Purpose
Will your gift really make room for you?
I am firm believer that we serve a just God. His love for us extends far beyond what we could ever imagine, and as a result of His grace, we are blessed with gifts and the opportunity to reach our full potential regardless of who we are and where we come from....
What to do when Jesus sleeps while the boat is rocking
Matthew 8:23-27 KJV 23 And when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. 24 And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. 25 And his disciples came to him, and awoke him,...
7 Ways to Survive Seminary for Students of Color
The other day I got an email from a friend on how he was getting frustrated and tired of reading books and hearing lectures on Eurocentric theology and church history. He wanted to have some color injected into his Bible college and seminary education. It’s a story...
Are you unsure about your life’s purpose?
Purpose is a word that is on the minds of many millennials, however, for many it seems to be that piece of the puzzle that is hidden; That needle in the haystack that you are searching for. The frustration of figuring out what one is supposed to do is what seems to...
Why we need the Africa Study Bible
The internet is saturated with tons of information for all facets of life, including spiritual resources. In fact, if you do an Amazon search for something like study Bible results will include a wide variety of options. While scrolling down the list, you will find...
Women bloggers spawn an evangelical ‘crisis of authority’
(RNS) When Sarah Bessey started blogging in 2005, she saw it as a way to keep in touch with friends and family. And that was in the early days of the Christian blogosphere, which she remembers as an “oasis of community” — strangers sharing everything from parenting...
Crown of Thorns: One Woman’s Journey From Foster Care To Success
Shalita O’Neale is not your average survivor. The 34-year-old is a foster care graduate who took her experiences and used them as inspiration to create the Fostering Change Network, a nonprofit that creates avenues to a successful life while eliminating the stigma of...
Hospitality: What the First Century Church Teaches Us About Welcoming the Stranger
“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2, NIV). Have you ever known someone who never meets a stranger? Folks who live their lives in such a way that nearly everyone they meet...
It’s Lent, Shhh…Don’t Tell Anyone
It’s time to stop talking about what we are giving up for Lent–or judging those who do–and start pressing into Lent quietly and in expectation of God’s reward.
Kenyan pastors offer young people a token of love
NAIROBI, Kenya (RNS) On Valentine’s Day, some Kenyan pastors handed out red roses as a sign of love to HIV-positive youth suffering stigma and discrimination. The gesture was meant as a way to reach out to youth, many of whom feel rejected by the churches. “We came to...
President Obama designates historic civil rights sites including black churches
(RNS) In one of his last official acts, President Obama has designated Sixteenth Street Baptist Church and other civil rights landmarks in Birmingham, Ala., as the Birmingham Civil Rights National Monument. The designation protects the historic A.G. Gaston Motel in...
Rocking the Label: A Closer Look at the Millennial First Lady
Millennials are the largest generation since their parents, the Baby Boomers, and already are making their mark on society and the church. As many young women are marrying and beginning their new lives, some will also take on the responsibility of first lady—the wife...
Here’s why MLK Day is more than just another day off
Since 1986, the third Monday of January has been reserved to commemorate the birthday, life and legacy of one of the nation’s greatest leaders, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. King—a Baptist preacher, scholar, and arguably the greatest leader of the Civil Rights...
Retired Ugandan bishop seeks restorative justice for former child soldiers
by Fredrick Nzwili (RNS) A retired Anglican bishop in northern Uganda is agitating for restorative justice – which emphasizes forgiveness and truth-telling over punishment – in a region where the wounds of a brutal war unleashed by the Lord’s Resistance Army persist....
Christmas Service Projects have more perks than you think
It’s that time of year again! December is here and so are all the many festivities of the season. But, what is all the fuss about? Why do we do whatever it is that we do every year? What is the real meaning of Christmas? Of course, as Christians, we are aware that...
How This 17-Year-Old Oakland Honor Student Overcame Homelessness & Abuse
In a human interest story spotlighting Students Rising Above, an organization invested in improving the lives of low-income youth through education, CBS Oakland interviewed Elexis Webster, one of SRA’s brightest stars. Elexis says she struggled with devastating...
How This 17-Year-Old Oakland Honor Student Overcame Homelessness & Abuse
In a human interest story spotlighting Students Rising Above, an organization invested in improving the lives of low-income youth through education, CBS Oakland interviewed Elexis Webster, one of SRA’s brightest stars. Elexis says she struggled with devastating...
How to put your faith to work in response to today’s violence
Last week’s violence in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Texas left two unarmed civilians and five police officers dead. Media coverage continues to dominate our airwaves as outrage grows across the United States. Everyone from our neighbors to some of the world’s biggest...