By Laura Stephens-Reed I have heard it many times in congregations experiencing stagnation or decline: If we could just bring in more young families… This is an understandable thought. For churches with nurseries that once burst at the seams or with memories of youth choirs that went on tour in the summers, bringing in more … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed Two years ago the world locked down, seemingly overnight, due to the rapid spread of COVID-19. Many congregations went from having a website and a minimal social media presence, which sometimes included recordings or livestreams of worship, to creating online community wholly through previously utilized and new-to-them media. Churches pivoted again and … Continue reading
I’m always a bit skeptical when it comes to Christianese film, tv, and written stories. Okay, more accurately, I am a bit cynical. Why? In a long history of trying too hard to be relevant, most of the content is just not very good. Not Dominion, a new graphic novel series. Based on the story … Continue reading
By Paul Baxley Across my years in ministry, I have experienced so many Easter Sundays in beautiful sanctuaries with large gathered congregations, our singing accompanied by majestic pipe organs and brass ensembles. Two years ago, like all of you, I experienced the power of the resurrection in my home with my immediate family, as the … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo One person’s trash is another’s treasure… or, so they say. For Pastor Jorge Zayasbazan and the congregation at San Antonio’s Baptist Temple, their trash has turned out to be the secret to their own greater treasure. In 2010, the church had decided to open up its building for a local charter school. … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester Preston Clegg, pastor of Second Baptist Church in downtown Little Rock, Ark., doesn’t like the idea of missing out on joy. In January 2019, Clegg joined scores of Little Rock residents in celebrating the inauguration of the city’s first democratically-elected Black mayor, Frank Scott. Having been friends with Scott long before the … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo Back in the 1960s, Hampton Baptist Church started a soup kitchen to serve the local Hampton, Va., community in need. As more than 50 years have passed and mindsets have evolved, organizers wanted to show that the program had done the same. Volunteers were doing much more than serving a meal. They … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed Churches are sacred places because they help us feel closer to God. Our spirits are buoyed by the music coming from the choir loft. Sitting in the seats that are just uncomfortable enough to keep us alert, we have heard God’s word proclaimed. We have walked up the steps of the baptistry, … Continue reading
By Shauw Chin Capps, CBF Chief Development Officer & CBF Foundation President Gifts in-kind or gifts of non-financial assets are a very tricky component of church giving. These types of gifts certainly have the potential to be a win-win for both the donor and the congregation, IF the gift matches a very specific need the church … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed The Enneagram is an ancient tool that gives us a framework for understanding ourselves and others. It helps us identify the unhelpful stories we tell ourselves about who we are and about how we interact with those around us. Out of that understanding, we can name and lean into narratives that draw … Continue reading
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