CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) -- With Billy Graham's body scheduled to lie in honor this week in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, former President George W. Bush paid tribute to the late evangelist in a Wall Street Journal op-ed, writing, "He changed my life." "God's work within me began in earnest with Billy's outreach," Bush wrote in the Journal Feb. 23. "His care and his teachings were the real beginning of my faith walk -- and the start of the end of my drinking. I couldn't have given … [Read more...]
LifeWay trustees share new vision for stores
NASHVILLE (BP) – Future shoppers will find fundamental changes when they visit LifeWay Christian Stores, trustees were told at their semiannual meeting Feb. 5-6. LifeWay leaders shared a vision of stores where people will gather not only to buy biblical solutions for life but also to connect, learn and grow. "The opportunities to do more are just amazing," LifeWay President and CEO Thom S. Rainer told trustees. "In God's power we seek to transform lives and serve churches." Several … [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...]
NAMB trustees introduce ‘Send Puerto Rico’
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – The North American Mission Board is adding Puerto Rico to its list of special areas that will receive increased attention and resources for church planting, Send Relief ministries and partnership opportunities with Southern Baptist churches that want to minister on the island. NAMB president Kevin Ezell shared the plans with NAMB trustees, Feb. 6. The emphasis comes as Puerto Rico continues to slowly recover from the staggering toll Hurricane Maria took on the island … [Read more...]
Billy Graham’s Southern Baptist ties highlighted
MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) – While Billy Graham was widely known for working across denominational lines, he also was more involved in his own denomination – the Southern Baptist Convention – than many may realize. Graham, who died Feb. 21, spoke at 13 SBC annual meetings between 1951 and 1995, served as a trustee of two SBC entities, and, including references to two institutions and a professorship named in his honor, his name has been mentioned in every SBC Annual since 1951. He even was … [Read more...]
Deadly central-U.S. storms mobilize DR in 5 states
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Southern Baptist disaster relief volunteers are on the ground and others are on standby after weekend tornadoes and flooding killed five people and damaged homes in five states. Two disaster relief teams have been deployed in Tennessee; Illinois is assessing a response to flooding there; and teams are on standby in Kentucky, Missouri and Ohio, according to reports from state DR representatives and the North American Mission Board (NAMB). About 25 volunteers … [Read more...]
Billy Graham to lie in honor in coffin made by prisoners
MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) – The late beloved evangelist Billy Graham, who ministered to both the disenfranchised and the most powerful, will lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda in a pinewood coffin fashioned by prisoners' hands. The Feb. 28–March 1 viewing will mark only the fourth time a private citizen has been so honored, and puts Graham in the company of a legendary list of 11 U.S. presidents and 20 esteemed leaders and others who have lain in state or in honor in the rotunda, the Billy … [Read more...]
‘Into the presence of God’ Missouri Baptists remember ‘America’s Pastor,’ Billy Graham
ST. JOSEPH – Veronica Thomas came to faith on June 11, 1953, through the witness of Billy Graham. But she didn’t hear his evangelistic preaching at one of Graham’s famous evangelistic crusades. Rather, she came to faith while watching one of his first technicolor films at a St. Joseph movie theater. “Movies were black and white most of the time, and this was a technicolor film,” said Thomas, now a member of Saginaw Baptist Church in Saginaw. Churches in St. Joseph came together to present … [Read more...]
Olympic athletes reflect on gold medal performances
PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (BP) -- The extinguished Olympic torch on Sunday officially ended the 2018 Winter Olympics. And for some Christian athletes, this year's games were especially sweet -- but they seemed to keep their wins in perspective. U.S. freestyle skier and gold medalist David Wise had the words "I cannot fail because it is not my victory" written on his sleeve during the competition. "That is my way of reminding myself I am not here to glorify myself," Wise said. "I am put on … [Read more...]
Generational differences, not troubling, explained
One of the most misunderstood issues some younger Southern Baptists have about their more senior Southern Baptists is that the “old gray-hairs” care little to nothing about the poor or social issues when it comes to public policy. Another, closely related, is that older Southern Baptists confuse Christianity with the Republican Party. Perhaps an attempt to shed some light – rather than heat – on both misunderstandings is in order. Southern Baptists care about social issues – 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...]
St. Louis churches being ‘Good Neighbors’ to refugees
ST. LOUIS - Since 2016, the Good Neighbor Initiative has worked to bring Mark 12:31 to life as cities like St. Louis become home to refugees from around the world. That verse reads: “’You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” At least 41 refugees arrived in St. Louis last year, from countries like Afghanistan, the Congo, Iran, Iraq, Somalia, Sudan and Syria. The Good Neighbor Initiative, a partnership between St. Louis Metro Baptist … [Read more...]
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