FIRST-PERSON: Five lessons I learned from a COVID-19 spike at our church
MOBILE, Ala. (BP)—In March, April and May, our church staff braced for a wave of COVID-19 cases to sweep through our church family. It never happened. In fact, for the first three months of the COVID-19 outbreak, our church family of about 1,500 only experienced a handful of Coronavirus cases. As far as we know, none of those cases was spread at one of our events. In June, that all changed. Like most churches, we moved to an...
FIRST PERSON: All-inclusive vision demands we ‘go!’
RICHMOND, Va.—IMB’s vision: A multitude from every language, people, tribe and nation knowing and worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ (Rev. 7:9). The Rev. 7:9-10 vision that we steward at the International Mission Board (IMB) is literally the culmination of human history. But it’s not our vision. This is the vision the Lord has given for His Church. This vision is what drives the ministry and mission of the Church to this very day and...
First Person: What does it mean?
When we look at the headlines and listen to today’s news, we are left with this question: what does all this mean? There are some who say “why now?” Wasn’t this just another death, and the news is full of people dying every day? Why all the unrest, why all the protests, marching, and who are these people who are marching carrying banners and shouting “black lives matter”? Some in the crowd are the wounded by the continued pressure of...
FIRST-PERSON: Handy dad, handy sons
NEW ORLEANS, La. (BP)—It’s fair to say I am moderately handy. I’m not the kind of guy that can do any kind of project around the house, but I know how to do a few things. I’m thankful for this skill since it tends to save our family money when I’m able to fix things, build things or paint things. But even more important, I’m thankful the way I learned to do the things that I do. Whether it’s fixing...
FIRST PERSON: ‘Seismic implications’ for religious liberty, church in SCOTUS ruling
WASHINGTON (BP)—The Supreme Court of the United States released its long-awaited decision in the case of Bostock v. Clayton County, Ga., over whether sexual orientation and gender identity are included in the definition of “sex” in Title VII of the federal non-discrimination laws. The Court ruled, in an opinion written by Justice Gorsuch, that “sex” does, in fact, include sexual orientation and gender identity,...
First person: An echo that won’t go away
We have all read about George Floyd who was pinned face down to the ground by a Minneapolis police officer. The police officer immobilized Floyd by placing his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck. In a video of the incident, Floyd can be heard pleading for the officer to release him because he can’t breathe. Later, Floyd was transported to a medical facility where he was pronounced dead. The officers involved were subsequently...
