Faith in many traditions works in absolutes, or maybe another word is certainty. There is comfort in reading the Scriptures with a black-and-white, definite, and certain mindset. But what might be the limitations of such a fixed mindset? “There is an enormous intimacy in wrestling. You have to be physically close to the other person … Continue reading
If you’ve watched a wildlife nature show, you probably have Stan Brock to thank. For those that grew up in the 1960s and 70s, you probably tuned into Wild Kingdom, a long-running TV show Stan was the cohost. But after TV success, the British outdoorsman turned his attention to something different: medical care for those … Continue reading
By Missy Ward-Angalla March 2023 marked 10 years since I moved to Uganda to begin trauma healing and empowerment programs for the most vulnerable refugees in Kampala. I am deeply grateful for the ways that members of the CBF community have come alongside of our family and ministry team over the last 10 years. Our … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo Imagine how it would feel to grow up practicing faith one way, only to be judged for it as an adult—by the people who believe the same thing as you? For many Black women today, that’s exactly the case. They often don’t have a place where they can simultaneously grow in their … Continue reading
By Renee Owen, CBF Director of chaplaincy and pastoral counseling Jesus said, “Everyone who drinks this water will get thirsty againand again. Anyone who drinks the water I give will never thirst—not ever. The water I give will be an artesian spring within, gushingfountains of endless life,” John 4:13-14 (The Message) My first full-time ministry … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed It’s that time again! Many congregations launch stewardship campaigns in the fall to coincide with budgeting for the following fiscal year. Talking about money can be awkward for pastors because the largest portion of most church budgets is devoted to personnel costs. This is not a bad thing, by the way. Staff … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo In Tullahoma, Tennessee, it can cost a pretty penny to clean clothes. As a community one-quarter of whom live below the poverty line, it’s often a chore families skip or save up for, sometimes choosing between groceries or clean clothes for the month. One small group out of King’s Cross Church in … Continue reading
By Kelly Rhodes Adams If I had a dollar for every time in the last seven months I’ve been asked, “What’s the ‘Clergy Support Ecosystem?” I’d call Shauw Chin Chapps, CBF Foundation President/CBF Chief Development Officer, to make an endowed gift. CBF has three primary ways of supporting clergy: Fellows, Peer Learning Groups and the Thriving … Continue reading
We live in a highly polarized time. You’ve probably heard it a thousand times, knowing we often discuss it on the Podcast. It is easy in our given times not to pull our heads above the mess to see that we have been here before. In other words, there have been other catalytic moments in … Continue reading
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