American missionaries serving in far-away places continue to endure significant challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, including limits on travel and in-person ministry, a scarcity of international volunteers and in some cases feelings of guilt for being vaccinated in communities…
CBF’s new disaster response coordinator brings diversity of experiences to the job
The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s new domestic disaster response manager sees a direct correlation between helping communities recover from catastrophes and helping society recover from systemic injustice. Both missions require clergy, church leaders and congregations to build relationships that transform strangers…
If you want to help the poor, first understand their humanity
Humanizing the poor and hungry is a vital first step for individuals and churches called to combat poverty and hunger, a group of Cooperative Baptist Fellowship ministers and lay leaders learned during a recent webinar hosted by CBF Heartland. “It’s…
Perez and Aho named to new staff roles with CBF
A North Carolina pastor and a Texas mission strategist have been named to new staff positions with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Chris Aho, pastor at Oxford Baptist Church in Oxford, N.C., has been named director of CBF’s Thriving Congregations project…
Despite COVID restrictions, faith-based agencies continue to improve lives in Africa
U.S-based humanitarian enterprises with long histories of service in Africa are continuing their work despite coronavirus and because of partnerships forged over years of ministry. Field personnel of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, for example, have been restricted in travel since…
CBF Governing Board focuses on partner relationships, marks anniversary of COVID pandemic
The next phase of implementing its Toward Bold Faithfulness initiative will lead the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to reimagine its relationships with partner organizations, members of the CBF Governing Board were told Jan. 29. Meeting via Zoom due to the ongoing…
In Virginia, immigrants are ‘exhausted’ but there is new hope
Donald Trump’s four-year war on immigrants, refugees and asylum seekers has taken a heavy emotional and financial toll on those populations that will possibly take years to heal, CBF field personnel Sue Smith said. “The people I work with are…
Relaunch of Global Service Corps begins with placement at refugee ministry
Hannah Turner is one of those young adults religion surveys and church consultants consistently describe as demanding social action and community engagement opportunities from the congregations they attend. At 23, the recent college graduate is bringing her experience as an…
Another week, another hurricane — welcome to 2020
The 2020 Atlantic hurricane season is stretching the disaster response capabilities of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to the limit. “I’m afraid we are getting to that point,” said Rick Burnette, Global Missions field personnel and the domestic disaster response manager…