Jeremy Parks

3 November by Jeremy Parks

How Many Bags, Mr. Missionary?

7 comments

Travel, as any missionary will tell you, is a key part of life.  My sister says that travel is what makes my life complicated.  To hear her tell it, it takes a 45 minute drive to the airport, two flights with a layover, 30 minutes in a taxi, a bus ride, and short jaunt by donkey [...]

28 October by Jeremy Parks

IMB’s Baptismal Policy and 4th Century Schismatics

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In North Africa in the early 4th century, a presumably theological point of contention morphed into a ecclesiological debate that ultimately split the church in that area. Yawn. The issue behind it all related to Christians who had crumbled during one of the more recent rounds of persecution; specifically, church leaders who turned over copies [...]

27 October by Jeremy Parks

The Convention’s Unconventional Name Change

21 comments

Quick: what’s the longest name in all of North American professional sports?  No cheating, googling, etc.  Just sit on your answer for me; we’ll come back to it. As I’ve watched the lively debate surrounding the potential for a name change in the SBC, I’ve had to admit a certain apathy.  In many ways, it mattered not to [...]

24 October by Jeremy Parks

Who Are We to Teach Hope?

4 comments

Death comes easily in some places. As a general rule, the world is deadly.  There are some locales, though, where death is a constant companion.  Living is simply what people do while waiting to die.  Death is closer than God, and has more explanations for its existence. In Port Au Prince, Haiti, if the earthquake [...]

21 October by Jeremy Parks

Are We Simply the Sum of Our Sins?

29 comments

This was originally composed in March 2011.  Enjoy. I went to the town of Puyo last week for the third time.  It reminded me that I’d like to introduce you to a new friend. The first thing you’ll notice about my pal Carlos is how shockingly skinny he is.  Wow.  If he stood sideways and [...]

17 October by Jeremy Parks

Comfort As Evangelism?

11 comments

Juana hangs out in Plaza Bolivar, in front of the birthplace of South America’s liberator.  Caracas is not an extremely picturesque city as compared to, say, Prague, nor is it filled with centuries of cathedrals and places of historical note.  The city’s greatest claim to history is Simon Bolivar’s house, or at least the one [...]

14 October by Jeremy Parks

How Sensitive Are Our Souls?

18 comments

I wrote this back in early June while we were still in Ecuador.  Enjoy. Last week Zachary missed his first school days of the year.  Coughing, hacking, dizziness, fever; he tolerated it all quite well, for a 10-year old. As usually happens when he is home without his siblings, Zach wanted to watch a movie [...]

13 October by Jeremy Parks

Inquiring Minds

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As most parents will tell you , there are moments in life that are somewhat disturbing when you have kids.  These are not exactly frightening moments, and yet they are times when the heart skips half a beat, when you slowly close your eyes and very carefully ask for clarification.  Sort of like when my [...]

10 October by Jeremy Parks

Returning to the Seat of the Crime

4 comments

There’s a chair across the room from me that I fear. Or hate. It’s pretty non-descript.  As a furniture piece, it adds character to a room simply due to its age.  Designed and built over 70 years ago, the thing just looks different from its surroundings.  It is now an addendum to the décor, something [...]

29 August by Jeremy Parks

Five Questions with….an IMBer from Birth

18 comments

The answers for today’s Five Questions come from Cleopatra Cloppenclapper.  Miss Cleo has spent her entire life as an MK/missionary with the FMB/IMB/imb connecting, which is to say about half a century.  I could have said she’s been around for 50 years, but “half a century” sounds far, far older. She’s the most colorful M [...]

19 August by Jeremy Parks

Five Questions with….an IMBer Who Left

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Today’s Five Question interview is with Eddie Funkowitz. Eddie was a career worker for the IMB, but has moved on to different challenges in the US. We caught up with Eddie as he was applying for a Sam’s Club membership while slurping a 64 ounce drink he got for a buck down at the Stop [...]

15 August by Jeremy Parks

Five Questions with…an IMB Missionary Kid

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This is the first in a series of posts.  I’ll be interviewing people associated with IMB, whether current field workers, Richmond leaders, or people recently departed from the organization.  For the most part, I will not divulge the names or locations of these folks.  Many of them work in difficult spots and eschew the spotlight [...]

4 July by Jeremy Parks

Should Christians Express Their Political Views: A Response to Anthony Russo

12 comments

This is an IMB worker’s response to  Anthony Russo’s post “Should Christians Express Their Political Views?” For starters, I am uninterested in re-hashing the various points made during Mr. Russo’s post, as well as those presented during the discussion.  Others have done an excellent job in raising perspectives that apply to the situation.  Instead, I would like [...]

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