By Jeff Brumley The Roman Catholic Church is committed to social media despite the hassles — ugly criticism, vicious arguments, inappropriate photos — a Vatican official said this week. While Facebook, Twitter and other platforms often bring out the worst in people,…
A year later, those impacted by Okla. twisters grateful for spirit of unity
By Jeff Brumley It’s natural for people to ask where God was when a wave of tornadoes killed nearly 50 people in Oklahoma in May 2013, pastors say. That was also the topic of a documentary that premiered May 16…
CBF appeals for disaster response volunteers
By Jeff Brumley With assessments conducted and even some initial responses underway, disaster responders with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are now calling for volunteers for long-term tornado recovery projects. CBF U.S. Disaster Response Director Tommy Deal today issued a call…
The glass ceiling for women in ministry only slightly cracked
I recently returned from the Exponential church planting conference in Orlando where I spent time thinking about women in ministry; especially women in church planting. I sat in on all three workshop sessions led or co-led by a woman in…
Labyrinth transforms prayer life, Baptists say
By Jeff Brumley Rita Martin knows a thing or two about prayer as a lifelong Baptist who raised a family in the church. Or at least she thought she did until this past Maundy Thursday when she participated in a…
‘Most Bible-minded city’ status doesn’t impress Baptist pastors
By Jeff Brumley Leading a church in a city recently described as the most “Bible-minded” in America does have its advantages, Thomas Quisenberry said. Mainly: not a lot of necessity to explain the backstory during sermons and Scripture discussions, said…
CBF braces for ‘new day’ in global missions
By Bob Allen A “new day” for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship global missions will begin a “new conversation” about how to better integrate missions into all areas of CBF life, the Decatur, Ga.,-based Fellowship’s new global missions coordinator said at a…
Baptists survey ‘hurricane like’ tornado damage
By Jeff Brumley In 2013, Roy Peterson led a team to the Oklahoma City area immediately after a massive tornado roared through the city of Moore and other neighboring communities. They were there when more twisters ravaged the state. “We…
CBF names global missions coordinator
By Bob Allen A missions strategist with experience in urban ministry has been named global missions coordinator of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Steven Porter, 41, a lecturer in missions and global Christianity at George W. Truett Theological Seminary in Waco,…