Most read opinions/reflections 2019

Two blogs exploring longstanding questions asked of the Christian faith received the most attention in The Baptist Times in 2019. Why does God allow bad things to happen? written in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Sri Lanka by Chris Goswami, received the most hits, closely followed by Colin Sedgwick's reflection on horrible passages in the Bible - Bad things in God’s word.

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1 Why does God allow bad things to happen? Ultimately not a question we can answer satisfactorily, but there are things we can say that might help. By Chris Goswami

2 Bad things in God’s word What are we, as followers of Jesus, to make of the horrible passages of the Bible? Colin Sedgwick offers a reflection on Judges 19

3 A new year, new possibilities September is a good time to consider the deeper change God longs for in our churches, writes Trevor Neill

4 A reflection for Maundy Thursday This is my body, this is my blood: With his words he held out broken bread and the cup of wine...

5 What can Christians do about knife crime? The view from a local church, by Dr Sally Mann, Minister of Bonny Downs Baptist Church in East London

6 Christians and the pursuit of perfection Can we be real in our churches about the reality of mental health struggles?

7 Women in Ministry: still a sticking point? Ali Taylor was invited to create a mosaic at the recent Baptist International Conference on Theological Education

8 The difference a church can make Faith Bowers on the impact of Bloomsbury Central Baptist Church's support for her son Richard throughout his 50 years

9 Nurturing the gift of a listening ear In this age where social media has diminished communication skills, there is an even greater need to listen well

10 The radical economics of scripture Our economic system is fundamentally unjust. Can we imagine a just economics in line with the grace of scripture?

Baptist Times, 16/12/2019

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‘Padre, have you got a minute?’

Baptist chaplain Jonathan Stewart, the youngest serving chaplain in the RAF, on ministering beyond the walls of the church

The Stockdale Paradox

The need for balance between hope and realism - how lessons from America's most senior Vietnam Prisoner of War give us wisdom in this challenging time.

Healthcare chaplaincy in a pandemic

In a pandemic, when we have a new disease about which so little is known, we have to be careful, writes Nik Hookey. But we can sit with those who are dying, and they can know that someone who understands their spirituality is there with them

Healthcare chaplaincy in a pandemic

We invited a number of Baptist healthcare chaplains to share something of their experiences in the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are reflections from the Revds Sarah Crane, Diana Steadman and Adrian Woodbridge

Healthcare chaplaincy in a pandemic

'Most times we do visit,' writes Mark Burleigh, 'It is so important to the patients. Often we are the only non-medical person to see them for days, if not weeks.'