By Grayson Hester CBF field personnel need not travel around the world to feel a world away. Scarlette Jasper, commissioned by CBF in 2014, serves as a rural poverty advocate for the Together for Hope Rural Poverty Initiative in south-central/southeastern Kentucky and portions of East Tennessee. She’s been there for 35 years, so she knows … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester Crescent Hill Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., officially joined CBF’s Encourager Church initiative in 2019. But it had been doing the work of field personnel encouragement years before that. “Our Encourager Church program came about naturally. It wasn’t something we sought out particularly,” said Andrea Woolley, co-pastor and minister of spiritual formation, … Continue reading
By Melody Harrell Karen Alford makes people well. As Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel in Vogan, West Africa, Karen’s training as a nurse practitioner is not only a credential, it is a calling. As she dispenses medication, she also dispenses education about how our bodies work, how recovery happens, how patients can bring their own … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo Last year, when COVID-19 changed most of the world as we knew it, it was the end of many businesses, not to mention careers. But while tragedy of all shapes and severity ensued, many nonprofit organizations actually grew. As the world’s economic system struggled, it seemed that a new spirit arose within … Continue reading
By Elket Rodríguez Rosalío Sosa sat ringside when boxing legends Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield battled for the world heavyweight title in 1997. As millions watched the sluggers, Sosa waged his own fight, struggling with God’s call to ministry. Holyfield defeated Tyson, and Sosa surrendered to God, although he felt like the winner. Twenty-four years … Continue reading
By Caleb Mynatt As a child, Lawrence “Larry” Foy lived right across from a church. He wanted absolutely nothing to do with it. At his childhood home in Winnsboro, Louisiana, when folks were at the church, Foy would go out the backdoor of his house to avoid even speaking to the churchgoers right across the … Continue reading
By Chris West I recently had the chance to sit down (virtually) with Melissa Florer-Bixler to discuss her new book How to Have an Enemy: Righteous Anger & The Work of Peace. Florer-Bixler is the pastor of a Mennonite congregation in Raleigh, NC, that is actively involved in social justice work and advocacy for marginalized … Continue reading
by Grayson Hester Rev. Dr. Libby Grammer never really cared for sports. And, despite living in Martinsville, Virginia, known primarily for its racetrack, she especially didn’t care much for NASCAR. That is, until she became the first woman ever to deliver a pre-race prayer. “I think it’s important that NASCAR and this community know that women … Continue reading
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
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
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