Accepted a new call? Been ordained? Church celebrating an anniversary? Mission trip or project that you would like highlighted on the HeraldBeat page? Send info to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Transitions ON THE MOVE Paul Burgess, to Benson…
WINN RECOMMENDS: Books that matter
The Relational Pastor, Andrew Root (IVP) We pastors know that we are not to view people as mere resources, that “getting church done” and “building the church” can be true perversions of our calling. How often, however, does someone call…
VITAL SIGNS: The reformation of your church
I have had the privilege of working with numerous congregations to clarify their identity and lean into the future proactively. When that has gone well, one consequence has nearly always been true. The fresh vision requires a significant shift in…
LEADERSHIP LINK: It takes a community to lead a community
We are Christ’s co-laborers (2 Cor. 6:1). Churches are collaborative communities. Remember Paul’s conversation about how diverse spiritual gifts blend together to empower congregational ministries in First Corinthians 12? Romans 16 emphasizes that same theme — but with names and…
OPINION: Billy Graham and the ‘old, old story’
(ABP) — “Billy Graham is the most famous evangelist in the world and his power of persuasion has softened the skeptics who used to call him the hot-gospeller from the Bible Belt.” That’s how legendary (cigarette-puffing) CBS newsman Edward R….
TRENDING: Scatter-shooting some trends
Ed Stetzer is an interesting missiologist based in Nashville, Tenn. Brash, opinionated, and fiercely research-driven, he met with a group of Spence Network pastors recently for a “what’s trending” conversation. Here are a handful of his many descriptions/predictions: 1. “The…
C.S. Lewis ‘claimed by everyone’
By Jeff Brumley C.S. Lewis did it during his lifetime and he’s continued to do it in the 50 years since his death on Nov. 22, 1963: inspire Christians from theologically diverse traditions through his theological and fictional work. Box…
New Baptist Covenant enters work phase
By Bob Allen A century and a half after the Civil War divided Baptists in America into separate congregations predominantly black and white, a diverse group of U.S. Baptists is exploring ways to cross boundaries of identity, doctrine and ethnicity…
Faith leaders protest race in sentencing
By Bob Allen Local and national Baptists are among 27 evangelical leaders signing a Nov. 21 letter on behalf of an African-American man condemned to death after his sentencing jury was told he was likely to be a future danger…
SBC leader: Women’s equality ‘false gospel’
By Bob Allen Egalitarian couples “preach a false gospel” by viewing men and women as equal partners in marriage, the Southern Baptist Convention’s top expert on family concerns says in an interview posted on his agency’s website. “God designed us…
Orphan study transforms implementers
By Jeff Brumley Journeys of Faith is an ongoing project designed to help members of Cooperative Baptist and other churches rethink their beliefs about orphan care, especially in far-flung lands where orphanages have been the go-to solution. Organizers say the…
CBF church gives building to SBC plant
By Bob Allen A Cooperative Baptist Fellowship church in Baltimore has voted to disband and donate facilities valued at $2 million to a Southern Baptist church plant launched nearby five years ago. Patterson Park Baptist Church was constituted in 1913…