By Chris Hughes Outside the brick walls of the historic First United Methodist Church in Charlottesville, Va., chaos was rising to a fever pitch. White nationalists and white supremacists by the hundreds were rallying throughout the quaint college town to protest the removal of a statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee. They proudly brandished … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Ministry
Governing Board proposes increased 2023 budget supporting Toward Bold Faithfulness priorities
June 13, 2022 By Jeff Huett Lea la narrativa del presupuesto en español aquí. DECATUR, Ga. – Cooperative Baptists attending both the in-person and virtual General Assembly experiences June 28-30 will vote on a budget proposal approved by the CBF Governing Board that shows significant increases in revenue and expenses due to the anticipated spending of … Continue reading
Peer groups for pastors can create a healthy ecosystem of support
By Ruth Perkins Lee This article was first published in Faith & Leadership on March 8, 2022 (https://faithandleadership.com/peer-groups-pastors-can-create-healthy-ecosystem-support). In 2019, my husband and I visited Muir Woods National Monument, an old-growth redwood forest on California’s northern coast. I had long been fascinated by the concept of the interconnected growth and root system of redwoods that … Continue reading
CBF’s Baxley and field personnel Mina and Gennady Podgaisky request prayer for Ukraine
February 24, 2022 By Aaron Weaver DECATUR, Ga. — CBF Executive Coordinator Paul Baxley urged prayer for the people of Ukraine on Thursday following news of Russia’s invasion and also affirmed “solidarity with our Baptist sisters and brothers.” “Today I invite Cooperative Baptists to join with Christians around the world in praying for the people … Continue reading
A Global Day of Giving Back
There’s #BlackFriday #SmallBusinessSaturday and #CyberMonday…and then there’s #GivingTuesday, an international day of giving! Giving Tuesday is a global day of giving back. On the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, people around the world come together to celebrate and support meaningful causes. This year, our goal was to raise $10,000 by the end of Giving Tuesday to participate … Continue reading
Spiritual Care Week 2021: You Helped Me Feel Whole Again
By Veronica Martinez-Gallegos As a CBF-endorsed chaplain and Clinical Pastoral Education (“CPE”) Educator, CBF has impacted my ministry in ways I never imagined. After two decades in congregational ministry, my horizons expanded since I completed my CPE internship. After a few days through the hospital corridors, my focus changed and I found myself on a … Continue reading
Spiritual Care Week 2021: To Sit with Someone
By Layne Rogerson My final visit of the day was with a family who recently started hospice services. At the conclusion of the visit the adult child walked me to the car and shared that several years ago she had attempted suicide when she was at a place in her life where she could see no hope. Now, she has confidence that with God she will always … Continue reading
Loving (The People) Where We Live
By Carson Foushee For the first two years we lived in Tokyo, we were out the door early each morning to board packed trains for our commute to Japanese language school, located near the second busiest station in the world. After wrapping up our studies each afternoon, we would return home with just enough daylight … Continue reading
Stop, Ask, Listen
By Mary Van Rheenen Have you ever thought you were really doing a good deed only to discover that the intended beneficiaries did not appreciate your efforts at all? I can visualize parents all shaking their heads “yes.” The daughter did NOT want that sweater washed. At least not like THAT! I can visualize children … Continue reading
Lessons Learned
By John DeWitt I have been called to ministry since I was in high school. I accepted my calling as an 11th grader and never looked back. I interned as a college student at four churches in two different countries and I loved every second of it. I was eagerly anticipating my first call, I … Continue reading