By Elizabeth Evans Hagan It’s that time of year. Bright-eyed and empowered seminary students are completing their last papers, picking up their caps and gowns and saying goodbye to the hallowed walls of their theological training institution. For many, their…
Street-side prayer
By Amy Butler As a pastor, I have plenty occasion to pray, both in formal expressions like Sunday morning worship and the many casual occasions when someone says off-hand, “Let’s ask Amy to pray for us; she’s a pastor!” So…
Woman follows father into pulpit
By Vicki Brown A Southern Baptist church in Missouri is under scrutiny by its local association for replacing a pastor who resigned for health reasons with his daughter. Melody Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Stanton, Mo., said she…
‘Baptist Times’ website debuts
Associated Baptist Press A new Baptist Times website launched April 23, three months after an award-winning newspaper with the same name ceased publication after 156 years. Part of the Baptist Union of Great Britain, the new website will cover news…
Ministry can be a rat race, literally
By Amy Butler Few people know how truly glamorous it is to be a pastor. We sit around reading and praying most days, sipping coffee and thinking deep thoughts about the state of the world and God and things like…
Youth ministry more than fun and games
Dale Tadlock, associate pastor-minister to young adults and students at First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Va., serves communion to a student during a recent 24 Hour Justice Experiment session. By Jeff Brumley Dale Tadlock is a 45-year-old youth minister, a…
What will churches do about wounded vets?
By Zachary Bailes On Monday, it was announced that The Huffington Postwon the coveted Pulitzer Prize for national reporting. Beginning on Oct. 10, 2011, they ran a 10-part series titled “Beyond the Battlefield.” The series was an exploration of the…
Creatively outrageous congregations
By Bill Wilson I recently heard an interview with George Lois, a leader in the advertising world in the 1950s who helped revolutionize the industry. His innovations transformed advertising and made several of his clients into household names. I found…
When does it make sense for a church to produce its own material?
By Jim White Producing study materials for a church is a huge undertaking that diverts staff time, energy and attention away from other assignments. Making that decision, then, should be done carefully. When does it make sense for a church…