Staff Evaluations During a Pandemic By Terry Maples, CBFVA Coordinator
Many churches designate autumn as the best season to do staff evaluations. How is this important task even possible during a pandemic? I believe unprecedented times demand a different process. As a vocational minister for three churches over a period of 27 years, I’ve...
Preaching during the Pandemic Part 2: Five More Passages Art Wright, CBFVA Theologian in Residence
July 24, 2020 When the pandemic hit in full force back in March, I shared five Scripture passages that might be helpful for pastors to consider preaching from in our current context. It is now July, and the pandemic rages on, more fiercely than ever in many...
Being Church in a divided world. By: Mark Snipes CBFVA Associate Coordinator
In the age of Covid-19, we are learning that even in a pandemic, congregations can be pushed apart, with ministers in the middle trying to figure out the best way to move forward. As I have spoken with ministers around Virginia, I hear of congregants on both sides of...
“How long will it be?”: Reflections on Martyrdom in Revelation and Black Lives Today by Art Wright Theologian in Residence, CBF VA
There is a text from the biblical book of Revelation that keeps coming to my mind during these hard days, in the wake of the killing of George Floyd. Unfortunately, it is not a good, heartwarming passage that offers easy answers. It does, however, seem to me to speak...
Connected Mission in a Disconnected World
by Mark Snipes, CBFVA Associate Coordinator In a world that looks and acts drastically different than it did three months ago, the way that the church goes about living out its mission in the world also looks drastically different. Most churches thrive by...
Don’t Waste a Crisis by Terry Maples, CBFVA Coordinator
As I write this article, our world continues in lockdown mode in its effort to stem the spread of the coronavirus. The crisis seems far from over; the toll in terms of lives lost, jobs furloughed or cut, retirement funds pummeled, etc., is staggering. This pandemic is...
Sure Could Use a Little Good News by Terry Maples, CBFVA Coordinator
Some days all I hear, it seems, is bad news. The COVID-19 pandemic keeps us on edge as warranted concerns dominate media headlines. We are told to stay home, maintain appropriate “social distance,” avoid large gatherings, wash our hands frequently, work from home if...
The Coronavirus, Lent, and Following the Way of Jesus Art Wright
March 11, 2020 Like many of us, I have been earnestly striving to understand the seriousness of the situation we find ourselves in as the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to spread in the United States and across the globe. At times I have...
“Learning to Listen: Christian Ethics in an Age of Polarization”
By Art Wright CBFVA January 28, 2020 During the month of January I have been co-leading a series at Huguenot Road Baptist Church called “Learning to Listen: Christian Ethics in an Age of Polarization.” Our weekly discussions have centered around the need for churches...
Reflection: Sacrifice
When we think of the word sacrifice our minds often assume the ultimate physical sacrifice—like giving one’s life through military service. My recent trip to the Texas-Mexico border reminded me sacrifice can be defined in many different ways. Hearing stories from...
Finding Faith in Film
Barrett Owen, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Waynesboro I like to define faith as "awe in the face of mystery." Faith leads us to the precipice of life and has us look out into the Great Unknown with a sense of ‘awe’ and ‘wonder’at what is to come. But...
The Season of Advent in the Age of Trump
By Art Wright, CBFVA Theologian in Residence Advent is supposed to be a season of deliberate quiet, peaceful reflection, and expectant hope. Yet if your experience has been anything like mine this year, Advent has been anything but. I feel like I am trying...
Dissonance Interrupts Certitude!
by Terry Maples, CBFVA Coordinator I grew up in North Alabama in the 1960’s. My Dad was a bi-vocational preacher in small Southern Baptist churches for much of his career. The context of my early years shaped me in powerful ways, and I am...
Breaking News from CBFVA!
The CBF Virginia staff is in Birmingham, AL, this week for CBF’s General Assembly. During today’s state meeting (3:00 p.m. Central Time), Terry and Mark will reveal exciting new initiatives to be funded through the CBF Block Grant. We want those who could not attend...
Congregational Role in Transformation by Terry Maples, CBFVA Coordinator
As I worked on content for CBFVA’s 2018-2019 Ministry Planner and guided the formation of this year’s Bible study series, I thought often about our theme: Seeking Transformation. One recurring insight shines through my reflection: Transformation is more gift than...
France Mission Immersion Reflection
Finding the dark places in paradise France Mission Immersion Reflection By Mark Snipes, Associate Coordinator In March, during our first Mission Madness weekend in Waynesboro, our Camp Pastor, Barrett Owen, preached a sermon about Jesus’ exchange...
Holy Land Reflection
During a conversation one of my companions asked why I keep coming back. As I reflected on this question, I thought I would share why I go to the Holy Land and why I will continue to go back.
My 2018 CBF General Assembly
I often describe a General Assembly as a big family reunion – and it was!
Formed by God’s Mission
What shifts will be necessary for Fellowship Baptists to be shaped by God’s mission? Mission is the result of God’s initiative, rooted in God’s purposes to restore and heal creation. “Mission” means “sending,” and sending is the central biblical theme describing God’s...
God’s Heart for Justice
How can Fellowship Baptists more fully embody God’s heart for justice?
Forming Capacity to Love
If God is LOVE, how can Fellowship Baptists make love tangible in the world so all flourish?
Reading the Bible for Formation
How might reading the Bible formationally empower transformation for Fellowship Baptist?
“What It Means to Be Fellowship Baptists” Series & “Tethered to Jesus!”
INTRODUCTION I started seminary studies in June of 1980. Undercurrents and rumors of a “take-over” were already swirling by that time. In the next few years, rumors became reality. The Southern Baptist Convention slowly but surely abandoned its historical roots. In...
CBF Virginia: Blog
Click Here to read blog posts from Terry Maples, Mark Snipes, and others.