Tommy Deal wept the day five police officers were gunned down in Dallas last summer. Distraught, the Baptist minister jumped into his car in search of police to comfort — even though he was in Dalton, Ga., not Dallas. Geography didn’t…
Missional DNA enabled churches to heal communities after Pulse and Sandy Hook
Pastor Terri Steed Pierce knew even before arriving at church the morning of June 12 that worship was going to be radically different at Joy Metropolitan Community Church in Orlando. Many in her LGBTQ congregation knew victims killed or wounded…
Lazy, hazy days of summer
When our son, William and his wife, Mary Kate announced to us their pregnancy we were thrilled to say the least! Our first grandchild! No, wait, there’s two?!? Twins! For months we have been anticipating their arrival and entering into…
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…
Churches respond to call for disaster relief in Augusta, Ga.
By Jeff Brumley Andy Jones says he has just one answer for church groups still looking for that quick spring or early summer mission: come to Augusta, Ga. As the minister of missions at First Baptist Church there, Jones has…
CBF to churches: be Christ to storm victims
By Jeff Brumley Having been through the ice-and-cold ringer a few weeks back in Atlanta, Tommy Deal wasn’t taking any chances Tuesday as Winter Storm Pax bore down on the Southeast. So Deal, national disaster response coordinator for the Cooperative…