By Jeff Brumley It’s hard being helped when you’re used to being the helper. Just ask the folks at First Baptist Church in West, Texas. Church member Presley Landrum, 16, said she and her youth group friends are accustomed to…
Moderates among Baptists ‘Loving West’
By Jeff Brumley If faith has led hundreds of volunteers from around the state to descend on West, Texas, for 13-year-old Emily Dodson it was that and something more personal. “I know people who lost friends, dads,” said Dodson, a…
SBC messengers learn to get along
By Jeff Brumley Southern Baptists experienced little antagonism during their annual convention in Houston this week – a phenomenon that surprised some and delighted most SBC officials and messengers. There were plenty of opportunities for controversy. Debates ensued – but…
SBC pastor preaches mental health
By Jeff Brumley Compared to Southern Baptist Convention resolutions on the Boy Scouts and protection of children from sex predators, the one urging churches to develop intentional, compassionate ministries for the mentally ill got scant attention from local and national…
ERLC leader to work with moderates
By Jeff Brumley The new leader of the Southern Baptist Convention’s moral concerns agency says he hopes to build working relationships with moderate and cooperative Baptists, and that he will not treat those who disagree with SBC positions as adversaries. Russell…
Pastor: SBC should support abuse victims
By Jeff Brumley The Georgia preacher who proposed a resolution urging the Southern Baptist Convention to get tough on predators says Baptist leaders’ public support of an evangelical preacher accused in a lawsuit of covering up child sex abuse has…
Team seeks to avert SBC split on Calvinism
By Jeff Brumley Growing disagreements over the role of Calvinism will make the Southern Baptist Convention stronger, not weaker, as long as its focus remains on evangelism, members of an advisory team commissioned to study the topic told hundreds in…
Housing miracle for struggling KY family
By Jeff Brumley For Shawna Barnett and her husband, Malachi, a lay Church of God preacher, “the Lord works in mysterious ways” took on special meaning Wedneaday when a few dozen Baptist volunteers started building their new home in McCreary…
Volunteers sought for twister recovery
By Jeff Brumley Cooperative Baptist Fellowship officials in Oklahoma say they are prepared to handle visiting, short-term volunteer groups to help with tornado cleanup and recovery. Based at First Baptist Church in Norman, Oklahoma CBF Disaster Response has already hosted…