By James R. Strange, Ph.D. Professor of Biblical and Religious studies, Samford University SERVING IN CHRIST Ephesians 4:1–7; 11–16 In our fifth lesson on being an authentic church, we explore a passage from Ephesians. Paul visited Ephesus at least twice (Acts 18). Priscilla, Aquila and Apollos were probably the founders of the city’s congregations. In this chapter, Paul addresses a critical aspect of an authentic church, which is the unity of the body of Christ. Read all of chapter 4 and also 1 Corinthians 12. God makes us one but equips us with various gifts for His use. (1–7) In verse 1 ..read more

Robert Smith Jr. said his mother was protective of him when he was growing up. People would tell him that they thought he was going to be a preacher, and she didn’t want them telling him that. “She said, ‘If Little Robert is to preach, the Lord will call him,’” Smith said. And the Lord did. At age 17, after years of serving as a junior deacon and reading the Scriptures in worship, he felt the call to preach. “I had no idea how it would feed into a nearly 58-year ministry,” he said. Seeing ‘what God can do with so little’ At the end of April, Smith celebrated his retirement from his position a ..read more

LAHORE, Pakistan — Arson is suspected in a March 30 church fire in Pakistan that occurred after an individual threatened to prevent the observance of Christ’s resurrection. The predawn blaze burned the contents of the United Presbyterian Junior Church in Gujar Khan in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi District, report the news services Christian Daily International and Morning Star News. “We strongly suspect that it’s a case of arson,” Adeem Alphonse, pastor of the church, told the news services, “but the police and administration are trying to hush up the matter by terming it an outcome of a short circu ..read more

Mainline Protestant denominations have a clergy problem so severe that it’s threatening their existence. They also have a solution at their fingertips. They’re just not using it enough. First, the problem. Congregations are selling off assets, from endowment stock funds to parsonages and other church properties, to plug their budget gaps and keep paying full-time clergy who’re tired and often seeking a career change. In a survey of 1,700 pastors conducted last fall by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, 53% of clergy had seriously considered leaving ministry at least once since 2020 ..read more

Reuben Prater is the new pastor of Bethesda Baptist Church, Equality. Prater holds two bachelor’s degrees from Auburn University, Montgomery, in psychology and in criminal justice. He also attended Beeson Divinity School at Samford University. He was minister of music and youth at Brown’s Chapel Baptist Church, Sylacauga, and Eagle Creek Baptist Church, Dadeville; was ordained at Weogufka Second Baptist Church; was minister of music at Hackneyville Baptist Church, Alexander City; and pastor of Antioch Baptist Church, Camp Hill; Horseshoe Bend Baptist Church, Dadeville; and Concord Baptist Chu ..read more

Many of the 300 members of the University of Mobile Class of 2024 graduated from high school during the pandemic and did not experience a traditional high school graduation ceremony. To make their May 6 UM graduation extra-special, each graduate received a brightly wrapped present to open at the ceremony’s end. Each present – a University of Mobile Alumni picture frame – was wrapped by members of the 55+ life group at Cottage Hill Baptist Church as part of their “Love Where You Live” community service program. EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written and originally released by the University of ..read more

Brandie Roe is the new student minister of First Baptist Church East Brewton. She previously served as student minister at Unity Baptist Church, Atmore, and FBC Flomaton. Roe and her husband, Ben, have two daughters ..read more

Announcing the results of a new Global Flourishing Study, a consortium of scholars and pollsters led by Gallup said that they found links between religiosity and people’s satisfaction with their lives. The study, a joint project of Harvard and Baylor universities, Gallup and the Center for Open Science, aims to uncover what influences “human flourishing,” which is defined by measures of happiness, character and virtue and social relationships, among other values. According to the group’s research, attending a religious service regularly positively affects flourishing. “We’re not shocked at th ..read more

Charles Kelly is the new pastor of Winterboro Baptist Church, now Winterboro Community Church, Alpine. Kelly began his ministry later in life as the campus pastor for Church of the Highlands, Greystone Campus, Birmingham, then Sylacauga Campus. He graduated from Highlands College, earning a ministry leadership certificate, and holds a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication from Auburn University. Kelly grew up on Kelly Ranch Road in the Winterboro community, and spent his adult life running Kelly Ranch, a commercial cattle and sheep operation. In addition, he is the executive directo ..read more

Calvary Baptist Church, Prattville, will host Vacation Bible School for preschool through 6th grade and special needs, May 31, 6–8 p.m.; June 1, 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; and June 2, 9:45 a.m.–noon. The theme is Breaker Rock Beach: God’s rock-solid truth in a world of shifting sands, which is based on Romans 12:2. Dave Burns is pastor ..read more