By Jennifer Colosimo The story of First Baptist Church of Abilene starts more than 100 years ago. Founded in 1881, its long history of sending people out into the world to share God’s love, plant new churches and be God’s presence is still exercised today. They’ve put their name on the map as a haven … Continue reading
By Scarlette Jasper Scarlette Jasper is a CBF field personnel serving in Southern Kentucky. She works with Together for Hope, CBF’s rural poverty initiative. “Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance … Continue reading
By Rick Burnette Rick and his wife Ellen are CBF field personnel in Florida. They founded Cultivate Abundance in Immokalee in 2017. “There are few places in America more beloved than the Blue Ridge, rising like an ancient Great Wall across a third of the breadth of the nation. It has the burnished beauty of … Continue reading
By Mary VanRheenen What does my brother’s backyard in Iowa have in common with Romanian Roma working in Germany? Both involve picking fruit. While I was visiting my brother, I enjoyed picking raspberries in his extensive raspberry patch. And while I did it, I thought about Florien and other Roma who contract to pick raspberries … Continue reading
By Carson and Laura Foushee The Foushees are CBF field personnel serving in partnership with the Japan Baptist Convention in Kanazawa, Japan. “By faith Rahab and the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobident, because she had received the spies in peace,” Hebrews 11:31. Growing up, I (Laura) do not particularly remember learning … Continue reading
By Jenny Jenkins Civil unrest and violence are not new to Haiti. Over the years, the country has had many such struggles. The difference this time is how long it has lasted and without any hint of an end in sight. Because of the current conflict the usual supply lines are blocked and the gang … Continue reading
By Leah Boling Col. Leah Boling is the director of the Air National Guard Chaplain Corps, the highest-ranking military chaplains endorsed by CBF in Maryland. “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40 When people … Continue reading
By Marv Knox A 2017 meeting in a Spanish city hall typifies Michelle and Matt Norman’s ministry in northeastern Spain. By that time, they had been Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel in the semi-autonomous region of Catalonia about four years. Their progressing proficiency in both the Catalan and Spanish languages had enabled them to develop … Continue reading
By Greg Smith “Work yourself out of a job. That’s one of your most important goals.” Cross-cultural mission presents challenges on several levels. Oftentimes it requires learning a new language, adjusting to new cultural norms, working with key partners across religious and social boundaries, adopting new patterns of living and many others. One of those … Continue reading
By CBF field personnel Brooke Our trip did not start as planned. In fact, it was pretty rotten. The roads were rough, the sun was high in the sky and the back of the pickup was crowded as we traveled for hours to get to the villages. We were not beginning in a good mood, and it was … Continue reading