Devita Parnell is no stranger to the occasional confusion and curiosity elicited by sharing her job title with others: young Baptist ecosystem manager for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. “One time I mentioned my title to a woman at church and…
Online Advent devotionals start Friday
By Bob Allen “Following the Star,” a series for Advent and Christmas, returns to Passport, Inc.’s devotional website d365.org Nov. 27. Daily entries will feature Scripture, prayer and meditative thoughts accompanied by gentle music. This year’s writers include Mihee Kim-Kort,…
Camping ministry unveils capital campaign
By Bob Allen Passport, Inc., an ecumenical Christian camping ministry and longtime partner of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, has launched a $1.5 million capital campaign, bolstered by a $500,000 matching-funds challenge grant from the Eula Mae and John Baugh Foundation….
Iraqi-born teen is Passport’s 100,000th camper
By Jeff Brumley Iraqi-born teen Alfarouk Majid passed through a shower of confetti, glitter and applause to accept the “PASSPORT Camper for Life” certificate he received to mark his being the organization’s 100,000th camper. “The crowd cheered as we gave this…
Devotional website heading ‘Back2School’
By Bob Allen Students making the transition into a new grade, new school or even a new town can find spiritual guidance beginning Aug. 3 when Back2School returns to the devotional website d365.org. Writers for the six-week series are ministers from the Presbyterian…
Surging water ministries about more than digging wells, mission leaders say
By Jeff Brumley and Ken Camp Water poverty has become an increasingly popular missions focus for U.S.-based churches, ministries and denominational groups in recent years. “It’s a hot-button issue right now,” said Colleen Burroughs, executive vice president for Passport Inc.,…
Passport’s founders spearheaded quiet shift in how youth hear God’s call
Over the last two decades, a quiet shift has taken place in how and where Baptist young people hear the call of God and receive training for Christian ministry. One of those in the vanguard of this movement is Passport…
Network provides ‘Oasis’ from youth minister burnout
By Jeff Brumley Ministry burnout is far from being a new concept with even the most hard-working pastors and demanding congregations admitting it can happen to them and their clergy, too. But one group often left out of the equation…
Meeting with Malawi leader turns spiritual
By Jeff Brumley Colleen Burroughs went into her unlikely meeting with Joyce Banda last week with a lot of built-in admiration for the headline-generating president of Malawi. But she came away with even more respect and inspiration when the encounter…
Prayers for friend in Kenyan mall
By Jeff Brumley The recent terrorist attack on a Kenyan mall proved to a former Passport Inc. camper and leaders of the Birmingham-based organization the spiritual value of forging international relationships. It all started Saturday morning when Nashville, Tenn., resident Bethany…
Doing the obvious
By Colleen Walker Burroughs “How much does it cost to drill a well?” is the most frequently asked question we get at Watering Malawi. The answer, around $6,000, is based on a series of geological variables as well as the…
Passport offers online Lenten series
By Robert Dilday Passport, a 20-year-old student ministry with ties to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is again offering its “Journey to the Cross” Lenten series on its devotional website. The series, which will run through the first week of Easter,…