By Jennifer Colosimo In 1999, Ruth Cuellar received a call from Central Baptist Church in Newnan, Georgia, asking her to come to Newnan to start a Hispano-Latino ministry in the city. She was living in Gwinnett County at the time, about two hours away, so she committed to visiting on the weekends. With Rainbow of … Continue reading
By Laura Ellis The life of any church is affirmed on the faith-filled hope that came from those who paved the way, and that others will follow to carry the torch. The congregation at First Baptist Church on Fifth in Winston-Salem, NC, recently celebrated its 150th anniversary, believing that they are participating in part of … Continue reading
By Grayson Hester “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden…In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5:14-16) When God created the heavens and the earth and proclaimed “let there … Continue reading
Belmont Baptist Church creates long-term change in Charlottesville, Va., with CBF grant By Rickey Letson In 2006, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship launched a program called It’sTime. The eight-week study challenged churches to embrace a more missional perspective in their congregational life focused on purpose and passion, particularly as it related to their calling to meet … Continue reading
By Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Back in the 1990s, when I was a teenager, youth ministry was relatively straightforward. My peers and I met for junior high and high school Sunday school and then attended worship. We came back on Sunday evenings for a less formal worship service and youth group (which often involved outings such … Continue reading
By Rev. Rick Burnette “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness,” Lamentations 3:22-23, NRSV My friend, Gabby, tells me that he wakes up each morning with eager anticipation of what the new day will bring. That’s interesting. I’m … Continue reading
Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed One of the primary laments I hear from pastors and laity in this pre-post-pandemic time is that many former stalwarts have not yet returned to church. Maybe these folks continue to be Covid-cautious. (After all, most of us have someone we love who is medically fragile. We might even be that immuno-compromised … Continue reading
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord. ‘Plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future,’” Jeremiah 29:11 By Laura Ellis In today’s climate of upheaval and uncertainty when many Christians are discussing how to ensure the future survival of the Church, one CBF … Continue reading
By Rev. Michelle Carroll, Associate Pastor of Missions, First Baptist Church on St. Clair, Frankfort, KY Over the next few weeks, officials from 197 nations around the world are gathering in Egypt for COP27. This is the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), founded in … Continue reading
By Jennifer Colosimo It’s all about who you know, so it is said. That’s how you stay in the loop, how you get ahead, and how you find success, many would agree. But, if we’re honest, that common phrase can mean something different for Christians, because we know it’s not necessarily about us, but about … Continue reading
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