Jeff Brumley Nobody in Mount Olive, N.C., was quite prepared for an influx of Haitian immigrants seeking low-paying jobs in area poultry processing plants, but the community’s First Baptist Church viewed the challenge as an opportunity. Dennis Atwood knew that…
Baptist ‘Angel’ brings light to Juarez
By John Hall Jose Angel could have left Juarez behind. No more listening to regular reports of violence between rival drug cartels. No more worrying about whether he and his family were safe. He even had a job interview in…
The staffing dilemma
By Bill Wilson There is a revolution taking place in the way traditional congregations hire, manage and compensate their staff. Some of it is healthy and overdue, some of it is painful and short-sighted. As traditional congregations entered the 21st…
CBF explores new ways to do church
By Jeff Brumley A period of guided spiritual direction is often recommended for Christians struggling with their enthusiasm for discipleship. The same principle holds for congregations, Davis said, and is the approach she will employ as a speaker at “Impacting…
Pastors juggle ministry, motherhood
By Jeff Brumley Mothers’ Day 2012 will dawn with more women than ever in Baptist pulpits. But even those who welcome the trend say the corresponding ascension of the minister mom is creating tensions, too, within families, and the hearts…
Urban churches bloom where planted
By Robert Dilday Committed to “blooming where they’re planted,” these congregations have developed vibrant ministry to their in-town communities. And remaining there is integral to their identity and the way they engage God’s mission. Downtown churches are an idea whose…
Your church has committed to staying put. Now what?
By Robert Dilday Begin with low-hanging fruit. “Start small with block parties, trunk or treats, Easter egg hunts and Valentine’s dances,” said Bill Shiell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tenn. “Then reflect on your success and build on it….
Clear identity crucial for downtown churches
By Robert Dilday “I think the most important question a congregation can ask is: Who is God calling us to be?” said Beth Kennett of the Center for Congregational Health in Winston-Salem, N.C. “And wherever they are located, they must add to…
Rooftop farm an urban oasis in NYC
By Alice Horner It isn’t exactly “Green Acres,” but a rooftop farm at a New York City Baptist church is making the improbable a reality. March 31 kicked off the second planting season for a neighborhood garden consisting of 52…