Guest Viewpoints

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Viewpoint: Why I Stopped Going to Movies

Guess what question this film critic of 30 years was asked the day after the Academy Awards: “What’d ya think of the Oscars?” Well, for the first time since John Wayne won a golden statuette for “True Grit,” I... Continue Reading »

Guest Viewpoint: Search Committees and the Challenges They Face

I’ve worked with a number of pastor and staff search teams as they vet possible candidates for their open positions. These folks typically are God-seeking believers who want nothing but God’s will to be done. Churches and their search... Continue Reading »

Baptists: Reporting on the SBC

Right before the Southern Baptist Convention met in Orlando in 1994, the little paper I edited ran an investigative piece about a far-reaching policy at one of our SBC entities. It was an embarrassment to the entity’s president and... Continue Reading »

Viewpoint: Cooperative Program — Comprehensive, Enduring, Accountable

This happens more often than you think: Members of a Sunday School class decide to circumvent their offerings that would normally go through the church’s systematic giving budget in order to give to a worthy cause or need. Maybe... Continue Reading »

Behind the Desk and In Front of the World

It’s important to honor our administrative professionals She’s often the first person to represent your church when guests call or stop by. She (or he) works hard to assist your church’s leaders and members. She may be volunteer, part-time... Continue Reading »

Viewpoint: Drive-by Praying

Think about how much time you and your family spend in the car. Then think about how you use that time. Whatever you typically do, I challenge you to use your time to pray as you drive — even... Continue Reading »

Guest Viewpoint: Traveling the Bivocational Road

By Mary Jenkins I believe “bivocational minister” is a relatively new term to many people in our denomination. My husband, Charles, has tried to trace its origin and has had little luck. However, we know the concept would relate... Continue Reading »

Guest Viewpoint: Do Christian parents flirt with the idol of sports?

As I walked into the middle school auditorium for a recent school event, another mom asked how I was doing. I told her our family was grateful to be able to breathe again after finally finishing soccer season. “Our... Continue Reading »

Reaching the Unreached … with a Frisbee

This missions account by pastor Brent Mitchell* was told to Robert Jackson, a family practice physician in Chesnee and a member of Boiling Springs First Baptist Church. My two companions and I were on a ferry heading for an... Continue Reading »

Doug Mize

Salvation: God’s Joyful Search for Lost Things

There is no chapter in the Bible like Luke 15. Even without this poignantly unique passage, we know Jesus cares about lost things. He ate with sinners, He healed the broken, and He exceedingly preferred the company of the... Continue Reading »

Viewpoint: Seeking God’s Will

I visited with two young men who were trying to decide on a place of ministry recently. Both were considering opportunities that would change the trajectory of their lives. I shared with them five principles I use in seeking... Continue Reading »

Guest Viewpoint: Let’s stop millennial bashing

The Internet lit up recently with outrage when a 20-something woman complained about how hard it was to live in San Francisco, because her job didn’t pay her enough. The post, directed toward the woman’s employer, Yelp, caused many... Continue Reading »