It’s amazing how much debris can accumulate in a gutter over fifteen years. Until the first Saturday in April, I don’t think we had cleaned out our gutters since they were …

By Joshua Gilmore I recently learned that over 30 percent of students at our local elementary school will not be returning this fall for in-person instruction. While many of these students will be …

Pastor's gathering. SCOTT BARKLEY/Index When I think about pastoring a church the question the Apostle Paul asked comes to mind, “Who is sufficient for these …

This photo shared on social media of a crowded hallway at North Paulding High School generated discussion over schools' starting back. Churches regathering in person …

(RNS) — "Follower of Jesus." A follower of Jesus myself, I normally like to see those words on someone's Twitter profile. Lately, however, I'm reluctant to scroll down for fear that …

Most of us change places of ministry during our career. I realize, of course, that making changes now during COVID may seem unwise, but below are 13 mistakes I’ve seen leaders make in this process …

By Aaron Earls NASHVILLE — The American Church has a discipleship problem. The issue is not a lack of discipleship, however, but rather a glut of discipleship coming from the wrong …

Many times in Scripture, God compares His people to sheep. And though, I admit, we can be dumb and smelly, there are times when we, especially women, can act more like chickens. You see, chickens …

There have been three consistent questions our team has received during the pandemic. In the first weeks the question was, “When do you think we can return to in-person …

I have fond memories of our family “adopting” a foreign exchange student from Japan through my father’s involvement in Lion’s Club International. Yoshiyuki Nishakawa came to live with us for …

“Black lives matter!” is a statement of proclamation – a declaration and a decree – emerging from centuries of anguish born of America’s history of injustices stemming from the African …

I’m coronaweary, and I have a feeling you are too. I’m not saying that we’re tired of coronavirus, though we probably are. I am saying that we’re weary because of the overload …

It’s Sunday afternoon. The adrenaline beings to fade, and you feel it creeping in. Maybe it comes later as your try to sleep. Perhaps it waits until Monday to rear its ugly head. We …

NOTE: An earlier version mistakenly stated that .004 percent of COVID-19 cases were tied to churches per the New York Times article. The corrected figure is .4 percent. The Index regrets the error. …

N95-COVID-19 Mask By Samuel Brittain FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) — COVID-19 has upended many plans. From vacations to graduations and everything in between, …

One of the most startling marks of the current crisis caused by coronavirus is the impact it has had upon funerals. This is largely due to the spread traced to a funeral in Dougherty County. There …

Paul says in 1 Corinthians 11:1, “Imitate me as I always imitate Christ.” As parents, we should be able to say to our kids, “Copy me as I try to copy Christ.” Or better yet, “Follow me as I …

Pastor John Powell of Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Caney, Texas preaches July 12. Screen grab from EBC Years ago, A.E. Housman penned a searing poem about a young …

Have you ever thought about the significance of the cup holder in your vehicle? During the early years of automobile design, the cup holder was a rarity. No one was buying a vehicle because it had …

In its heyday I became a pretty big fan of the TV show “The Office.” Even now, I’m a threat to reference at any time the sitcom that ran for nine seasons on NBC and garnered a bunch of awards. …

A minister friend has been troubled by how some people interpret Proverbs 3:12 when it says, “God disciplines those He loves.” He has heard people say that when someone loses their wealth and …

Editor’s note: Harmon Born’s funeral will be held Tuesday, July 21 at The Rock Baptist Church in Rex. Harmon Born ran a car dealership, and I worked for him right out of college. …

Is anyone weary from the waiting? Waiting for social distancing to end so we might gather and give hugs to our friends and loved ones. Waiting for the time when our kids can have playdates. Waiting …

Cultural division is a real phenomenon on our streets and our college campuses and it is only intensifying across our nation. Recent weeks of unrest only serve to reinforce this reality. Varying …

I heard it from another pastor today: “I’m just tired.” Shepherding a congregation can be wearisome in general, but it’s all magnified and multiplied in these COVID days. Everything seems to …