By Terry Goodrich A new model of ministry that empowers residents in an at-risk neighborhood of Dallas to transform their communities has resulted in crime reduction, better meeting of health needs, more jobs and improved student academic performance, according to…
For youth ministers, a challenge dealing with mental illness in adolescents
By Terry Goodrich and Jeff Brumley Many mental health disorders first surface during adolescence, and college and youth pastors are in a good position to offer help or steer youths elsewhere to find it. But many of those pastors feel…
Ken Hall fired as Baylor’s senior vice president
By Ken Camp A former CEO of Buckner International and former president of the Baptist General Convention of Texas has involuntarily become a former senior vice president of Baylor University. Ken Hall, who has served as senior vice president for…
Faith community challenged to put a face on poverty, hunger
By Ken Camp and Jeff Brumley A politician’s challenge that the faith community put a human face on poverty can happen only if Christians build relationships with the poor and hungry, according to a Baptist minister who lives and works…
Complex problem of hunger demands collaborative response, say advocates
By Ken Camp Hunger in America represents a complex problem that defies easy solutions and demands collaborative responses, Bob Aiken, chief executive officer of Feeding America, told a gathering of anti-hunger advocates at Baylor University in Waco, Texas. Feeding America…
Baylor professor disputes reports of religious, church decline
By Terry Goodrich Reports of religion’s demise have been greatly exaggerated, says Byron Johnson, co-director of Baylor University’s Institute for Studies of Religion. Close examination of data from the General Social Survey and other data sources show that across 40…
Study: Youth experiment less with alcohol, drugs when plugged into church
By Jeff Brumley and Terry Goodrich Young people are less likely to try alcohol and drugs if they attend religious services regularly and self-identify as religious, a new Baylor University study has found. The study suggests that youth who feel…
Study: Seminaries do little to train pastor to help mentally ill congregants
By Terry Goodrich People struggling with mental illness often turn to pastors for help, but seminaries do very little to train ministers in how to recognize serious psychological distress and when to refer someone to a doctor or psychologist, according…
Sociologist: Concept of God impacts power of prayer, anxiety-related disorders
By Terry Goodrich Prayer seems to be more effective at combating psychological challenges for some than for others, a Baylor University sociologist has found. The type of attachment a praying individual feels toward God seems to matter most in easing…