By Grayson Hester North Macedonia (commonly referred to as simply “Macedonia”) doesn’t loom large on the radars of many Americans. In the shadow of much larger and more influential European countries, this small nation near Albania tends to get overlooked. Whereas France and Germany, for example, contain internationally renowned metropolises, Macedonia by and large, features … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Featured
Presence, Perseverance, Prayer and a Project: Lucien’s story
By Grayson Hester Lucien, better known by his church community as Dyak (“deacon” in Haitian Creole) has witnessed enormous change in the three years since his story was featured on the CBFblog. For one, Lucien’s home of Haiti has endured crisis after crisis in the last year alone—from the assassination of its president, Jovenel Moïse, … Continue reading
Deep & Wide: Missouri church honored for ‘mission excellence’
By Meg Lacy Vega Many of us remember singing the refrain of the hymn “Deep and Wide” at the top of our kid-sized lungs, in Sunday school or at Vacation Bible School. The 20th century hymn by Sidney Cox is about living water that flows from the wounds of Christ, becoming “a fountain flowing dqeep … Continue reading
Blazing New Trails on Well-Traveled Ground: Arkansas pastor recognized with McCall Racial Justice Trailblazer award
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
How Hampton Baptist Church helps level the playing field for good
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
Because Presence Matters: The Story of Jacob & Esau
By Chris Hughes By the time twin brothers Jacob and Esau made it to Kampala, Uganda, the young men had already endured a lifetime’s worth of struggle. As teenagers, they fled from their native South Sudan after the country gained its independence in 2011, and internal factions began fighting over control of the government. In … Continue reading
CBF field personnel Karen Alford brings medical expertise, love for people to West Africa
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
Directing Change: How Mission Oak Cliff’s Kevin Pranoto Pushes through the Pandemic
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
Rosalío Sosa heeds God’s call to minister to migrants, fight racial injustice, advocate for the vulnerable
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
Together for Hope-Louisiana leader Larry Foy looks to create ‘army of leaders’ to serve community
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