For over three decades, Sister Norma Pimentel has been at the front lines of supporting migrants who are seeking refuge at the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas. As the executive director of the Catholic Charities of the Rio Grande, Pimentel leads the efforts for emergency services, sharing baskets, clinical counseling, disaster response, homeless prevention program, and … Continue reading
Por Kristen Thomason Durante tres días de agosto, 56 pastoras se reunieron para adorar, aprender, reconectarse y descansar en el retiro para pastoras de Mujeres Bautistas en Ministerio de Puerto Rico. Algunas de las participantes son estudiantes de seminario que acaban de comenzar sus ministerios, algunas son pastoras de iglesias locales en busca de inspiración, … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester Sometimes the best way to discover home is to leave it. That’s certainly proven true for Ingrid Bangova, a Roma woman from the small village of Cinobaňa, Slovakia. She, like many Roma people scattered throughout the Eastern European diaspora, relates complicatedly to that concept of “home.” A perennially displaced and persecuted people, … Continue reading
Tis the season of giving. This week, we are featuring two episodes: 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, … Continue reading
So much of the church landscape is changing. For many, the role of preacher and pastoral care provider transforms into building maintenance and pathfinder into unknown territory, with few resources and smaller staff. We know the rate of church closures is staggering. CBFNC has developed an initiative to help churches examine their sustainability and viability … Continue reading
We know the trends around church participation, especially post-high school. Pew studies have found that 9.2% of adults leave the church each decade.[1] At face value, these trends are bewildering and frightening. What’s happening within and around the church that’s causing such a drastic flight? What are the dynamics for those raised in the church … Continue reading
By Kristen Thomason When Jon and Tanya Parks and their two daughters moved from Kenbridge, Virginia, to Košice, Slovakia, they were taking a 5,000-mile step of faith. “We thought we were being the faithful ones, leaving behind our home and families to serve across the ocean. But our one-time act was just the beginning of faithfulness, not the … Continue reading
Advocacy is not a foreign term for Cooperative Baptist churches. However, one of the challenges of being advocates is to examine our past and present failings to be a more inclusive place where everyone has been welcomed and made to feel at home. Recently, our partners at BJC (Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty), who … Continue reading
Each year since 2014, Olive Branch Ministries and CBF field personnel Scarlette Jasper have collected Christmas boxes to brighten the season for children in some of America’s poorest counties. Last Christmas season, over 3,000 Christmas boxes were collected by dedicated volunteers and distributed throughout Appalachia by Scarlette. Boxes went to Pineknot Elementary in McCreary County, … Continue reading
By Marv Knox Shane McNary used to make a morbid prediction that proved prophetic—and pragmatic—for his ministry partners in Central Europe. “When I had a conversation with somebody to start a new collaboration in ministry, my standard speech was, ‘I’m going to die tomorrow, so whatever we decide to do today, you have to commit … Continue reading