Rudy Gray

Do we need guns in church? In the wake of the mass murders at Sandy Hook Elementary School, people are more sensitive to the importance of good security measures at schools, churches and other gathering places. At the same... Continue Reading »

Influence is that personal power, moral persuasion or spiritual force that has an effect on another person. Tim Tebow has influence. In 2012, he made Time magazine's list of the 100 most influential people in the world. While playing... Continue Reading »

Boy Scouts of America has been in the news more lately than ever, it seems. At the center of this media frenzy is a powerful moral issue: homosexuality. Behind the obvious issue lies another important subject: money. It seems... Continue Reading »

A survey commissioned by the American Bible Society and conducted by the Barna Research Group on Bible-minded cities revealed that the South was the most Bible-minded, and the Northeast the least. A Bible-minded person was defined in the survey... Continue Reading »

The recent cover of Time magazine carried a provocative headline: ?40 years ago, abortion rights activists won an epic victory with Roe v. Wade. They?ve been losing ever since.? ? The obstacle that remains is the law created from... Continue Reading »

From conception to death, the sanctity of human life is a principle worth defending. Psalm 82:3-4 is applicable to our Christian calling in a world of evil and darkness: ?Vindicate the weak and fatherless; do justice to the afflicted... Continue Reading »

South Carolina Baptist churches lead the way in the percentage of terminated pastors and staff. The number reported does not accurately represent the real number, since many forced terminations or instances where ministers leave under pressure are not reported.... Continue Reading »

The Baptist Courier turns 144 this year. It is one of the oldest and largest of the Southern Baptist state news magazines. With this edition, I assume the role of editor and president.... Continue Reading »

Many pastors do not recognize it in themselves. Some try to spiritualize it, while others attempt to deny it or ignore it. It is pastoral burnout, and it is a growing phenomenon among vocational ministers today. Burnout is a... Continue Reading »

On Oct. 9, 2012, in light of high rates of suicide and forced terminations among South Carolina pastors, the Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention created a special committee to research causes contributing to negative health among... Continue Reading »

Suicide is something we do not like to think about. Talking about the subject is even less appealing for most people. However, it is a reality that is painfully present in our modern culture.

In our state convention, we... Continue Reading »

I know a great Christian lady who almost always responds to the question, ?How are you doing?? with these words ?I am blessed and highly favored.? What an attitude. She believes it and lives it. Her home reflects it.... Continue Reading »