ALBANY, Ga. (BP) -- Evangelicals were introduced to a new level of faith-based filmmaking 15 years ago when brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick released "Flywheel," a $20,000-budget film using church members as the cast and production crew to convey biblical truth. "We're just amazed at what the Lord's done with it," Alex Kendrick told Baptist Press. The brothers, who served on staff at Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., went on to produce "Facing the Giants," "Fireproof," … [Read more...]
Danny Wood to be SBC Pastors’ Conf. nominee
DALLAS (BP) -- Danny Wood, pastor of Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference, according to an announcement by Texas pastor Gregg Matte. Matte, pastor of Houston's First Baptist Church, told Baptist Press today (March 7) Wood "has shined with integrity, love and wisdom" through more than 20 years at his current pastorate. "With the Pastors' Conference and Southern Baptist Convention being … [Read more...]
REVIEW: ‘I Can Only Imagine’ shatters expectations
I Can Only Imagine, which opened March 16th, will shatter expectations of inferior Christian filmmaking and may be considered the new standard for Christian movies. The film, based on the true story behind MercyMe’s double platinum hit, features solid cinematography, a talented cast, and a story filled with humor, romance, and redemption. The movie follows the life of Bart Millard (J. Michael Finley), the lead singer of MercyMe. Full disclosure: J. Michael Finley is a friend from high … [Read more...]
Appalachian pastor’s 54 years of ‘enduring ministry’
PIPPA PASSES, Ky. (BP) -- At a time when the tenures of most pastors is measured in single digits, Lawrence Baldridge is an anomaly, having served Caney Baptist Church in the heart of Appalachia for 54 years. "It's been an interesting journey," the 81-year-old pastor said, recounting stories from his years ministering daily to communities in Kentucky's mountain region. "Ministry here, I think, is more personal. The people are real. If they like you, they will tell you. If they don't like … [Read more...]
WEEK OF PRAYER: Hope shining in East St. Louis
EDITOR'S NOTE: The annual Week of Prayer for North American Missions, March 4-11, and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering provide support for missionaries who serve on behalf of Southern Baptists across North America. With a goal of $70 million, this year's offering theme is "On Mission: Here and Now." Kempton and Caryn Turner are Week of Prayer missionaries for the North American Mission Board. For more information, visit anniearmstrong.com. To read about other 2017 featured missionaries, … [Read more...]
MBC’s partnership with Minn.-Wis. churches kicks off next month
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...]
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