By Jeff Brumley Broaching the subject of death can be a serious downer in a society obsessed with beauty, health and long life. But there are signs that may be starting to change. “There are more people who are talking…
For Baptists, a lone Arminian voice crying in a Calvinist wilderness
By Jeff Brumley Roger Olson is one of the few voices in American evangelicalism, and among Baptists, who regularly speaks out against the increasingly popular Calvinist movement. “I guess I do feel a bit lonely,” said Olson, a professor of…
In a season of joy, services offer light to those grieving
By Jeff Brumley Christmas is typically depicted as a time of happiness and family togetherness. And for many people, that certainly is the case. But for many others, it isn’t. For them a recent death, divorce or job loss has…
Struggles prepared her for ministry, says pastor of Hispanic congregation
By Jeff Brumley By all accounts, nothing rattles Alina Carbonell. She has survived communism in Cuba, the leukemia death of a beloved sister, an abusive marriage and a nasty divorce. Throw in a near-bankruptcy while raising two boys on her…
Interfaith dialogue requires hard work of forging relationships, Baptist pastor says
By Jeff Brumley Interfaith dialogue is about much more than symbolism, say those committed to the process. That’s because effective interfaith conversations require relationships, and relationships require more than annual prayer breakfasts or worship services that rotate among churches, mosques…
Authors say worship’s revival could be key to revitalized churches
By Jeff Brumley Worship wars have existed throughout Christian history — the experts will tell you that. They’ll also tell you that the debate has increased in significance as the modern church struggles to attract and retain members in a postmodern…
Mundane work, internal politics drive many from church, experts say
By Jeff Brumley A team of sociologists in Colorado say they were stunned recently by data showing a growing wave of once-dedicated church goers leaving their congregations. Their findings inspired the now-popular term “dones,” denoting Christians deciding to go it alone on…
Engaging ‘nones’ is challenging but possible, say church leaders
By Jeff Brumley American “nones”— people who claim no religious affiliation — come with a variety of stories. Some were raised without any religious education at all. Most of them have few opinions on faith and wouldn’t know the Bible…
Weekly communion heals, unites N.C. church and community
By Jeff Brumley It was back around 2008, during a monthly Friday Lenten service at First Baptist Church on Highland Avenue in Winston-Salem, N.C., that Pastor Darryl Aaron made an unsettling observation. “The economy was real bad, tilting into the…
Author cites alarming trends in preacher burnout
By Jeff Brumley Travis Collins was a pastor for three decades, but it was only in the last 10 years of his pulpit ministry that he became disturbed by the rate of burnout among fellow preachers — especially the younger ones….
You’ve met the ‘nones.’ Now meet the ‘dones.’
By Jeff Brumley It figures. Just as churches, seminaries and congregational consultants were wrapping their heads around the concept of “the nones” in religious life, yet another term emerges for yet another category of Americans abandoning the church: “the dones.”…
Merger, not just ministry, is how this church is engaging Hispanics
By Jeff Brumley Cliff Temple Baptist Church was responding to the needs of the Dallas neighborhoods around it long before the term “missional” came into vogue, and before Brent McDougal took the helm as senior pastor. But since McDougal’s arrival five…