Editor’s note: This is the third in a three-part series of articles exploring the monumental contributions slaves and convict laborers made in Georgia Baptist history. This article was first published by The Christian Index and is reposted here by permission of the author. The Georgia Baptist Convention was remarkably biracial before the Civil War, and enslaved members and pastors made a significant contribution to Georgia Baptists. Clarence L. Mohr noted in Masters and Slaves in the House of the Lord that in 1860 there were nearly 30 semi-autonomous Black churches in the GBC. That same … [Read more...] about Georgia Baptist bicentennial: Honoring enslaved and free Black people
Finding Our Political Sweet Spot
I am sitting in JFK airport putting the final touches on this, after an overnight flight that ended my two week stay in Senegal. While there, I’m pretty much cut off from most things I do that distract me, but when the sun is in the east, the breeze out of the west, and phase of the moon is right, I can get a bit of bandwidth and browse Facebook, even Twitter at times. I’m sure you haven’t noticed that there’s a bit of hysteria out there about the elections on Tuesday. My first encounter with electio-mania was with a high school friend who basically anathematized anyone who would … [Read more...] about Finding Our Political Sweet Spot
Georgia Baptist bicentennial: Lamenting a heritage of racism and slavery
Editor’s note: This is the second in a three-part series of articles exploring the monumental contributions slaves and convict laborers made in Georgia Baptist history. This article was first published by The Christian Index and is reposted here by permission of the author. Thousands of enslaved Black people were members of Georgia Baptist churches. They supported their churches through active membership, including voluntary gifts, and through the profits taken from their labor. Willis Williams and Lucrecia “Creecy” Daniel were two such enslaved persons and were members of Shiloh Baptist … [Read more...] about Georgia Baptist bicentennial: Lamenting a heritage of racism and slavery
Collegiate Week at Falls Creek
In early August I had the opportunity to take my first trip to Collegiate Week at Falls Creek camp in Oklahoma. My good friend Corey Olivier, Metro Baptist Collegiate Ministry Director in New Orleans, invited me along so I jumped at the chance. I have heard about Falls Creek most of my ministry life and always wanted to see the facility. I am now able to *check off* of my bucket list “purposely traveling to Oklahoma for any reason at all.” ;) Seriously though, let me first say that Falls Creek is an amazing place. Ridgecrest is special to Michelle and I and because of that I can see why … [Read more...] about Collegiate Week at Falls Creek
SBCcalled.com: A Resource You Should Check Out IMMEDIATELY!
This article was supposed to be imbedded in another one I am writing about collegiate ministry and Collegiate Week in particular. But the more I wrote about this subject, the more I realized how important it is and that it really needed its own article. The Yoda of Louisiana collegiate ministry is Steve Masters, BCM director at LSU. This guy is a machine. I had known of Steve for years, but really got to know him and see him work the week we all lived together during Collegiate Week this past August. He has created a website which is chock-full of resources every Pastor, Youth Pastor, … [Read more...] about SBCcalled.com: A Resource You Should Check Out IMMEDIATELY!
Obituaries, my friends, are such an adventure these days
If you want to spend time doing armchair adventure travel, enjoying some outstanding fiction, or learning about human nature, try reading obituaries. I have long been among the many who regularly peruse local obituaries. It's great fun. Try it! The Master of the Universe Obituary. If you pay to have an obituary placed in the local news, print and/or digital, you should get what you pay for and there's no reason you cannot sanitize, fictionalize, or aggrandize your dearly beloved departed. It's amazing how I've lived among such distinguished people and did not realize it. And, seriously, … [Read more...] about Obituaries, my friends, are such an adventure these days
Georgia Baptist bicentennial leads to conversations about slavery, racism, and biblical reconciliation
Editor’s note: This is the first in a three-part series of articles exploring the monumental contributions slaves and convict laborers made in Georgia Baptist history. This article was first published by The Christian Index and is reposted here by permission of the author. Jesse Mercer, one of the most influential founders of the Georgia Baptist Convention, cared for the men and women he enslaved. Charles D. Mallary, also a slaveholder, was Mercer’s friend and an influential Georgia Baptist leader. In Memoirs of Elder Jesse Mercer, Mallary said Mercer’s example as a “master … deserves to be … [Read more...] about Georgia Baptist bicentennial leads to conversations about slavery, racism, and biblical reconciliation
Bro. Bubba at Podunk Crossroads Baptist gets a call from the Credentials Committee
Note: There are over 48,000 churches in friendly cooperation with the SBC. These churches relate most closely to a local association of 30-50 other churches and also to their state convention and the national SBC which is represented by the SBC Executive Committee in Nashville. The EC is an 86-person body that acts on behalf of the SBC between times the convention is in session. A small group of EC members are appointed to a standing committee called the Credentials Committee and that group "make[s] inquiries and recommendations for action regarding instances of sexual abuse, racism or other … [Read more...] about Bro. Bubba at Podunk Crossroads Baptist gets a call from the Credentials Committee
The Consequences of Evil…and Social Media
I am not an expert in the history of War, but I’ve read articles that said that Hitler had every chance to win World War II, if not for his own bizarre choices. Most criminals who get caught do so because of their hubris, foolishness, and self-destructive choices. Self-immolation is inherent in the nature of sin. The arrogance of turning against the will and ways of Almighty God brings with it a natural outcome. Sin is spiritual suicide and will always bring both God’s active judgment and natural consequences. “Be sure your sin will find you out.” That principle applies to the interactions … [Read more...] about The Consequences of Evil…and Social Media
The EC tackles the question of ‘What is a pastor?’ The Question breaks the tackle, runs for gain.
Bottom line right here at the top: I don't see the SBC solving this issue. I commend the SBC Executive Committee and Baptist Press for attempting to clarify or at least give some background on a current controversial issue among us: What is a pastor? Praise to Jonathan Howe (EC VP for communications), EC Asso. VP for convention news Brandon Porter, and BP national correspondent Scott Barkley for the latest issue of the slick EC publication SBC Life which is mailed to me three times each year. All of the articles are accessible online at SBCLIFE.NET. [The publication is "slick," my term for … [Read more...] about The EC tackles the question of ‘What is a pastor?’ The Question breaks the tackle, runs for gain.