By Jeff Brumley It wasn’t Jim Somerville’s first visit to the Holy Land — or even his third or fourth. But the 10-day journey in early February was the first he had made with Muslim and Jewish clergy from Virginia. The…
Baptist pastor inspired by Jews, Muslims during Holy Land pilgrimate
By Jeff Brumley It wasn’t Jim Somerville’s first visit to the Holy Land — or even his third or fourth. But the 10-day journey in early February was the first he had made with Muslim and Jewish clergy from Virginia….
Pastoral residencies picking up as churches expand ministry, purpose
By Jeff Brumley It’s hardly news anymore that Baptist and other churches are struggling to rediscover their identity and relevance in a postmodern, post-Christian era. But what is getting church leaders’ attention is the growing number of congregations finding their…
Pastoral residencies picking up — and pastors are taking notice
By Jeff Brumley It’s hardly news anymore that Baptist and other churches are struggling to rediscover their identity and relevance in a postmodern, post-Christian era. But what is getting church leaders’ attention is the growing number of congregations that are…
At Convergence, being missional cuts two ways
By Jeff Brumley Ryan Walker and Dan ABH both spend a lot of time at Convergence, the hybrid arts initiative and church in suburban Washington. Walker, 35, a professional musician raised by parents deeply involved in Baptist life, hangs out…
Unexpected spirituality emerges from night of sharing music
By Jeff Brumley For two decades, career pastor and two-time interim Mike Queen dreamed about getting a bunch of guys together to discuss and listen to their favorite music. Now fully retired and living in Wilmington, N.C., Queen finally pulled…
College sexual assault victims healed by religious communities, chaplains and study say
By Jeff Brumley Theological beliefs and belonging to religious organizations can help college women overcome the emotional damage caused by sexual abuse, a recently published Baylor University study has found. The authors of the study say involvement in faith communities…
CBF field personnel laments death sentence for two ‘Bali Nine’ members
By Jeff Brumley Australia and much of the rest of Asia are caught up in an international media and political storm swirling around the so-called Bali Nine as two of the group of drug smugglers are scheduled for execution in…
Florida church builds partnerships with schools, nonprofits — and laundromats
By Jeff Brumley The Well at Springfield, a 4-year-old missional church plant, chose that name to underscore its role as a source of spiritual nourishment in its urban Florida neighborhood. But its pastor, Susan Rogers, said the Jacksonville congregation can…