By Jeff Brumley As assistant executive director of the Virginia Baptist Missions Board, Glenn Akins is charged with all kinds of big-picture kingdom work, including keeping churches up to speed on cultural trends and demographics. “It’s important for churches to…
CBF appeals for disaster response volunteers
By Jeff Brumley With assessments conducted and even some initial responses underway, disaster responders with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are now calling for volunteers for long-term tornado recovery projects. CBF U.S. Disaster Response Director Tommy Deal today issued a call…
Labyrinth transforms prayer life, Baptists say
By Jeff Brumley Rita Martin knows a thing or two about prayer as a lifelong Baptist who raised a family in the church. Or at least she thought she did until this past Maundy Thursday when she participated in a…
‘Most Bible-minded city’ status doesn’t impress Baptist pastors
By Jeff Brumley Leading a church in a city recently described as the most “Bible-minded” in America does have its advantages, Thomas Quisenberry said. Mainly: not a lot of necessity to explain the backstory during sermons and Scripture discussions, said…
CBF Fla. gathering has international, interfaith flavor
By Jeff Brumley Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida members have a wide range of interfaith and international topics to choose from at their Spring Celebration in Orlando this week. The meeting, May 2-3 at College Park Baptist Church, includes workshops,…
Baptists survey ‘hurricane like’ tornado damage
By Jeff Brumley In 2013, Roy Peterson led a team to the Oklahoma City area immediately after a massive tornado roared through the city of Moore and other neighboring communities. They were there when more twisters ravaged the state. “We…
Baptists getting, staying busy in disaster areas
By Jeff Brumley Baptist disaster-relief groups are mobilizing now that they have a clearer picture of the need and permission to enter Arkansas and other parts of the South pounded by vicious waves of tornadoes since Sunday. The Cooperative Baptist…
Activists reflect on Baptist peacemaking in wake of Stassen death
By Jeff Brumley The term “Baptist peacemaking” conjures up images of President Jimmy Carter observing elections on troubled continents. For others it means human rights activists brokering peace deals between warring factions in Africa or the Middle East. But it…
Baptist groups await OK to help Ark. twister victims
By Jeff Brumley Death tolls and destruction aren’t the only difficult things to deal with for Baptist disaster-relief officials. Having to tell eager volunteers, at least initially, to stay home can be just as tough. “The toughest part of my…