By Jeff Brumley Gerry Hutchinson attended a Memorial Day ceremony with state officials in Georgia last week, leaving him free to enjoy the holiday weekend with family. But Hutchinson, who oversees chaplains and pastoral counselors for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship,…
2 Baptist churches use shared roots to grow covenant of action in Macon, Ga.
By Jeff Brumley Two Baptist churches that began as one in pre-Civil War Georgia and eventually split — enslaved people to one congregation, slaveholders to the other — are reviving their relationship by cooperating in worship, fellowship and ministry. Channeling that unity-through-service…
Baptists in Burundi appeal for prayer as protests continue
By Robert Dilday Tensions remain high in Burundi as protesters continued to oppose President Pierre Nkurunziza’s bid for a third term, and Baptists in the East African country are expressing grave concerns, according to the Baptist World Alliance. “We ask…
CBF’s Porter gives peek at new global missions process
By Jeff Brumley Steven Porter has made it clear since he was named head of global missions for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship that the organization must overhaul the structure and operation of its domestic and overseas missions efforts. Now, a…
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…
Hinson-Merton friendship continues impact on Baptist spirituality
By Carrie McGuffin and Jeff Brumley The late Catholic monk, author and interfaith pioneer Thomas Merton is far more than a distant historical figure because the body of his work can actually improve the spirituality of Baptists even today, Baptist…
‘God’s way’ of doing missions in N. Korea, Baptist minister says
By Ken Camp A Korean Texas Baptist minister returned recently from North Korea where he verified delivery of 60 tons of corn and 10 tons of wheat noodles to schools, orphanages and a hospital. He also renewed a memorandum of…
At 25, CBF Florida thanks God — and Hurricane Andrew — for missions focus
By Jeff Brumley A lot of names are cropping up as the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida spends 2015 celebrating its 25th anniversary. They include Pat and Carolyn Anderson, the first and second coordinators of the organization formed in 1990. They…
Bluefield unveils half-price tuition plan for qualified students
By Chris Shoemaker Bluefield College in Bluefield, Va., is weighing in on the national debate on affordable higher education with a newly announced plan to reduce its tuition by nearly 50 percent for qualifying students. During a recent press conference,…
Bigger class, new journalism component defines 2015 Mercer On Mission
By Jeff Brumley Mercer University said it will send forth this year its largest Mercer On Mission cohort in the program’s eight-year history. Launched in 2007, Mercer On Mission blends study abroad with research and service. Participants experience a combination…
Popular ‘it’s a God thing’ phrase reveals troubling theology, pastors say
By Jeff Brumley You may have used this popular phrase a few times yourself. Or maybe you’ve heard others say it when some unexpected miracle happens. “It’s a God thing.” Usually it involves some unbelievable circumstances behind that job promotion,…
Religions converge at Mercer’s new interfaith prayer garden
By Jeff Brumley Those dismissive of interfaith ministry and outreach as purely symbolic efforts may have reconsidered during a prayer garden dedication at Mercer University on Thursday. Scores gathered on a shady corner of the school’s Atlanta campus to celebrate…