ROCHESTER, Minn. – Four pastors and Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) Multiplying Churches Catalyst Rick Hedger will take a road trip to Minnesota next month to explore potential church-to-church partnerships. Those churches from Missouri on this first vision trip are Selmore Baptist, Ozark; Mt. Olive Baptist, Russellville; Southside Baptist, Fulton; and First Baptist, Otterville. Combined, Minnesota and Wisconsin have a population of 11.3 million, almost double Missouri’s 6.1 million. … [Read more...]
The 20/80 rule lives on
During my February trek to Nashville for the SBC Executive Committee meeting, I’m always blessed by the reports from the entity leaders of the SBC. It is thrilling to hear about the advance of the gospel in North America and among the unreached in neglected places of the world. Baptist Press reported an interesting stat. The president of the Executive Committee, Dr. Frank Page, said in his address that “less than 2,000 churches in our convention give 50 percent of all Cooperative Program … [Read more...]
Churches on Solid Ground as Economy Rebounds
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Church collection plates were a little bit fuller last fall, according to Nashville-based LifeWay Research. About 40 percent of Protestant pastors say their churches received more offerings in 2017 than in 2016. Three-quarters say their church met or exceeded budget. And only about a third say the economy gave their church trouble. Those are among the findings of a new report from LifeWay Research, based on a survey of 1,000 Protestant senior pastors. LifeWay … [Read more...]
Pastors’ Conf. announces 2018 speakers, theme
DALLAS (BP) -- "Fulfill Your Ministry!" will be the theme addressed by a diverse lineup of speakers at this year's Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference June 10-11 in Dallas. Pastors' Conference President H.B. Charles Jr. announced the theme, drawn from 2 Timothy 4:5, and speakers, half of whom are non-Anglo, late last week in a blog post. Five African American preachers will join one Hispanic preacher and six Anglos. "The goal of the conference is to challenge and encourage … [Read more...]
Refugee women persevere amid peril, harsh conditions
PHOENIX (BP) -- For more than 7 million Africans forced to flee their warfare-stricken homelands, "home" has become a refugee camp where many wait year after year in hopes of a better life. Bamurange and Esther are two such women who survived the Great African War, one of numerous conflicts that have plagued the continent. Braving nearly two decades in separate refugee camps, they now have settled in Arizona, safe from the conflict that claimed an estimated 2 million lives and displaced … [Read more...]
The shape of theological disaster
Some of us lived through the “conservative resurgence” in the Southern Baptist Convention. Some of you were too young, and have only heard your pastor talk about it from time-to-time. If you ever wondered why we needed to fight the fight over biblical authority (it was a 20-year battle) ... here it is. ... Today we’ll see the shape of theological disaster. One point is clear throughout church history theological disaster almost never strikes out of the blue. Trouble seems to build and … [Read more...]
SBC Executive Committee considers DC convention, mission board merger
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has given the District of Columbia Baptist Convention (DCBC) 90 days to "secure" the "the removal of any churches from its fellowship that have demonstrated a faith or practice affirming, approving or endorsing homosexual behavior," according to a recommendation adopted by the EC Feb. 20. If such churches remain in friendly cooperation with the DCBC after that period, the DCBC will lose its authorization "to receive and … [Read more...]
Annie theme this year: ‘On Mission Here and Now’
JEFFERSON CITY – A great opportunity to support missionaries here, and now, in North America begins March 4-11 with the 2018 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) Week of Prayer. With a little planning and resource support from Missouri WMU, Baptist churches across the state can meet the challenge. The Missouri Baptist Convention has set our goal this year at $2 million, which will help contribute to the National Offering Goal of $70 million. Missouri WMU Executive … [Read more...]
Generous gifts bless Texans in aftermath of Harvey
BEAUMONT, Texas – In its 69-year existence, East Gill Baptist Church here has survived four catastrophic events. But last August, when Hurricane Harvey ripped through the gulf coast, the church’s building met its match. After the storm passed, Pastor Jearon Chew took a boat to the sight of the church. “We were only able to see the roof of the building,” Chew said. For seven days, the church – located in a lower-income area of Beaumont – sat under water. Once the waters receded, they … [Read more...]
SBC’s Page: 15 Dragons posing danger to pastors & ministers
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Frank Page, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee told attenders at the Midwest Advance leadership summit that there are dragons in Baptist church life that have to be dealt with very carefully. As he spoke on church conflict during a breakout session in the organizational leadership track, Page said he wanted to encourage the pastors and staff members and help them navigate around “dragons” that devour Baptist leaders. He mentioned 15 kinds of dragons who … [Read more...]
Midwest Advance equips Missourians
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A little over a hundred Missouri Baptists took in leadership training and missions inspiration at the Midwest Advance leadership summit in Springfield, Ill., Jan. 23-25. Registration for the event was coordinated through Baptist associations in the state and directors of missions were allowed to recruit a limited number of pastors and associational leaders for the event. Headlining the event were Darryl Gaddy, a church planting strategist from Detroit; Kevin Ezell, … [Read more...]
Sen. Lankford, ERLC’s Moore amplify Baptist view of church-state separation
WASHINGTON (BP) – Two Southern Baptists – one a U.S. senator and the other a convention entity head – said on Religious Freedom Day the idea of “separation of church and state” entails freedom – rather than limitations – to Americans in the practice of their faith. Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., and Russell Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, co-wrote “The Real Meaning of the Separation of Church and State” for the celebration Jan. 16 of the country’s heritage … [Read more...]
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