Moments of meditation, prayer, and devotional reading are crucial to faith development in all seasons. Advent, however, is a prime season for deepening one’s devotional life. And if you opt to go “paperless,” there are many excellent Advent devotional resources…
Baptist-affiliated Buckner to pursue deal with Methodist retirement community
By Ken Camp Buckner Retirement Services announced its intention to seek to affiliate with or acquire Sears Methodist Retirement System. If joined, the combined entities would become the largest not-for-profit senior-living provider in Texas and among the top 20 in…
Shoes offer respite for weary immigrant children
By Russ Dilday By the time the young mother and her two daughters arrived in McAllen, Texas, they were bone-tired. After a harrowing month on the road from their home in El Salvador, they crossed the Rio Grande River. Then…
Church shares passion for orphan soles
By Jenny Pope Most churches greet the rush of the back-to-school season with special worship services and promotion Sundays, but one Houston church stays grounded with an annual project that has now helped protect the feet of more than 100,000…
Unto us a child is born
The crowd waited patiently at the international arrivals gate, holding signs and posters, whispering to each other and frequently shifting left or right like a giant caterpillar. A group of 50, young and old, were eagerly awaiting their first glimpse…
Adoption and the Church
Pastor W.C. Martin heard God's commandment loud and clear. If God had adopted us into his heavenly family, why shouldn't we emulate him through adoption on earth? “God is the one who started adoptions,” he said. “Jesus went out of…
Missions volunteers: What in the world are they doing?
Kevin and Naomi Scantlan of Columbia, Mo., feel called to international missions. But as integrated technology services analysts at University of Missouri Health Care and church lay leaders, committing to years abroad really isn't feasible. That's why they're planning their…