Recent Articles
“Thank You” to the Countries of Refuge
One million Ukrainians have left their country as refugees. We should all be thankful to the surrounding nations who have accepted those fleeing for their lives.
March 3, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: A Twisted Love Story: How American Evangelicals Helped Make Putin’s Russia and How Russia Became the Darling of the American Right; Holy War: How a Cathedral of Guns and Glory Symbolizes Putin’s Russia; Baptists in Countries Bordering Ukraine Open Their Door to Fleeing Refugees (and more)
Land Grabbing, Old and New
Russian’s greedy invasion of Ukraine has the world in a tizzy, and for good reason. Land grabs are always ugly.
Lenten Lectionary | Returning to God, Returning to Self
The Lenten season is arriving at a time when our means of engaging life have been strained and sifted. Embracing Lent may be just what we need as we continue to move toward wholeness.
Why BWIM Month of Preaching is Necessary
Baptist Women in Ministry established this emphasis in 2007, and each year it has been a special time for us to share photos highlighting a plethora of Baptist women standing behind pulpits.
What Did Jesus Call Great?
Americanized Christianity often champions the so-called “Great Commission” at the end of Matthew’s Gospel but fails to place it in the context of the “Great Commandment.” What are the implications of doing so?
New Belarusian Constitution Could Impact Global Power Balance
The fact that Belarus approved a new constitution on Feb. 27 might seem inconsequential amid the crisis in Ukraine. Here is why it matters and how it could impact the global power balance.
New Books ‘Spelunk’ Easter Texts, Reclaim ‘Clobber’ Passages
Two new books from Nurturing Faith Books dig into well-known biblical texts. One goes “spelunking” in the Easter narratives, and the other revisits so-called “clobber” passages and seeks to reclaim them.
Barna Survey Answers Raise Numerous Questions
A recent Barna Group survey offered respondents several options for how the racial and ethnic dynamics in the U.S. could be improved. Barna’s list of options, and how people responded to them, offered more questions than answers.
Lessons from the Baptist Youth Lounge
Do you remember the youth room of your childhood church? What if we reimagined church at large to look like the youth lounge?
Reaction and Response | U.S. Confidence in Pastoral Wisdom Low
Congregants and clergy agree that confidence in the wisdom of U.S. Protestant pastors is low, a report found. Good Faith Media asked several people who work with clergy and congregations to share a response to the findings.
Ukrainian Baptist Leader Shares On-the-Ground Insight
Igor Bandura, vice president of the All-Ukrainian Union of Associations of Evangelical Christians-Baptists, spoke with global Baptist leaders during a Feb. 24 Zoom consultation about the situation in Ukraine.
What Moral Obligation Does the U.S. Have to Ukraine?
The early 1990s were a turbulent time, resulting in actions and agreements that continue to impact global affairs today. What is the 1994 Budapest Memorandum on Security Assurances and why does it matter today?
Praying for Peace, Preparing for Occupation
One of the largest Baptist Unions in Europe is preparing its congregations for years of occupation while praying for peace. They awoke on Feb. 24 to the reality of war across their nation.
On the Brink, We Pray for Peace
Russian military actions ordered by Vladimir Putin have place the world on the brink of war. He appears to be following the previous strategy of another dictator.
‘The Vanishing’ Raises Questions of Faith, Place and Ritual
‘The Vanishing’ by Janine di Giovanni is an account of the history and faith and likely demise of the original Christians in four ancient lands. The conversations and encounters it records raise questions of faith, place and ritual.
U.S. Divided on State Funding for Private Schools Teaching Religion
U.S. adults are evenly divided on whether taxpayer dollars should be used to fund private schools that teach religion, according to a YouGov / Yahoo survey published Feb. 11.
February 23, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Black History Comes Alive with Drama and Heroism – in Trump Country; From New Christian Right to Christian Nationalism; Supreme Court Won’t Consider Health Worker Bid for Religious Vaccine Exemption; and more
A Brief History of Kievan Rus
Vladimir Putin’s recent polemic claiming that Ukraine was created by the former U.S.S.R. is revisionist history. Here is a brief history of Kievan Rus and the region now comprising Belarus, Ukraine and Western Russia.
Buzz Off!
New research has discovered that mosquitoes react to different colors when carbon dioxide levels are high enough. So, what color should you wear next time you’re outside?
Teachers Leaving the Profession Shouldn’t Surprise Us
The teaching career is changing, and not for the better. Teachers are leaving the profession in alarming numbers, and many plan to leave earlier than they thought they would.
February 23, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Ahmaud Arbery Murderers are Officially Guilty of Hate Crimes; Supreme Court to Hear Case of Web Designer Who Objects to Same-Sex Marriage; Credibility of Pastors Waning as Influence of Christianity Loses Cultural Dominance: Study; Israel Drops Contentious Plan to Seize Christian Holy Sites (and more)
Isolating, Overemphasizing John 3:16 Contributes to a Cheap Gospel
John 3:16 is among the most well-known biblical texts, often referenced as if it is “the gospel in a nutshell.” Is this a proper, accurate view of this verse?
Why Asking Questions Is Essential to Healthy Faith
Many children and youth grow up with questions they’re taught not to ask in church. Healthy congregations encourage serious inquiry and walk alongside those asking hard questions.
Parenting 101: A Brief Reflection on Raising Children
Losing my mother during the pandemic led me to reflect on parenting – particularly my own. Here is a brief reflection on raising children.
February 22, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: Yale’s Happiness Professor Says Anxiety is Destroying Her Students (New York Times); Echoing American Christian Extremists Hatred of LGBTQ People, Muslim Extremists in Senegal Demand Longer Prison Sentences for Homosexuals; Theologian Scott McKnight on Saving Evangelicalism (and more)
Truth-Telling Needed to Counter Jan. 6 Revisionist History
The seriousness of the Jan. 6 insurrection continues to be downplayed by those who wish to revise the history of what took place. We need prophetic truth-tellers who refuse to allow such falsehoods and lies to go unchallenged.
Nursing Shortage Isn’t New; the Nation Is Finally Noticing
COVID-19 has brought new challenges and heightened existing ones in health care. But not having sufficient nurses and other health care workers is a challenge that predates the pandemic.
Slim U.S. Majority Has Confidence in Religious Leaders
A slim majority of U.S. adults expressed confidence in religious leaders in 2021, according to a Pew Research Center report published Feb. 15. It is the third survey in a row that shows confidence has declined.
February 21, 2022
In today’s curated news and analysis headlines: America Has a Long History of Resisting Multi-Racial Democracy; God, Guns & the GOP: Inside the BamaCarry 2022 State Convention; Guns to Garden Tools: Colorado Group Seeks Healing; Pro-Trump Candidate, an Evangelical Pastor, Says God ‘Raising up Armies’ to ‘Shut Down’ Democrats; Jim Wallis is on a Mission to Make Voting Rights the Religious Issue of Our Time (and more)