By Colin Kroll You hear the lyrics to “Fast Car” rise from a nearby basement. But if you chose to investigate further, you might find something surprising: a diverse gathering of strangers who have come together around their love for making music to learn, practice and rehearse a vocal arrangement in community.  What can 188 young adults singing Chapman’s greatest hit teach us about building communities, congregations and cultures where all voices, gifts and callings matter?  “No auditions, no judgment, no commitment. Just the magic of human music-making.” This is Gaia Music Collect ..read more

By Grayson Hester For many Western Christians, the hope in the gospel begins with the crucifixion and crystallizes in the resurrection. For Christians who are also refugees, however, the hope likely resonates most intimately with Jesus’ birth. It is there, on a donkey in the middle of the desert, that Emmanuel truly means something. Mary and Joseph, themselves refugees, bore unto this world its savior—a borderless baby, birthed humbly, amid dangerous surroundings.   As the world experiences its most widespread refugee crisis in history, perhaps Emmanuel is not found within the secur ..read more

By Andy Hale The free church celebrates the centrality and authority of scripture. While we might disagree on the interpretation of the scriptures, we believe the Bible, under the Lordship of Christ, is central in the life of the individual and church. But for anyone who has studied the Bible critically, you know there are complexities of contexts, literary styles, theological depths, and so much more. Outside of professional clergy, where do most people go for insight? Commentaries? Surely not.  “Let’s be honest—most commentaries are dry and matter-of-fact. People don’t usually sit down ..read more

By Brooke and Mike, CBF field personnel, Southeast Asia “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not form harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Esau is the youngest in his family. He is the third of four siblings to have come through our ministry for university students here in Southeast Asia. The others have graduated and Esau will soon. Although many times we are mentored by our mentors, sometimes, we are mentored by our mentees. We have looked at expanding our ministry team through the pandemic and we have been weighing individu ..read more

By Grayson Hester Amid natural disasters that have literally shifted the ground, sometimes what’s required is a faith that can move mountains. Or at least move people from comfort to community, from inaction to compassion. It’s the faith required of an entire country following the catastrophic 7.6 earthquake that rocked Ishikawa, Japan, on January 1, injecting fresh horrors into the new year.   Carson and Laura Foushee have been Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel in Kanazawa, Japan since 2013. They live there with their daughter (5) and son (1). After the earthquake, the ..read more

By Jessica Hearne, CBF field personnel, Virginia “Then Peter came to him and said to him, ‘Lord if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 “Forgiveness does not relieve someone of the responsibility for what they have done. Forgiveness does not erase accountability. It is not about turning a blind eye or even turning the other cheek. It is not about letting someone off the hook or saying it is okay to do something monstrous. Forgiveness is simply abou ..read more

By Brooke and Mike, CBF field personnel, Southeast Asia “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD, plans for your welfare and not form harm, to give you a future with hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 Esau is the youngest in his family. He is the third of four siblings to have come through our ministry for university students here in Southeast Asia. The others have graduated and Esau will soon. Although many times we are mentored by our mentors, sometimes, we are mentored by our mentees. We have looked at expanding our ministry team through the pandemic and we have been weighing individu ..read more

By Grayson Hester Amid natural disasters that have literally shifted the ground, sometimes what’s required is a faith that can move mountains. Or at least move people from comfort to community, from inaction to compassion. It’s the faith required of an entire country following the catastrophic 7.6 earthquake that rocked Ishikawa, Japan, on January 1, injecting fresh horrors into the new year.   Carson and Laura Foushee have been Cooperative Baptist Fellowship field personnel in Kanazawa, Japan since 2013. They live there with their daughter (5) and son (1). After the earthquake, the ..read more

By Jessica Hearne, CBF field personnel, Virginia “Then Peter came to him and said to him, ‘Lord if my brother or sister sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.” Matthew 18:21-22 “Forgiveness does not relieve someone of the responsibility for what they have done. Forgiveness does not erase accountability. It is not about turning a blind eye or even turning the other cheek. It is not about letting someone off the hook or saying it is okay to do something monstrous. Forgiveness is simply abou ..read more

By Marv Knox Two feelings stand out as Becky Buice Hall looks back on her three-decade career at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship—her persistent calling to care for CBF field personnel and the abundant blessing of relationships.  Hall started working at CBF in August 1993 and continued through the end of January 2024. At 30 years and six months, hers is the longest tenure of any CBF employee.   Across the years, Hall changed jobs as need demanded and opportunity allowed, evolving and maturing alongside the Fellowship.   In 1993, Hall moved back home to Atlanta after ..read more