Oftentimes, the mission of God doesn’t seem to match our conveniently constructed models. In Acts 8:26-40, we catch a glimpse of how God brings about what He has promised is going to happen in Revelation 5:9-10. God orchestrated circumstances in such a way that Phillip and the Ethiopian eunuch met on a desert road to bring about... Continue Reading →
Chosen to Go
"But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may proclaim the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; you had not received mercy, but now... Continue Reading →
Four Steps to Embrace Your Community
During the process of reaching the diverse community around us, we must each move from thinking like a missionary to engaging like one. While it can be intimidating to make the transition from theory and strategy to entering and embracing the lives of people, it is well worth it. To make this transition, there are... Continue Reading →
Storm Chasers
I have served almost twelve years as Disaster Relief Director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention and have been involved in countless disaster responses across our globe - from hurricanes on the Gulf Coast to tornadoes in the Midwest to famines in Africa. As I reflect on these events, there is no question in my mind... Continue Reading →
Seven Ways to Embrace the Displaced
Imagine being a refugee landing in the United States for the first time. You’ve been waiting for years for the opportunity to start your life again. You haven’t had a home to call your own, your children have only sporadically attended school, and your spouse suffers from insomnia and nightmares about the violence that drove you... Continue Reading →
What is Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief?
Our world continues to experience devastation and destruction annually. Man-made events as well as natural disasters continue to challenge our minds with “why.” Why has this happened? Why me? Why my community? As Believers, we cannot answer the “why,” but we can respond with love and compassion as we help those affected know that they... Continue Reading →
Amazing Grace
Jesus demonstrated to a broken world that “grace” is more powerful, more inviting, and more life-changing than fear, lectures, or judgement. God’s truth is embraced when we understand that God is good and desires to give us life. Our Christian faith teaches that Jesus fully satisfied God’s wrath and judgement on the cross, and assures... Continue Reading →
What Is Our Answer When Disasters Come?
When disasters strike, we must avoid the urge to throw out pat answers or offer flippant explanations. So how do we answer those struggling in the aftermath of disasters? We grieve with those who suffer. Suffering causes us to pause, to look at the hard questions, and should move us to weep with those who... Continue Reading →
Where is God?
Natural disasters continue to strike with little warning across the globe. In the aftermath of these tragic events, people often ask, "Where is God?" Intellectual answers even when based on fact do not take away the pain or the loss of those affected by disasters. People need hope and grace amid the darkness, and I... Continue Reading →
How Can the Church Help Disaster Survivors?
Hurricanes Floods Wildfires Earthquakes Tornadoes The year 2018 witnessed Hurricane Florence, Hurricane Michael, the California Wildfires, the Indonesia Earthquake and Tsunami, the Guatemala Mount Fuego Eruption, and Super Typhoon Manghut along with countless other smaller disaster events. Each of these events caused significant loss that left people and communities reeling in the aftermath of these... Continue Reading →