By Jeff Brumley There may just be an ancient solution to the modern church’s problems of decreasing attendance and rising religious illiteracy in a post-modern culture turned off by denominational brand names, some leading Baptist scholars and educators say. The…
Discerning what is – and isn’t – persecution
By Jeff Brumley In America, a reality TV star gets suspended for controversial remarks on race and homosexuality and conservative Christians claim victim and martyr status in the media. In Egypt, churches are torched by Islamic mobs and those Christians…
Divine devices or digital distractions?
By Jeff Brumley Alan Rudnick never was a fan of bringing phones into church sanctuaries and never did so himself — until about a year ago. That’s when he discovered bona fide uses for electronic devices during worship services at…
CBF churches scrimmage over BCS game
By Jeff Brumley Two Cooperative Baptist churches — one in Alabama, the other in Florida — are embroiled in a social media rivalry over college football that’s making headlines and inspiring mission work. It all started Tuesday when Bill Shiell, the senior pastor at…
Hispanic tapped as CBF Florida moderator
By Jeff Brumley Ruben Ortiz has a passion for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that goes beyond issues of polity and shared spiritual values. For him, the connections are personal and deeply emotional and were solidified in 2009. That was the…
Critics: ‘Duck Dynasty’ star no role model
By Jeff Brumley The volcanic controversy surrounding “Duck Dynasty” star Phil Robertson has been a double-whammy for moderate and progressive Christians. First there is the anti-gay, pro-Jim Crow GQ magazine interview with Robertson, a professed Christian, which ignited the controversy on…
Busy year ahead for religious liberty, BJC
By Jeff Brumley In some ways, 2013 was a typical year for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty, with legal briefs to file, politicians and Supreme Court justices to sway and religious liberty to defend. In other ways, it was a ground-breaking year…
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By Jeff Brumley Through her teens and early 20s, Sarah Turner believed it was her cerebral palsy that barred her way to happiness, doomed her future and ignited the anger toward her maker. “I thought God hated me because he…
HSU grad beats limits of cerebral palsy
By Jeff Brumley Through her teens and early 20s, Sarah Turner believed it was her cerebral palsy that barred her way to happiness, doomed her future and ignited the anger toward her maker. “I thought God hated me because he…
Clergy hopeful about ‘Daniel Plan’
By Jeff Brumley Ministers who specialize in health and spiritual formation are hopeful Rick Warren’s new food-and-faith program may boost ongoing efforts to link body and soul in the minds of Baptists and other Christians. The Daniel Plan: 40 Days to…
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Church rehabs home for ministry outreach
By Jeff Brumley Gary Montgomery recalled the first time, a couple years ago or so, he laid eyes on the foreclosed, rundown house a bank had donated to his Tallahassee-based prison, ex-offender and family ministry. “The bathtub fell into the…