By Vicki Brown Some churches, it seems, are impervious to prevailing economic forces that have kept many congregations building for years. But not Rick Warren’s Saddleback Church in California, which recently accounted a three-year, $71 million fundraising campaign to, in…
Recover the balance between service and evangelism, urge theologians
By Vicki Brown Before the government offered social services, the church — Christians who ministered to the whole person, meeting physical needs and sharing the good news of God’s grace and mercy — did so. Tension sometimes still arises between…
Ukranian pastor tells Baptists of war, persecution
By Vicki Brown In just a few short weeks last July in Ukraine, Pervomaysk was destroyed, Elisey Pronin’s church — Revival Church — burned and his family threatened as Ukrainian separatists took over the region. Pronin has been sharing the…
Virginia church discovers what ‘mission’ means in its community
By Vicki Brown Powers has spent nearly 10 years “helping Christians work on listening for God’s voice” as pastor of Westhaven Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va. Now 100 years old, Westhaven is a traditional Baptist church that had once been…
Two women, one man make up Baptist church’s pastoral team
By Vicki Brown Two women and a man. The phrase might conjure snippets from the old television sitcom, Three’s Company — but at Englewood Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo., two women and a man make up a unique, entrepreneurial pastoral…
Smooth pastoral succession takes creativity and planning, Baptist leaders say
By Vicki Brown God’s grace made pastoral succession work at Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, congregational leaders say. The church took a step of faith when Senior Pastor David Cason began to mull retirement. How would they find someone to…
Studies, experts suggest why some Christians like church shopping
By Vicki Brown You’ve been a member of the same church for a few years. While you may not know everyone in the congregation well, you are acquainted with most folks in your Sunday school class. One Sunday morning you…
Churches facing a rethink in how they engage aging Boomers
By Vicki Brown Many churches rely on retirees as volunteers to keep some programs and activities vital and growing. Some congregations turn to mature adults for the basics — answering phones, stuffing envelopes and other office or maintenance duties —…
Slow to retire: Boomers turn to ‘encore careers’
By Vicki Brown Baby Boomers — Americans born between 1946 and 1964 — are extending their working careers, and many are turning to what has been dubbed “encore careers.” Boomer numbers vary, with estimates from 65 million to 76.4 million…
Baptist leader in Missouri arrested for seeking sex with animal
By Vicki Brown Windermere Baptist Conference Center in Missouri will choose a new executive following the arrest of Jerald “Jerry” Hill on charges of soliciting sex with an animal, its board chair said Aug. 7. According to several news reports,…
Should churches, denominations bear responsibility for unethical clergy? Some ethicists say yes.
By Vicki Brown Ministers are responsible for their actions as individuals, sometimes by civil authorities and ultimately by God. But what responsibility, if any, should the local church and the denomination bear for unethical behavior of their pastors and other…
Ukrainian Baptists continue ministry amid conflict, leader says
By Vicki Brown Ukrainian Baptists have stepped up ministry as conflict continues to tear at their country, Slavik Pyzh told pastors and lay leaders in Missouri recently. The president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary spoke to a small gathering July…