior pastors and denominational leaders. For Aleena Garcia, 20, it’s coaching football. And while it’s not a church ministry, Aleena said her Baptist faith, plus an early…
Churches promote ministries that unite generations
By Jeff Brumley The article is more than five years old but the question it raises is still a powerful one for some youth ministers, pastors and congregational coaches today: “Is Youth Ministry Killing the Church?” The 2005 Christian Century…
Baptist church to counter Westboro protests with ‘witness of inclusion’
By Jeff Brumley What should your church do if Westboro Baptist planned to picket the high school across the street? If you ask Pastor Jill McCrory of Twinbrook Baptist Church, the answer is stream giant rainbow banners from the windows…