By Jeff Brumley Two Baptist churches that began as one in pre-Civil War Georgia and eventually split — enslaved people to one congregation, slaveholders to the other — are reviving their relationship by cooperating in worship, fellowship and ministry. Channeling that unity-through-service…
Virginia church discovers what ‘mission’ means in its community
By Vicki Brown Powers has spent nearly 10 years “helping Christians work on listening for God’s voice” as pastor of Westhaven Baptist Church in Portsmouth, Va. Now 100 years old, Westhaven is a traditional Baptist church that had once been…
Baptists struggle to sell or share sacred space
By Jeff Brumley The Catholic Archdiocese of Boston went to court this week to force a group of parishioners out of the church it is trying to close, along with many others. National Public Radio reported that 100 members of…
Being ‘in friendship,’ not ‘on mission,’ boosts Baptist church in Jackson, Miss.
By Jeff Brumley Northminster Baptist Church in Jackson, Miss., embraced the “missional” concept before missional was cool — or even a word. Its leaders say the lay-led congregation was founded in the late 1960s with a culture inclined to look outside…
Two women, one man make up Baptist church’s pastoral team
By Vicki Brown Two women and a man. The phrase might conjure snippets from the old television sitcom, Three’s Company — but at Englewood Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo., two women and a man make up a unique, entrepreneurial pastoral…
Baltimore Southern Baptists respond to unrest with prayer, service
By Bob Allen Southern Baptist church planters in Baltimore say they weren’t surprised when peaceful protests over the death of Freddie Gray turned violent, because they have witnessed firsthand the conditions breeding anger among the city’s African-American youth. “I want…
FBC Oklahoma City looks north for pastor
By Bob Allen A flagship Cooperative Baptist Fellowship congregation in Oklahoma voted April 12 to call a northerner as its next pastor. First Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, a historic congregation once led by revered Southern Baptist statesman and theologian…
Nearby church to commemorate 20th anniversary of Oklahoma City bombing
By Bob Allen First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City will remember this weekend’s 20th anniversary of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing with music. The music ministry will present the musical Shelter: Songs of Comfort and Hope by Paul…
Smooth pastoral succession takes creativity and planning, Baptist leaders say
By Vicki Brown God’s grace made pastoral succession work at Broadview Baptist Church in Abilene, Texas, congregational leaders say. The church took a step of faith when Senior Pastor David Cason began to mull retirement. How would they find someone to…