By Jeff Brumley Travis Collins doesn’t need church health experts to know ego and fear can kill creativity and risk-taking in ministry. Collins, senior pastor at Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond, Va., said he had a “big time” gut…
CBF mobilizing teams for Isaac relief
By Jeff Brumley The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is now issuing calls for money and volunteers to help Louisiana residents impacted by Hurricane Isaac. Those calls have already been answered by debris and muck removal teams from nine CBF churches in seven…
Alabama coffee shop fills ministry need
By Jeff Brumley Missional ministry usually involves a church searching beyond its four walls for ways to tackle the pressing needs of its community. Usually. “I agree with the whole missional concept,” said Mart Gray, pastor of Covenant Community Church…
‘Coaching bug’ gaining in Baptist life
By Jeff Brumley Courtney Krueger is so excited about ministry coaching that he can barely contain himself when asked about it. “It has opened a whole new world to me,” said Krueger, the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of…
Church visits firefighters on 9-11 date
By Jeff Brumley Sometimes, being “missional” means developing innovative ministries and programs that push churches out of buildings into their communities. At other times it just means paying attention to the calendar. Susan Rogers and her congregation at The Well…
Moderate Baptists face generation gap
By Jeff Brumley Top leadership roles aren’t all that easy to come by for 20-somethings in the moderate and progressive Baptist world, making Andi Sullivan all that much more grateful as executive director of executive director of His Nets. She…
Baptist groups gear up for Isaac relief
By Jeff Brumley What is now a trickle of moderate and progressive Baptist relief workers into hurricane-impacted areas of Louisiana will increase to a steady stream once long-term recovery needs are identified, Baptist disaster-response coordinators said Sept. 5. On Sunday,…
Life still an adventure for 86-year-old
By Jeff Brumley By all accounts there are few people like Bruce Heilman. Friends and family say he’s a hard-charging 86-year-old, working still as chancellor of the University of Richmond, a passionate husband, father and grandfather, active in Baptist life…
Black Baptist group gathers in Atlanta
By Jeff Brumley About 20,000 delegates are expected in Atlanta Sept. 3-7 for the 132nd annual session of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., the oldest and largest of the historically African-American Baptist denominations. Unlike some other Baptist groups, the…