Embracing our Refugee Neighbor – English Not Required

Last updated on: February 6, 2017 at 9:51 am By Guest Contributor

There are 50 million refugees in the world today. Read the story of Marc and Kim Wyatt, Cooperative Baptist missionaries in North Carolina who have served more than 100 refugees in just a few short months. Read more

Postponing Love in an Airport

Last updated on: February 2, 2017 at 3:12 pm By Guest Contributor

I am not original here in my plea to the church, nor do I think I am asking anything less than what is required of us by God. We tell our children in Sunday School that it is important to love everyone, even when it costs us something to do so. We tell them to sit with the kids in the cafeteria who usually sit by themselves, to befriend them and make sure they do not feel alone, because they are loved by God and by us. To bring that story to adults in the church, we are called to sit with the people who are alone, people who are scared and hurting and in need. We are called to sit with refugees in the cafeteria, in the airport, in our homes, in our pews. Read more

Jesus, terrorism and loving our neighbors

Last updated on: February 1, 2017 at 1:36 pm By Guest Contributor

Setting aside the Son of God aspect, why doesn’t Jesus grow up to be a terrorist? We know Jesus experienced some formula of all the above. His parents, at least one time, left him in Jerusalem for goodness sake. This looks like a classic teenage mother and stepfather situation. Joking aside, it had to have been rough. Other kids he grows up with will become terrorists, or at least, Zealots. In fact, I’ve heard the disciple, Judas, called a terrorist by some scholars. Read more

I am an immigrant

Last updated on: January 31, 2017 at 2:19 pm By Guest Contributor

I am an immigrant. I am thankful to live in a country made great by welcoming immigrants. My faith is informed by the importance of welcoming foreigners, immigrants and refugees. I pray that I have the courage to live out my life and faith stories. May I welcome immigrants and advocate for refugees in our midst in this new day and age. Read more

Cooperative Baptists minister to refugees and immigrants despite order barring travel to the U.S.

Last updated on: January 30, 2017 at 12:19 pm By Aaron Weaver

With a swipe of the presidential pen last week, the United States turned its back on many attempting to escape war and strife. While the president’s executive order halted Syrian refugees as well as visitors and refugees from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will continue its work among refugees and immigrants in the United States and around the world, spreading the hope of Christ to those who need it the most. Read more

Francis, Forrest and Race

Last updated on: January 27, 2017 at 10:42 am By Guest Contributor

And part of our privilege as white people is the freedom to speak up…or not…because remaining silent has no tangible impact upon our lives. Doing nothing is a choice we have because we sit in a culturally privileged position. The question for us is what we will do with that position. Will we listen to people of color- who know much more about racism than white folks because they live with its effects constantly- for potential solutions? Will we turn a blind eye towards the realities that confront us? Will we stand in solidarity with our brothers and sisters of color? Will we live into the full implications of the faith we proclaim? Read more

Being the Church in the 21st Century

Last updated on: January 25, 2017 at 12:22 pm By Guest Contributor

We have the privilege of interacting with people in new ways that are relevant to the realities of changing mindsets, needs and desires. We have the opportunity to learn a new language that speaks in a meaningful way to a new generation of people. Instead of simply building something in a vacuum and hoping that people will come, we have the opportunity to invite others to participate in the process of developing new initiatives that express the love and grace of our faith in meaningful ways. In being open to creative thinking, we just may build new relationships that honor existing ones and figure out ways to more consistently live out our belief in the priesthood of all believers. Read more

Preaching truth in a post-truth world

Last updated on: January 23, 2017 at 12:54 pm By Guest Contributor

In a post-truth world we seek out and lend credence to only those sources of information that tend to confirm our biases, and we begin to reject the idea that there are any unbiased, objective sources of truth. When information bubbles and echo chambers become so exclusionary and loud, when confirmation bias and wanting to “feel” right become more important than facts, and when we become so factioned and entrenched in our ideological ghettos, that winning an argument or an election — that power and victory — become more important than truth, then we live firmly in a post-truth society. Read more

Deadheading in the Church

Last updated on: January 19, 2017 at 5:00 pm By Guest Contributor

In ministry, we are constantly dreaming up new ideas and adding new events and programs to our calendars. We cannot keep constantly adding things to our plates or to-do lists without taking something away. The same is often true in our personal lives. We take on new commitments, say “yes” to one more committee or discover a new hobby — but do we remember to say "no" or take away something else to make room for what has been added? Read more

Why I Choose to March

Last updated on: January 18, 2017 at 10:37 am By Guest Contributor

This Saturday, January 21, in cities all over the country, marches will be held in support of women’s rights. On Saturday morning, my husband, 18-month-old daughter and I will join others in Dallas, not as a matter of protest to our newly-elected president, but as a statement of solidarity. This is why I choose to march: Read more