By Jeff Brumley The Baptist World Alliance is appealing for donations to aid its partners inside Syria to deliver humanitarian assistance to victims of civil war. The continuing rise in violence and suffering sparked the appeal the organization issued on…
Online community as missions field
By Jeff Brumley Jim Somerville pastors a Baptist congregation in Virginia that, thanks to the Internet, includes people living in Austria, India and Slovakia. And now, he learned recently, some guy in Iowa. “He said ‘I tune in online and…
Thriving cowboy churches buck ‘fad’ status
By Jeff Brumley Charles Higgs is all too familiar with the smirks and jokes generated when talk turns to cowboy churches. Images of worship in rodeo arenas, preachers on horseback and baptisms in cattle troughs also elicit criticism – especially…
The life of a cowboy church pastor
By Jeff Brumley As the pastor of Lost Pines Cowboy Church in Elgin, Texas, Greg Long pulls the usual pastoral and preaching responsibilities as ministers in traditional churches. But visiting his flock begins to take on a literal meaning sometimes. “A…
NL play-in ‘win-win’ for Georgia church
By Jeff Brumley The leadership of First Baptist Church in Dalton, Ga., expects no congregational split Friday night, regardless of which side prevails when the local favorite Atlanta Braves take on the St. Louis Cardinals in a do-or-die game that…
Houston Baptists transform lives in Peru
By Jeff Brumley There’s what people can imagine, Houston cardiologist Luis Campos says, and then there’s what God can imagine. The 67-year-old South Main Baptist Church member said he has witnessed that repeatedly in almost a decade of ministry with…
Churches spin off ministry nonprofits
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…