Browse Archives
Check out news and opinion posts across the years
European, Middle East Baptists Respond to Refugee Crisis
Baptists in Europe and the Middle East who are involved in the response to the refugee crisis are seeing an "incredible spiritual harvest." Yet, there is a sense of anger, of being overwhelmed at its scale, and...
South Sudan Church Leaders Address Abuses, Facilitate Peace
South Sudan church leaders sent a memorandum to civil and security leaders this week requesting a meeting to discuss the nation's conflict and refugee crisis. Edward Dima, pastor of First Baptist Church of Kajo-Keji...
Political Talk: Temper Your Words, Open Your Heart
President Obama struck the right note when speaking about the police shooting in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. "We need to temper our words and open our hearts," he said following the mid-July killing of three officers....
October 7, 2016
Baptists Groups Form Historic Alliance to Share Expertise, Minister Together (CBF) After Floods, Black, White Baptist Groups Agree to Work Together (RNS) Simmons Helps Boost Tourism Activity (Louisville...
A Dangerous Path for Politically Active Christians
Are you a politically active Christian? For our purposes, let's say you qualify as politically active if you have shared between one and 247 emails or social media posts with political themes in the last week. For...
Healthy Congregations Know When to Adapt – Part 2
The Modern to Postmodern shift is continuing to have an impact on local churches. While discussing its implications recently with a group of church leaders, someone said, "Every pastor is a renewal, redevelopment or...
October 6, 2016
National Baptist Convention of America International Moving HQ to Louisville (Lane Report) Researchers Explored More Than 1,100 Church Budgets – and Here's What They Discovered (Deseret News) Indiana Congregation Gets...
Healthy Congregations Know When to Adapt – Part 1
Given the high-change environment in which we find ourselves, adapting is a primary focus for healthy, forward-leaning congregations. Those who learn quickly, pivot their practices and embody the Kingdom of God in...
October 5, 2016
A Sneak Peek of 'Do Lord Remember Me: The Black Church in RI (Rhode Island Monthly) Evangelical Christian, Muslim Translator Publish Quran With 3,000 Bible References (Christian Post) Mike Pence's Critical Role: Donald...
Why You Have Two Hearts and Two Minds
Sometimes we're a mystery to ourselves, or, perhaps more accurately, sometimes we don't realize how much paranoia we carry within ourselves. A lot of things tend to ruin our day. I went to a meeting recently and for...
Why Is the Church Silent About Access to Medical Care?
A U.S. congressman recently commented that medical care was not a right. That got me to thinking. If rights are conferred only by law, then rights can both be given and taken away. However, are there rights that we...
October 4, 2016
Alabama Southern Baptist Leader Condemns Suspension of State Chief Justice Roy Moore (Florida Baptist Witness) Pope Warns Christians About 'Global War to Destroy Marriage' (Christian Post) Evangelical Voters Will...
Lessons for children and ourselves
By John D. Pierce Each generation is responsible for keeping alive important stories that can inform and shape the next generation. The children's book, Mr. Tuck and the 13 Heroes: A True Story does just that. It is...
Why Great Churches Are Like Your Best Vacation
When Gil Rendle speaks, I listen. He's been a pastor, author and consultant. Now retired, his work has inspired me and given voice to much of what I see and feel is happening in congregations. He "gets it," in a way...
Proposed Law Seeks Accountability for Genocide in Iraq, Syria
Legislation proposed in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide relief to victims of genocide in Iraq and Syria and to hold perpetrators, namely the Islamic State, accountable. The Iraq and Syria Genocide...
October 3, 2016
Mormon Leader: Defend Founder Joseph Smith's Story (Las Vegas Sun) Hillary Clinton to a Black Congregation: 'My Worries Are Not the Same as Black Grandmothers' (CNN) Christian School in Chicago Considers Arming Campus...
‘The Magnificent Seven’
I grew up in the '60s when there were only three channels on television. That meant you had to watch what those three networks broadcast. Add to that your father dominating the television at night, which in my...
Amish Grace: The Only Option for Jesus’ Followers
You doubtlessly remember the terrible tragedy that occurred 10 years ago on Oct. 2, 2006, in Nickel Mines, Pennsylvania. You may not have remembered the name of that small town, but that is where 10 Amish girls were...
September 30, 2016
Black Church Merges With Predominantly White Church in NC as Charlotte Tensions Loom (Fox News) Split Over Donald Trump and Cut Off by Culture Wars, Evangelicals Despair (New York Times) Tony Campolo: Why I No Longer...
A real game of “thrones” …
Apparently, King Hezekiah meant business when he set out to do away with shrines devoted to gods other than Yahweh, the God of Israel. The historian behind 2 Kings 18:3-4a says that when Hezekiah became king, "He did...
Getting Some Perspective This Election Season
An important election season announcement: If Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, Gary Johnson, Jill Stein or anyone else is elected president of the United States, Jesus Christ will still be Lord of the universe. My...