CBF Missouri / General CBF

Small Churches are Huge

Small churches may not have all the facilities and programs the larger churches enjoy. But many of them have the community, commitment and mission focus that all churches are looking for, and that’s huge. Continue reading

CBF Missouri / General CBF

In Charlotte’s Web

The Youth Assembly and Children’s Assembly demonstrate CBF’s commitment to families and its “investment in young Baptists.” I hope CBF’s experience with the Langfords doesn’t cause them to rethink that strategy. Continue reading

CBF Missouri / General CBF

How Churches Can Survive and Thrive

Churches could benefit from the survival lessons in Ben Sherwood’s book “The Survivors Club.” Paying attention to a few key factors could mean the difference between disaster and success. Continue reading

CBF Missouri / Haiti Ministries

Two Churches Responding Together in Haiti

About a week ago, my home church — Second Baptist Church in Liberty Missouri —  began what I hope will be a rich and enduring friendship with the First Haitian Baptist Church of Kansas City. Through this new relationship, our church is already learning new ways we can respond to the Haitian earthquake. Continue reading

CBF Missouri / General CBF

Asset-Based Youth Ministry

In 2009, nine CBF congregations participated in a year-long pilot project in which they sought to apply the Search Institute’s 40 developmental assets to their youth ministries.  I was fascinated to hear how this asset-based approach to youth ministry was put into practice in such a broad set of contexts, from historic downtown churches to smaller … Continue reading

CBF Missouri / General CBF

Advent Resources for Youth

As many are aware, the Christian season of Advent began yesterday.  I didn’t grow up celebrating Advent, but I’ve come to appreciate it in recent years.  In a culture that can barely wait to shove the Thanksgiving leftovers in the refrigerator so they can get in line for the Black Friday sales, Advent calls us … Continue reading

CBF Missouri / General CBF

CBF Youth Ministry Network

Last week, I had the opportunity to visit with a college student that has recently sensed God’s call to vocational ministry.  He was a thoughtful young man with a long list of questions about everything from which seminary he should attend to whether or not he would be able to feed his family on a … Continue reading