First Person: Regardless of your earthly father, our heavenly one is perfect June 16, 2023 My dad is a great dad. His jokes, though? I’ve never traced this all the way back, but it’s quite possible he invented the dad Read More
First Person: ‘Reorganized religion’ requires redemptive response June 3, 2023 “Why don’t people go to church? Because they’re dead.” That unsettling quote, shared by author Bob Smietana during a keynote session of the recent Baptist Read More
First Person: 18 things to celebrate about being Southern Baptist June 1, 2023 Recently, I was asked to speak at a gathering of pastors in an association in our state. As most denominational leaders know, these meetings can Read More
First Person: What the decline of religiosity really reveals May 31, 2023 A recent article I read said “religion in the lives of Americans is on the decline.” That’s news? Anyone paying even slight attention to churches, Read More
First Person: Lessons from getting my master’s degree May 27, 2023 Graduating this spring with my master’s degree was not on my bucket list. With about 25 years of professional experience in Southern Baptist media, I Read More
First Person: 10 reasons for your church to pursue college students May 27, 2023 I first wrote about this topic in 2016, but my burden for university and college students has grown exponentially since then. I’m convinced we can Read More
First Person: Officiating an unforgettable ‘miracle wedding’ May 22, 2023 We waited. I was the first to arrive. The bride was the second. We waited for the groom. Others began arriving. Suddenly, we heard a Read More
First Person: Lessons from my mom that I’m still learning May 13, 2023 I am a helicopter parent (and I am). I didn’t get it from my own mom. Chalk it up to her raising kids in a Read More
From the field: How is your church helping orphans, vulnerable children? May 12, 2023 Ten years ago, I was visiting Shelter Yetu, an orphanage in Naivasha, Kenya. A young boy stood alone at the chalkboard, wiping away the day’s lessons Read More
First Person: It’s true — we must do more May 2, 2023 A few years ago Nigerian Baptist leaders welcomed me at the airport with these words: “Thank you for sending Thomas Jefferson Bowen to bring us Read More