By Paul Byrd, Program Director, Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, Mercer University School of Medicine, Cumming, Ga. “So in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others.”– Romans 12:5 Two years ago, I stepped away from chaplaincy and into a new role helping ministers and healthcare providers … Continue reading
By Aaron Weaver September 27, 2024 DECATUR, Ga. — “Whom shall I send?” and “How can they proclaim Christ unless they are sent?” CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley reflected on these two questions during an opening devotion to the Fall meeting of the CBF Governing Board, led by CBF Moderator Juan Garcia and gathering in … Continue reading
By Delores Stimpson “The world opened up to me when I learned to read.” (Mary McCleod Bethune) It is a blessing and joy to begin a summer pilot as part of the ongoing Family Resilience Program. Our first focal point is reading. It includes reading aloud, listening and understanding. I am working with an excellent ESL instructor who … Continue reading
By Chris Hughes On paper, Rev. Melissa Hatfield would not be someone you’d expect to be leading the First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, Mo. “I’m a single female and a seminary dropout,” Hatfield shared. “It’s a resume that looks interesting for sure.” Despite its modern sanctuary, the congregation has a deep history tracking all … Continue reading
By Elket Rodríguez In the shadows of the U.S.-Mexico border, 500,000 souls live scattered across an estimated 2,300 colonias – unincorporated communities where predominantly undocumented migrants live, unable to venture beyond the 100-mile jurisdiction of Customs and Border Protection due to fear of arrest and deportation. These villages endure economically distressed conditions, largely unregulated by … Continue reading
By Kristy Bay Typically, when one envisions a church, certain images and norms come to mind: ideas about buildings, about congregations, about worship styles and theology. The 21st century has brought some ugly truths about institutional churches to light: declining attendance, clergy exodus in the wake of a pandemic, empty buildings, the politicization of faith, … Continue reading
By Tina Boyles Bailey, CBF field personnel At the End of May I attended and lead workshops at the Mountain Top youth Retreat for Austrian youth. As I continue to connect deeper in my work here in Europe and in Austria, I was thrilled to be asked to be part of this special weekend. I … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester This one’s for the nerds. Rev. Aaron Coyle-Carr, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Morehead, Ky., insists that that once-insulting term, “nerd,” is not only acceptable, but today in his university-adjacent congregation it is desirable. “A nerd is someone who is super passionate about one particular thing, who lives into it … Continue reading
By Lynn Hutchinson, CBF Field Personnel One of the things I love about our Portuguese-speaking church is how interactive and affectionate members are between generations and nationalities, families and individuals. It has taken me longer than expected to figure out who goes with whom because there are warm embraces all around and children are frequently held … Continue reading
September 6, 2024 By Jay Kieve and Joshua Villines We are heartbroken at the news of four deaths and many more wounded in a school shooting in Winder, Georgia. This sinful and dreadful act of targeted violence by a teenaged shooter upends families and community with grief and outrage. We add our prayers for comfort … Continue reading