By Jeff Brumley When it began nearly a decade ago, the Alternative Christmas Gift Fair at Boulevard Baptist attracted barely 100 church members and generated a few thousand dollars for participating nonprofits and mission groups. But it has since generated…
Church reaches out to anti-oil protestors
By Ken Camp Hospitality offered by Austin Heights Baptist Church in Nacogdoches, Texas, shattered stereotypes of Christianity for secular-minded 20-somethings engaged in non-violent civil disobedience to stop a controversial oil pipeline from Canada. Meanwhile, budding friendships gave church members new…
Performing the business of ministry
By Jeff Brumley Pastor Tony Lankford had a relaxing-but-productive day planned for himself on Monday. His plan was to prepare the message he will preach this coming Sunday on Daniel in the lion’s den. “I was going to go to…
Worship wars are about distance not style
I continue to hear of worship wars and rumors of worship wars. If you are still battling worship wars in your congregation, you may be in conflict over the wrong issue. Worship wars are not really about the style of…
SUV driver charged in church van crash
By Bob Allen The driver of an SUV that crashed into a church van killing two people in east Tennessee Sept. 16 has been indicted on 36 counts including vehicular homicide and drug possession. Police believe Tyler Schaeffer, 21, of…
Communion alternative for election strife
By Jeff Brumley Kevin Glenn has become quite the buzz in Columbia, Mo., the past couple of weeks for publicly promoting what he says has become a radical concept in American Christianity: That devotion belongs first to God and to…
NY, DC churches hunker down for Sandy
By Jeff Brumley Baptist churches and ministries in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast were hunkered down and anxious Oct. 29 to see what happens when Hurricane Sandy arrives. “There’s been a heightened sense of anxiety because we are sitting here waiting,” said Amy…
CBF aids Cuba with eyes on U.S., Sandy
By Jeff Brumley Baptist disaster-response coordinators from Florida to Virginia are keeping an eye on Sandy as the killer hurricane tracks north, while actively responding to the mayhem she has caused to islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans. In…
CBF headed to Cuba with eyes on U.S.
By Jeff Brumley Baptist disaster response coordinators from Florida to Virginia are keeping an eye on Sandy as the killer hurricane tracks north, while actively responding to the mayhem she has caused to islands in the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans….