Volunteering in my local school has been one of my most life-giving experiences. I want more people to know the same joy and enrichment I’ve found, and it’s easier than many think.

Dr. Jerry P. Kulah spoke loud and clear for the church in Africa, giving the American church some things to consider about the condition of the body of Christ outside and inside the United States. Brace yourself. (Part 2 of 2)

Global Christianity is sending a clear message to the American church. For those with ears to hear, will we listen? (Part 1 of 2)

Sex, which historically has been hard to talk about in public, is front and center in denominational discussions. The current deliberations among Catholics and Baptists about sexual abuse and among Methodists about sexual orientation suggest intentional and productive talk about sex is overdue. How can we move forward?

We are stronger when we remember all of history—the good and the bad. Black history and Baptist history include both the good and the bad. Acknowledging both is a step toward a stronger future.

We are faced with an unpleasant truth. We have a choice: We can react against the news, or we can rise to the circumstances by bringing our best resources to bear on the problem of sexual abuse and misconduct in our midst. Now is the time for us to employ all that’s best about us.

In the State of the Union address and the Democratic response, one statement jumped out to me, a call for our first allegiance.

Abortion happens in the real world, and so we have to deal with abortion in the real world, which includes all the difficulties of human stories.

Names are useful things, but they can also get us into trouble. Names identify us, but they can also hurt us. In this examination of the names we use for each other, Editor Eric Black follows up on his earlier editorial about centrist Baptists.

Is all the talk about a border wall distracting Christians from their call in this world? Editor Eric Black examines one Christian leader’s conception of the border wall and whether or not such a wall is the best solution to the real issue.

I grew up under the illusion that Baptists were one big happy family. At least, that’s what I thought as a young child. My exposure to the real state of affairs happened in 1988. I was in seventh grade, and I was appalled at how I saw adults, Christian adults, treating one another.

The coming year promises to test our understanding of goodness. Followers of Christ—evangelical or otherwise—will not have to wait to practice goodness in this world. We will have the opportunity to do the honorable thing even before the end of this editorial.