By LORETTA FULTON “Ok, you’re going to get two beans out,” Ella Mansur instructed the group of eager learners circled around the table. They were learning the game of Mancala, with roots in Africa, which made it perfect for demonstrating African culture on World Refugee Day. A local celebration to highlight the culture and traditions of local refugees was held
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By NANCY PATRICK Today’s social climate presents many challenges. I’m not sure if the cause for the rise in depression, violence, climate change, suicide, and lethargy has one diagnosis. Some blame much of the dismal atmosphere on COVID. I agree that the two-year pandemic changed our world in some irreversible ways, but I’m not so sure we can blame COVID
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON One Sunday morning, I saw a bird trapped in the church building, flying back and forth, trying to find its way to freedom. It was a common ordinary sparrow, but it reminded me of my first sermon. I was nineteen years old and still remember sitting across the desk from our minister, Alan Sowders, reviewing some thoughts
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By LORETTA FULTON Two familiar faces at First Central Presbyterian Church gained special status Sunday, June 11, when they were named associate pastors. Carlo Sosa-Ortiz and Grace Sosa, a husband and wife team, already were serving positions at the church, but following the vote of the congregation on June 11, they will be ordained as ministers in the Presbyterian Church
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By JIM NICHOLS I could hardly wait until I was eight years old and eligible to play Cub Scout baseball. That was the earliest age at which boys in my city had the option of being in an organized league with dads as coaches, real bases with chalk lines, caps, and t-shirts with major league names on them for uniforms.
Read moreBy DANNY MINTON It used to be ordinary for traveling missionaries to go through areas of the African jungles and establish congregations of Christian worshipers. When first converted, many of these congregations were very strict and serious about following the way of the New Testament, especially when it came to giving to God. At many of these meetings, it was
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By LORETTA FULTON Abilenians are invited to join local refugees in celebrating World Refugee Day on Tuesday, June 20. The come-and-go celebration will be 4-6 p.m. at the Community Foundation of Abilene office, 850 N. First St. It will include dance lessons, traditional African games, and book readings in multiple languages. “This day honors the strength and courage of people
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By LORETTA FULTON The last time two historic Black Baptist associations gathered in Abilene it was a year before COVID disrupted the world. The 2019 meeting wasn’t planned to be the last for a while, but that was before COVID hit in 2020. So, the upcoming sessions will be a joyful reunion for the people gathering to worship, learn, hear
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By LORETTA FULTON Marty CashBurless returned to McMurry University as campus chaplain in 2017 and now it is time to move on. She won’t be leaving town right away, but the campus she has served and got her degree from will no longer be where she’ll spend time. CashBurless will retire as Director of Religious and Spiritual Life/University Chaplain effective
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