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…
Diverse faith coalition — including Baptists — advocates immigration reform
By Jeff Brumley Advocates of the rapidly growing immigration reform movement say they’re heartened by the expanding involvement of religious groups, which they say is key if Congress is to ever act decisively on the issue. “The coalition is getting…
Baptists pushing hospitality beyond comfort zones — and discovering deeper spirituality
By Jeff Brumley Hospitality to a lot of Christians means taking a meal to a sick church friend or inviting neighbors over for a barbecue on Memorial Day. But neither of those meanings come even close to the spiritual practice…
Small church makes big strides despite location, trends
By Daniel Wallace and Jeff Brumley First Baptist Church of Covington, Texas, averaged slightly more than 50 in attendance when the congregation decided to build a sanctuary that seats 150 worshippers — in a community of 269 people. “We’re either crazy…
Baptist disaster recovery gears up for summer
By Jeff Brumley Baptists with a combined hankering for travel and hard work are in luck as denominational disaster recovery organizations are beginning to issue their calls for help this spring and summer. American Baptist Churches USA has posted three…
In Haiti, response to earthquake becomes a mission game-changer
By Jeff Brumley Like thousands of other faith-based groups, Virginia Baptists responded in big ways to the 2010 earthquake that ravaged Haiti. The $1 million they quickly raised was turned into aid that Baptists used to meet an array of…
Skepticism about Bible on the rise, but that doesn’t faze some ministers
By Jeff Brumley The number of people skeptical of the Bible is rising while those who view it as sacred is dropping, according to a recent American Bible Society survey. But those findings aren’t rattling some Baptist ministers. What concerns…