While 2024 — like most years — was filled with tragedy, scandal, politics and ongoing tensions overseas, it also was a year where redemption and grace shined through a lot of the dark, discouraging moments.
With the help of Google Analytics, we highlighted some of this year’s most-read online articles for The Baptist Paper:
Pastor’s sermon goes viral after couple dies in car accident
A week before he and his wife were killed in a tragic traffic accident on Sept. 4, Tennessee pastor Bobby Mullins posted on social media a video of a sermon he preached in 2008 called “Living Like You’re Dying.” In his Facebook post, he asked, “What if you only had one month to live? … What would you do to make the rest of your life really matter?” He invited people to watch the sermon that asked people to consider their relationship with Jesus Christ and impact on others. Since that post, the number of views for that video has increased to more than 102,000. See two related stories that The Baptist Paper published about the Mullinses:
• Tennessee pastor, wife die after car crash
• ‘Live Like You’re Dying’: TN pastor’s words ringing out to thousands after death
Couple finds healing after Ashley Madison scandal
By all accounts, the Raders’ marriage appeared to be over. Sam Rader’s web of lies and extramarital affairs had been exposed to his wife, Nia, and the two appeared to be separated. It seemed like they would be among the many marriages destroyed by the Ashley Madison scandal, when the extramarital affairs of reportedly 37 million were exposed after the company’s client database was hacked in 2015. But after many counseling sessions, the couple eventually reconciled. The Raders’ story was among several stories captured on the Netflix documentary, “Ashley Madison: Sex, Lies & Scandal.”
The documentary focused on the fallout of the massive database leak. Below are two stories The Baptist Paper ran on the scandal:
• Couple finds healing after Ashley Madison scandal
• Life after Ashley Madison: Christi Gibson shares story of healing, redemption
Ohio State football upstaged by player-led baptism service
The Ohio State football team made headlines this fall, but it wasn’t all for their accomplishments or defeats on the gridiron. Some of the coverage highlighted what a handful of players did off the field when they helped lead an on-campus baptism service.
In a world of lucrative sports deals and the transfer portal — where star players are often obsessed with wins, losses, playtime and how much money they’re making — many readers seemed to see the story as a breath of fresh air. (tbponline.org/OSU) Other stories
See other stories that were among the most-read stories of the year:
Flooding from Helene ravages NC; Ridgecrest Conference Center temporarily closed
(For more stories on Hurricane Helene, click here.)
First person review: The Best Christmas Pageant Ever may be the year’s best family movie
Riley Gaines urges students to stand firm, speak louder against society’s lies
Rhonda Kelley — former first lady, professor at New Orleans Seminary — dies
Kendrick Brothers’ “The Forge” aims to ignite a discipleship movement within churches
