Jim Burton

PORTLAND, Ore. (BP) -- When Josh Carter and his family migrated 2,700 miles from East Tennessee to the Pacific Northwest, he found his people -- mountain people -- in Oregon. The move was out of obedience to God's call on the family. But Carter's preparation didn't happen without hardship and a spiritual battle. The product of a broken home, grandparents helped in the raising of Carter and his two siblings in East Tennessee. Under the tutelage of his grandfather, who pastored an ...

SAN DIEGO (BP) -- At age 16 Manny Sanchez tagged along with his family to an Amway Convention. They were independent business owners with the mega network marketing company that sells soap, vitamins, makeup and other products. On that Saturday, someone announced there would be an optional Sunday morning session. Sanchez went to what turned out to be a worship service. He learned that life could be about more than making money. "The guy preached an evangelistic message," Sanchez said. "I went forward and got saved. My heart really did change. I was the first in my family to get saved."

MONTREAL (BP) -- When Tony Silveira's family arrived in Montreal in 2006, the Portuguese native was not naive. After starting churches in Toronto for 12 years and assisting with efforts in Montreal, he knew challenges existed in cities where there was an apparent resistance to religion. "In general, churches don't have a good reputation," Silveira said. "Religious words are curse words."

NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- Ryan Rice once despised the church. Then he found love. Growing up in greater New Orleans, an aunt read the Bible to him. Rice found the stories about Jesus fascinating. "I was the kid who raised his hand to answer every Bible question," Rice said of his early exposure to Sunday School and Vacation Bible School. When he turned 8 years old, his mother married a man who was an abuser and drug user. As a child just discovering the Bible, he learned about the dark side of life, and he asked a big question for a child, "Where is God?"

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP) -- Zack Randles believes that the nation's capital needs another fort, and he's willing to build that fortified structure. The fort he envisions will not look anything like the military installations that protect the hub of America's government -- this fort will be a church. The young west Texan set his heart toward Washington during his senior year at Oklahoma State University where he studied sociology. He committed to God in prayer to "do whatever ...

NORWICH, Conn. (BP) -- David Holland says his single mom raised him right. He went to church and knew about God. But when he got older, he "branched out into different areas." Soon, he was mired in a life of crime and addiction. Between the ages of 21 and 40, Holland estimates he spent eight-plus years incarcerated for short-term sentences on a range of charges, such as cocaine possession with intent to sell and domestic violence.

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. (BP) -- Crossroads Church pastor Ray Parascando didn't like the unfolding narrative of those who were maligning police officers in New York City and across the nation in rallies, marches and even riots. The revolt against law enforcement was casting all officers as bad people. "It's one thing to have people boo you, another to have people chant 'death to cops,'" Parascando said. "Our culture is heading down a wrong road. I think we're ...

STURGIS, S.D. (BP) -- When Mike Cooper learned about the 2015 Sturgis Motorcycle Rally from his pastor in Alaska he felt compelled to go. The veteran grocer had never been to a motorcycle rally, nor does he have a souped-up Harley-Davidson, but his determination wasn't about the debauchery at the seven-day Sturgis rally.

For a week of summer camp in a retreat setting, students escape struggles back home for a time of recreation, missions, fellowship, worship, Bible study, and reflection.

PRATTVILLE, Ala. (BP) -- Randall Tucker has conducted countless funerals during 32 years as pastor of Prattmont Baptist Church. But he faced a challenge for the memorial service of Sue Chapman. Tucker had never known her. Tucker learned that Chapman, 75, grew up at the Alabama Baptist Children's Home in Troy, the ministry's primary location for many years.