By Suzie Dao was one of 15 children in her family. She tells early memories of being tied to the front porch with her toddler siblings while her parents went to work in the fields. They didn’t have daycare; that was just the way things were done. Her father was a local school principal and … Continue reading
By Carson Foushee Each country celebrates Christmas a little differently. Japan has inherited many traditions from the West, but there are also some that are uniquely Japanese. Like in America, shopping malls are full of beautiful Christmas trees as shoppers seek gifts for loved ones with familiar English seasonal songs playing in stores. Christmas lights, … Continue reading
This week, we are featuring two interviews: Subscribe or Livestream CBF’s podcast shares stories from across the Fellowship and innovative practices of those working to renew God’s world. The vision is to share ideas, stories, and innovations from ministers, authors, and practitioners. Join this audio Podcast by subscribing on iTunes, SoundCloud, Google Podcasts, Spotify, or Facebook. … Continue reading
By Kristen Thomason Music plays a central role in worship for most church goers. “[It] creates a pathway so that together we love the Lord with heart and mind and strength,” said Doug Haney, who recently retired from ministry at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas. Yet the church musicians crafting a meaningful worship experience often … Continue reading
Research indicates that an individual’s perceived level of busyness may be heavily connected to their self-worth and how others view their status. Individuals who are busy by choice may feel needed, in demand, and important, thus elevating their self-worth. Culturally, there has been a shift in status perception in that material objects and goods are … Continue reading
By Christine Every morning for the last six weeks, I’ve found myself lying in bed listening to the songbirds gently welcome the morning outside my window. The room is dark and still, except for the soft echoing from the tree planted along the patio wall. And as I lay there and listen, it feels like … Continue reading
By Chris Hughes For Carita Brown, following a calling from God has involved many doors opening unexpectedly—doors that she has stepped through on faith. She describes them as “and suddenly” moments. “I think of the book of Mark when I think about how God moves in my life. It’s always ‘and suddenly God did this’ … Continue reading
Most of our listeners are not in the kind of church that culturally and theological demeans, abuses and restricts girls and women. Therefore, it is easy for us to detach ourselves from the type of congregational contexts we’ve seen uncovered through the work of scholars such as Beth Allison Barr and Kristen Kobes Du Mez. … Continue reading
It’s a strange new day and age for funding congregational ministry. We know there are tremendous gaps between generations regarding contributions, with Builders/Silent Generation and Baby Boomers giving the lion’s share. However, people also adjust their contributions based on the trust and impact they perceive about an institution. According to a 2022 Gallup survey, only … Continue reading
By Anna Anderson We did not know what to expect when Woody and Bev Baker began to talk to us about ministry opportunities in eastern North Carolina. They knew that being in an area closer to their aging mothers would be helpful. They knew that they weren’t ready to retire fully, and they wanted to … Continue reading