By Steve Playl Most of us detest mosquito bites. Have you ever heard someone say, "You know, one of my favorite things is to be covered with mosquitoes." Didn't think so. Some people seem to be more …

Pastor Brian Branam baptizes one of 72 Liberty Baptist baptized this summer. LIBERTY BAPTIST CHURCH In a society that seems to be “losing its religion,” is it possible to baptize a bunch of …

By Sarah Dixon Young Where is the sun's shadow? I sat in the woods the other day studying the shadow of a cottonwood tree as the leaves tossed and turned. As the sun sank in the west, the shadow grew …

I was introduced to Bobby Ward shortly after he moved to Dooly County in 1986 to pastor Riverview Baptist Church. He soon became my customer at Bank of Dooly as well as my friend.   Bobby …

A post on social media is assumed to be true just because it reaches critical mass and goes viral. Why are we so gullible and programmed to simply believe what we see or hear as Gospel truth? Have we …

This originally appeared at  Wilkes’ personal blog  on Friday, Sept. 13.  Click here for a printable pdf of this story. It happened again this week. Another pastor committed …

I’ve noticed a pattern. Periodically, a name will appear in the news for a variety of reasons. It could be a young athlete has the performance of his or her life. Perhaps someone becomes part of a …

The sign read, “Warning! Pet Peeves Ahead!” It wasn’t posted on a roadside, like an alert letting you know “bridge out ahead” or “road closed.” It appeared online. However, it reminded …

My evidence is anecdotal, but my experience is that many, if not most, Sunday school classes or small groups turn inwardly at some point. Even those that start with the strongest outward focus …

By Mary Alan It's the little things, the mundane, that cause me to fail as a cross-cultural witness. On the other hand, the catastrophes and emergencies — these events are catalyzers for my …

The faith-based crime drama "Vindication" headlines family-friendly viewing options for September, according to columnist Michael Foust. The show is available on Amazon Prime. AMAZON PRIME/Special …

By Kelvin Cochran Kelvin Cochran Many Christian Americans in today's culture are faced with a choice whether to live out their faith or keep their jobs. We are living in a season where one week we …

By Thom Rainer One of the most common responses we receive at ThomRainer.com is something like this statement: “You can’t run your church like a business.” Thom Rainer I get it. Our goal is to …

If you've taken a look at our website in the past week, you've noticed the redesign for The Christian Index. Yes, it's a biased opinion, but I love it. And judging from the response I've …

Editor's note: Sunday, Sept. 8 is Baptism Day in the Southern Baptist Convention. For resources, go to namb.net/baptism-sunday . Marshall Ausberry   One of the beautiful things I like about …

Battle fatigue – it is a real thing for every soldier, and I believe it is a real thing for every Christian called by God to be a soldier. I do not want to say the battles any of us as Christians …

By Frankie Melton I was standing on the sidewalk in front of our church one afternoon when a gentleman walked by I didn't know. Frankie Melton As a pastor in a small town, I want to know everybody. …

Filmmaker Ken Burns, right, presents his latest documentary, "Country Music," in September on PBS. PBS/Special By Michael Foust Editor’s note: This monthly series, “5 Family-Friendly Things,” …

State missions affect various ministries, including students attending SuperWow youth camp, above. IMB President Paul Chitwood gives his perspective and experience on how much state missions …

By Todd E. Brady We celebrated our nation's 243rd birthday in July, and now we celebrate those who have worked to build our nation into what it is. While Labor Day may conjure good feelings of time …

Above: Marc Ira Hooks stops to talk with one of thousands of kids in Vacation Bible School – this one holding a popsicle – while shooting the CBA Church Network’s series "The VBS Road Trip" on …

When it comes to church systems I am an idealist. I think that there are patterns that churches should usually adhere to to get predictable outcomes. For example, there are some prescriptive …

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It’s not just the return of football; it’s the return of high school football. I love the sport itself, but it’s special at the …

One of the most common responses we receive at ThomRainer.com is something like this statement: “You can’t run your church like a business.” I get it. Our goal is to glorify God. …

One of my favorite movies of all time is "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy. I realize that is actually three movies, but I consider it one story. Besides, this also allows me to squeeze eight …