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
By Laura Stephens-Reed Churches are sacred places because they help us feel closer to God. Our spirits are buoyed by the music coming from the choir loft. Sitting in the seats that are just uncomfortable enough to keep us alert, we have heard God’s word proclaimed. We have walked up the steps of the baptistry, … Continue reading
By Laura Stephens-Reed I recently interviewed several pastors about their experiences leading congregations during the pandemic. Specifically, I wanted to know how they handled the initial turn to online worship and the million mini-ministry pivots they’ve had to make in the two years since. Unsurprisingly, all these pastors are exhausted. But not all are discouraged. … Continue reading
As the situation on the ground in Ukraine continues to change rapidly, Cooperative Baptists and CBF partner churches have responded with compassion and love through prayer and gifts to CBF’s Ukraine Relief Fund. Even as you have begun giving generously, several of our field personnel in Europe are already responding with grace, sacrifice and … Continue reading
Today, I invite all Cooperative Baptists to prayerfully consider making a financial contribution toward a relief fund we have established in response to the crisis in Ukraine following the Russian invasion last week. My hope is that we will tangibly extend our genuine support to the people of Ukraine through the generous sharing of our … Continue reading
Rev. Laura Stephens-Reed Many pastors go into ministry because they love people. They consider your willingness to trust them with your stories a privilege. They want to hold your hand when you have gotten bad news. They celebrate alongside you at milestone moments. Pastoral care is not just part of ministers’ job descriptions. It is … Continue reading
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
By Rick Sample The events unfolding in recent days in war-torn Afghanistan have shocked and horrified Americans, none more so than Afghan-American immigrants. Since 2002, for almost twenty years, Lita and I have served as missionaries among internationals in the San Francisco Bay Area, living in the multi-ethnic suburb of Fremont, Calif., home to the … Continue reading
By Aaron Weaver DECATUR, Ga. — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is requesting gifts for a response effort following 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti which killed more than 1,200 people on Saturday, August 14. A tropical storm system is now threatening the country with flash flooding and mudslides. CBF field personnel Jenny Jenkins reported that she was … Continue reading
By Tanya Parks Teachers around the world have been working so hard to meet the needs of their students during 2020. They have adjusted to the ever-changing rules and regulations with grace and patience. We are proud to know so many amazing teachers here in Slovakia. They, too, have had to make so many changes to the … Continue reading