by Caleb Mynatt With a nearly 30-year career as a chaplain under his belt, Paul Byrd can’t imagine his life being any different. But before his career began as a resident in a Clinical Pastoral Education program, Byrd had never really considered pursuing a career in chaplaincy. In childhood, Byrd thought he would grow up … Continue reading
In social circles, there are specific topics that many people try to avoid, such as politics and religion. Don’t get me wrong that doesn’t mean that people do not bring them up. That list gets even more expansive in the church, certainly avoiding partisan topics, doubt, mental health, suicide, heresy, and those very unpleasant verses … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed “Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart…” This has long been my favorite hymn. It was sung at my wedding, and it will be sung at my funeral. It sums up well my take on the journey of faith. We all have those aspects of church that resonate most deeply. … Continue reading
The following is a tribute celebrating the life of Helen Jean Parks, who served as a missionary in Indonesia. She and husband Dr. Keith Parks helped start the missions program of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Dr. Parks began as the first Coordinator of CBF Global Missions in January 1993 and retired in 1999. Please keep … Continue reading
By Tiffany Stubbs For a very long time, I’ve been able to find solace in being outside even when my insides were speaking the many languages of development. From emerging early childhood to the awkwardness of puberty and the newfound identity of being a young adult, I found a space to just be and create … Continue reading
By Jennifer ColosimoFor the past 17 years, CBF field personnel Shane McNary and his wife, Dianne, have lived more than 5,000 miles away from home ministering to the Roma people in Slovakia and Czechia. From teaching English and serving children to spearheading missions teams to helping the poor and starting churches, they’ve worked to encourage … Continue reading
The world is becoming more pluralistic, and the freedom of religion for all is becoming a realistic practice within our communities. At the same time, the American religious landscape is seeing a zealous resurgence of Christian Nationalism. For many, the threat of religious intolerance increases. As we become more entrenched in our worldviews, we close … Continue reading
By Sarah Hemberger Let’s talk about what scares you. I don’t mean the kind of scared you get when watching those horror movies this time of year or the sudden jolt you feel when someone jumps out and surprises you. No. I’m talking about fear—that deep emotion you cannot avoid, yet struggle to find the … Continue reading
By Hunter Greene We can become only what we can imagine. I learned this lesson as a young kid when I realized why my parents wouldn’t let me watch R-rated movies. These movies were alarming to my parents as they offered a visual representation of the type of person I was not to be. Their … Continue reading
By Laura Foushee The last time I preached for our church in Tokyo (Tokiwadai Baptist Church) was in November. It was by video, allowing as many takes as I needed. The last time I had walked into a church building for worship was in March of last year. The last time I had used public transportation … Continue reading
