RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board began the search for a successor to David Platt to lead the SBC entity during their Feb. 28-March 1 meeting in the Richmond, Va., area. Platt, the mission board's president, reiterated his desire that the 173-year-old Southern Baptist entity stay on course for taking the Gospel to the world's darkest, hardest-to-reach places. To that end, IMB trustees approved the appointment of 20 new fulltime, fully funded missionaries. Trustee … [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...]
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...]
2017 SBC Annual online at Southern Baptist archives
NASHVILLE (BP) -- The 2017 SBC Annual of the Southern Baptist Convention 2017 Phoenix meeting is available for download and text search at the Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives (SBHLA) website, sbhla.org. The 2017 edition joins annuals archived at SBHLA dating back to the SBC's 1845 inception. The SBC Annuals are a ready access to a wealth of SBC history and news, including meeting proceedings, entity reports, statistics, sermons, state convention … [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...]
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...]
Billy Graham, dead at 99, in ‘the presence of God’
MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) -- Legendary evangelist Billy Graham -- whose preaching may have been heard by more people than anyone in Christian history -- died today (Feb. 21). He was 99. During 80 years of ministry, Graham's down-to-earth, homespun sermons filled stadiums across the world, leading to the salvation of untold millions. Ordained a Southern Baptist minister, he was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Dallas before joining First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C., in … [Read more...]
The Far-Reaching Impact of Billy Graham’s Ministry
Almost 70 years after he began his public ministry, Billy Graham continued to impact the faith of millions with almost half of all Protestant churchgoers saying they have watched one of his sermons on television. “Billy Graham was one of the greatest evangelists the Christian faith has ever known,” said LifeWay Christian Resources President and CEO Thom S. Rainer. “Throughout his life, it was obvious he wanted the focus to be not on himself but on one thing: the cross of Jesus … [Read more...]
Billy Graham – ‘America’s Pastor’ dies at 99
MONTREAT, North Carolina – Billy Graham, perhaps the most famous evangelist since the Apostle Paul, has died, according to a spokesman from the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. He was 99 years old. John Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, praised Graham's steadfast faithfulness to the gospel. "In the Old Testament, Elisha was the spiritual/political icon for a nation, even one that was ruled by a morally corrupt king," he said. "Over the course of our … [Read more...]
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