Is America heading for a demographic cold snap? The fertility forecast is gloomy these days. We’ve talked before on BreakPoint about the fertility crisis facing China, Japan, and much of Europe—all of which face what has been called a “demographic winter.” Until recently, the United States has been an exception to this distressing trend, but this seems no longer the case. To understand why, here’s a primer. Demographers use two numbers to measure fertility rates: the average number of … [Read more...]
Baptist institutions wait for abortion mandate solution
WASHINGTON (BP) – Southern Baptist-affiliated institutions are maintaining their stand against the Obama administration’s abortion/contraception mandate while they continue to wait for a satisfactory legal resolution. GuideStone Financial Resources and four Baptist universities – East Texas Baptist, Houston Baptist, Oklahoma Baptist and Truett McConnell – are among 92 nonprofit religious organizations awaiting what they hope will be an agreement with the federal government that protects … [Read more...]
Scholars refute Times transgenderism op-ed
NASHVILLE (BP) – A New York Times op-ed suggesting the Old Testament supports transgenderism has been classified by Southern Baptist seminary professors as a mischaracterization of Hebrew grammar and theology. “It should not surprise any of us that if we want to find something in Scripture, then we will twist it to say what we want it to say,” Paul Wegner, professor of Old Testament studies at Gateway Seminary of the Southern Baptist Convention, told Baptist Press. Mark Sameth, a Reform … [Read more...]
Roy Moore to stand trial for gay marriage order
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (BP) – With Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore set to stand trial next month on charges he defied federal court rulings on same-sex marriage, a legal adviser to Alabama Baptists’ public policy auxiliary has called the allegations against him unmerited. At issue in Moore’s case is a Jan. 6 administrative order in which he stated Alabama’s 68 probate judges had “a ministerial duty not to issue any marriage licenses contrary to” the state’s ban on same-sex marriage until the … [Read more...]
Few pastors asked to perform same-sex weddings following SCOTUS ruling
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (LifeWay) – More than 100,000 same-sex couples have tied the knot since the Supreme Court legalized same-sex marriages nationwide last year. But for preachers, being asked to do a same-sex wedding remains rare. A new survey by Nashville-based LifeWay Research found 11 percent of Protestant senior pastors have been asked to perform a same-sex wedding. Baptist pastors (1 percent) are the least likely to say they were asked to perform a same-sex wedding. … [Read more...]
GuideStone restructure aims at efficiency
DALLAS (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources has realigned certain job responsibilities and restructured its workforce as part of its effort to identify and implement new ways to become more efficient. It also announced last month three new executive officers promoted from within the organization. The restructuring dovetails GuideStone’s update to its long-range plan, GuideStone 100, and flows from the 2015 theme “Year of Efficiency,” when the Southern Baptist Convention entity sought new … [Read more...]
Voter registration resources available
JEFFERSON CITY – All the resources churches need to conduct a voter registration campaign are free and ready for ordering. The Missouri Baptist Convention’s (MBC) Christian Life Commission has partnered with Concerned Women for America of Missouri to offer the packets in preparation for the Nov. 8 general election. Deadline to register is Oct. 12. “In addition to praying, we must cast our votes to fulfill our Christian responsibility toward government, one of three institutions – along … [Read more...]
3,202 decisions for Christ reported in Brazil
BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil (BP) – Southern Baptists returning from Belo Horizonte, Brazil, are sharing testimonies of widespread revival in churches, communities, prisons and schools, following an 8-day schedule of crusades, medical ministries and other outreach efforts in this South American country. Wayne Jenkins, director of evangelism and church growth for the Louisiana Baptist Convention, said there were a recorded 3,202 salvation decisions resulting from events conducted July … [Read more...]
Review ‘Ben-Hur’ a delightful remake of 1959 classic
When the first Ben-Hur trailer was released earlier this year, my concerns were the same as many other moviegoers and critics. It appeared heavy on action, short on story, and – aghast! – simply not a good film. But after watching the movie in recent days, I have good news for fans of the classic story: Those early concerns were simply wrong. Yes, the 2016 version of Ben-Hur (PG-13) does have plenty of action, but it also has a gripping screenplay to match it – with lots of great lessons, … [Read more...]
College camp impacts Missouri students’ hearts
EDITOR’S NOTE: Each year college ministry groups from around the country converge on Glorieta, N.M., for Collegiate Week. This camp for college kids is sponsored by Lifeway and continues to be a staple in the college minister's toolbox. On average over 1,600 students and leaders participate and have been for many years. Aaron Werner, Baptist Student Union director at Crowder College in Neosho, contributed this article by Victoria Davidson, one of the students in his ministry. She represents … [Read more...]
Thousand Hills Baptist Association sends missionaries to help Alaska church plant
WASILLA, Alaska – The north Missouri mission team stepped out of the Anchorage, Alaska airport into much cooler weather and spectacular scenery as they prepared to ride in church vans 45 minutes north to the town of Wasilla. They were preparing to work for a week with the Cottonwood Creek Cowboy Church, a mission of Fairview Loop Baptist Church in late June. The group constructed a horse corral for the cowboy church to use to hold horse expos and they blazed some trails through some … [Read more...]
CP 5.28% above year-to-date projection
NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 5.28 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and are 2.99 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Frank S. Page. The year-to-date total represents money received by the … [Read more...]
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