I was early to Fred Craddock’s funeral. Cherry Log Christian Church is less than two hours from Atlanta, but a trip to Appalachia seems farther so I gave myself way too much time. I had been told to eat at…
Pastors eager to find preaching’s place in modern church
By Jeff Brumley The subject of preaching is often lost in today’s urgent talk about church decline, closure and relevance. Most of the buzz centers around embracing technology, social media, worship styles or whether to stay in or sell the…
Your world is too small
By Brett Younger Less than 10 percent of the world’s population speaks English as their primary language. Less than 5 percent of the world lives in the United States. Less than 2 percent of the world is Baptist. Less than…
Let’s keep Herod in Christmas
By Brett Younger Twenty-eight Christmases ago I was the new pastor of Central Baptist Church in Paoli, Ind. I decided to have the church’s first ever Christmas Eve candlelight communion service. I wanted everything to be perfect. Snow fell that…
A Chilean love story: A Catholic priest and his wife
By Brett Younger Joseph came to Santiago, Chile, in 1974 as the new priest at a two-priest parish. Early each morning and late each evening a young woman walked past his window. After several months, he asked where she was…
Lost in the wilds of South America
By Brett Younger One way to explore a new city is to take a wrong turn, get lost, and discover new places by trying to figure out how to get back to the one place you know. This is something…
Here’s to God!
By Brett Younger During the second Skype interview with the church in Chile I’m now serving as interim pastor while on sabbatical, a lovely woman from Holland said, “We don’t know many Baptists, so we need to ask three Baptist…
Felices son los estupidos
By Brett Younger “Once in your life before you die you ought to see a country where they don’t talk in English and don’t even want to.” Mrs. Gibbs’ recommendation in Our Town has stuck with me, so Carol and…
Where’s the passion?
Recently, Brett Younger wrote an article challenging seminaries to do more for their students: Seminaries should not focus on ministers being efficient, effective and successful. The church needs fervor, anger and desire. Seminaries should not produce ministers who want to…