Churches all across America will be taking short-term mission trips this summer to places like Cleveland, Boston, Uganda and Thailand. Recently, I asked some missionaries, church planters and missions leaders a strategic question: What did the best mission teams do that made you glad they came? The insights listed below were gleaned from their answers. […]
Guest Viewpoint: Pointed Words from Brother Louis Beloney
I am the middle of five kids. My mom and dad were divorced when I was 6 years old. As a single mother of five kids, my mom had a lot of rules; however, the one that was non-negotiable was that everyone in our house had to attend church on Sunday mornings. My mom would […]
Guest Viewpoint: 7 Confessions and Suggestions to My Fellow Southern Baptists
Important moments in organizations are seldom easy. I was a teenager during one such season of the SBC’s existence. I was largely unaware of the events we now refer to as The Conservative Resurgence as they unfolded. Later as I walked the campuses of SEBTS, SBTS, and NOBTS as a student I heard the stories […]
5 Family-Friendly Things: ‘Bible Bee’ leads entertainment lineup
Editor’s note: “5 Family-Friendly Things” spotlights family-friendly entertainment choices on DVD, streaming or television. We’ll be running this column over the next three months. Please let us know what you think of it on Facebook (BaptistCourier) Twitter (@baptistcourier) or by email (editor@baptistcourier.com). How long would it take you to memorize five Bible verses? Fifty Bible […]
Guest Viewpoint: The Wrath of God Poured Out — The Humiliation of the Southern Baptist Convention
The last few weeks have been excruciating for the Southern Baptist Convention and for the larger evangelical movement. It is as if bombs are dropping and God alone knows how many will fall and where they will land. America’s largest evangelical denomination has been in the headlines day after day. The SBC is in the […]
Guest Viewpoint: Gondor, Narnia, Wakanda and Washington
Our Hero Stories Reveal Our Greatest Longings Ever since I’ve been old enough to watch the news, I’ve felt frustrated. I’m 41 years old, and I’ve seen Republican and Democratic administrations come and go through Washington. Just like everyone else, I have my own ideas about what ideals are best for the country. But I […]
Staying Alert Means Staying Alive
In addition to being a college professor and preacher, I have the privilege of teaching self-defense skills to people in my community on a weekly basis through my self-defense company, Peaceful Warrior, LLC. Although most people we encounter in life are law-abiding and peace-loving people, there are folks who might intend us harm. We could […]
Keeping Children Safe at Church
Today’s parents are becoming more and more concerned about the safety of their infants and young children during Sunday worship services and other church events that provide care. Here are some practical suggestions you can incorporate to keep your church children safe: Develop your church safety and security After the recent rash of church and […]
Be Wise in Safeguarding Your Financial Information
The CEO of Facebook recently gave testimony to Congress about the misuse of his company’s users’ personal data. This breach allowed many different sources to have access to personal information that could be misused today and in the future. This type of situation will continue to be a problem, which is why we should be […]
Guest Viewpoint: A Normal Baptist Church
I recently found normal about an hour and 15 minutes south of Nashville. The weather was nearly perfect for an early morning drive with my bride Jeanne as we wound our way along country roads through the beautiful rolling hills of Middle Tennessee. Howell is a small community located between Lewisburg and Fayetteville. We pulled […]