Pastor’s Blog | July 20, 2026
In June, I spent a week with other First Baptist folks in Berlin learning about the life and theology of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Bonhoeffer is well known as a theologian who resisted Hitler and the Nazi regime, ultimately giving his life for that resistance. I have long admired his moral clarity and courage, but being in […]
Pastor’s Blog | July 13, 2026
On my office desk, there is a mug that reads, “I can do all things through a verse taken out of context.” I love it! It makes me laugh and reminds me to consider the context of a Bible verse. Hearing a well-known verse in its larger context can totally change its meaning (don’t get […]
Pastor’s Blog | July 6, 2026
As our Mission Immersion Team returns from Costa Rica, I have found myself reflecting not only on what happened there, but also on what was happening here while we were away. Throughout our mission immersion week, each participant carried the prayers of someone from First Baptist Greenville. Every day, letters were opened reminding our youth, […]
Pastor’s Blog | June 29, 2026
As people of faith, we are reminded often of God’s blessings – all the things we have that God provides, all the ways our lives are enriched by friends, family, nature, recreation, rewarding work, and many more “goodnesses.” Yet, there is a heaviness in our world that most of us feel. We carry it around […]
Pastor’s Blog | June 22, 2026
The latest research says the five components of brain health are good sleep, exercise, blood sugar control, social connection and stress regulation. Amazing that the people who compiled our Bible seemed to intuit that long before the advent of the scientific method. They developed rituals and practices for health and wholeness two millennia before they […]
Pastor’s Blog | June 15, 2026
Beloved First Baptist, I have been reading Learning to Pray: A Guide for Everyone by James Martin, which is wonderful! The book begins with a simple question: If most of us desire a close relationship with God, and if prayer is one of the primary ways we connect with God, why do so many of […]
Pastor’s Blog | June 8, 2026
For five days in May, I had the privilege of sinking into silence. As part of my sabbatical, I attended a silent retreat at Mepkin Abbey, a Cistercian monastery near Charleston, SC. As a “busy brain” person, external processor, music lover, and mom to a preschooler, my normal world is filled with speech and sound. […]
Pastor’s Blog | June 1, 2026
Dear Beloved First Baptist, Summer is upon us, and I know many of you will be headed out of town on vacation. I hope your time away will be restful and joyful. May it also give you space away from work or the busy routine of life to nurture your relationship with God. As you […]
Pastor’s Blog | May 26, 2026
Not an object or a thing. But like another family member, our family farm in Tennessee has played a huge role in my life. It’s the place I feel most at home, where I feel closest to my parents and grandparents, and where my longing for them is heaviest. A couple of weeks ago, I […]
Pastor’s Blog | May 18, 2026
We have a good problem at First Baptist. So much is happening in the life of our church that it can be challenging to share about it all! As church staff, we continually discuss how to improve our communication so you can stay informed and connected. Over the past year, we have taken several meaningful […]