Blog Archives

Fifty years from now

Posted on May 21, 2013 by Mike Smith — 1 Comment ↓

What might it mean to be a Baptist Christian at the mid-point of the 21st century? I’m hesitant to try and answer such a question. In my experience, actual developments over time usually take unanticipated forms. If someone 50 years…

Young ministers want to be mentored

Posted on May 20, 2013 by Ircel Harrison — No Comments ↓

Starting out in any field is not easy, but ministry has its own challenges. Most congregations expect that their new pastor or staff member will “hit the ground running” and be ready to deal with both the routine and the…

Tagged with: leadership, ministry
Posted in Education, Leadership, Ministry, Young Baptists

Mom CBF, Dad SBC, I love you. Stop fighting.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by Laura Rector — 2 Comments ↓

Divorce hurts children. My grandparents’ divorce still hurts their children and their grandchildren to this day — even though both have been dead for years. Certainly, the pain has lessened in time, but the wound is still there, for many…

Tagged with: CBF, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, divorce, SBC, Southern Baptist Convention
Posted in Religion, Women in Ministry, Young Baptists

Attracting a new generation of leaders in ministry

Posted on April 16, 2013 by Lydia Hoyle — No Comments ↓

When I was growing up, Christian ministers were widely held in high esteem. Although a few Elmer Gantrys may have been in the mix, churches and communities generally received their ministers with respect and honor. As a result, many Christian…

Tagged with: Campbell University Divinity School, CBF, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, Fund for Theological Education, George Mason, Georgetown College, leaders, Lilly Endowment, ministry, new generation, Smyth & Helwys, Wilshire Baptist Church
Posted in Generational Differences, Leadership, Ministry, Seminary Voices, Young Baptists

How long will women pastors be news?

Posted on March 24, 2013 by Molly Brummett — 1 Comment ↓

It is time for Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches to end the double standard of ordaining women to the ministry but refusing to allow them to serve. I am a Baptist female trying to be faithful to God’s call upon my…

Tagged with: baptist pastor, Baptist Women in Ministry, Carol McEntyre, CBF, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, female pastor
Posted in Theology, Women in Ministry, Young Baptists

Creativity and contemplation

Posted on February 22, 2013 by Chris Robertson — 2 Comments ↓

In October of last year, I settled into my old Impala and drove to downtown Duluth, just outside of Atlanta. Filled with excitement, I pulled into the parking lot behind the Red Clay Theatre and checked my pocket to make…

Tagged with: Atlanta, Christ, Civil War, Decatur, Duluth, faith, Greek, Impala, Nashville, O Theo, Van Gogh
Posted in Art, Music, Social Issues, Spiritual Formation, Young Baptists

Why are you still single?

Posted on February 21, 2013 by Brittany Riddle — 3 Comments ↓

Fresh out of seminary and looking for a job, Brittany Riddle expected tough questions about her age, lack of experience and gender, but she wasn’t prepared for intrusive questions about her personal life. This time last year I anxiously awaited the moment…

Tagged with: age, Baptist Women in Ministry, clergy, experience, gender, Marriage, ministers, ministry, search committee, Seminary, single, Women
Posted in Ministry, Social Issues, Women in Ministry, Young Baptists

One-eared Mickey Mouse model of youth ministry

Posted on February 20, 2013 by Felicia Fox — No Comments ↓

Churches must be intentional about forming a community that includes everyone. I have been in youth ministry for over 12 years. In college I was introduced to the One-Eared Mickey Mouse Model of youth ministry. I ran into it again…

Tagged with: Christian education, community, inclusion, one-eared Mickey Mouse, worship, Youth, youth ministry
Posted in Education, Generational Differences, Ministry, Worship, Young Baptists

Let’s drop the kids at church and go get some coffee

Posted on February 14, 2013 by George Bullard — No Comments ↓

In a recent conversation with leaders in a congregation they wondered about people who drop children off at church–particularly on Sunday mornings–and then go to a coffee shop to have some “alone time”. They indicated this was an increasing challenge in…

Tagged with: Bible study, book stores, chaplain, child care, Church, churches, coffee, coffee shop, congregation, congregations, George Bullard, grocery stores, Life skills, median adults, Saturday, shopping malls, Soccer, Starbucks, Sunday, third place, young adults
Posted in Blog Posts, Generational Differences, Ministry, Parenting, Spiritual Formation, Young Baptists

Perspectives on immigration: safety and security concerns

Posted on February 12, 2013 by Kevin Glenn — No Comments ↓

The issue of immigration is a subject of discussion and debate within the Christian community. Followers of Jesus have diverse perspectives on how to address economic, security, and cultural concerns. Having shared in previous posts the primary points of diversity…

Tagged with: borders, dialogue, Homeland Security, immigrant, Immigration, immigration reform, internationals, Neighbors, Politics
Posted in Blog Posts, Education, Faithful Living, Generational Differences, Leadership, Ministry, Missiology, Missions, Public Policy, Racial Reconciliation, Religion, Religious News Voices, Social Issues, Theology, Young Baptists