PHOENIX (BP) – John L. Yeats, first elected as the Southern Baptist Convention’s recording secretary in 1997, will be re-nominated for the post during the SBC’s June 13-14 annual meeting in Phoenix. Yeats, executive director of the Missouri Baptist Convention, was serving as editor of the Indiana Baptist convention newsjournal when first elected as SBC recording secretary 20 years ago during the 1997 annual meeting in Dallas. Spencer Plumlee, pastor of Riverview Baptist Church in … [Read more...]
ERLC issues statement ‘seeking unity’
NASHVILLE (BP) – An extended statement, "Seeking Unity in the Southern Baptist Convention," has been issued by Russell Moore and the executive committee of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Moore, in a 1,691-word portion of the March 20 statement, clarified criticism he had leveled at Christians who supported Donald Trump for president in the November 2016 election. The ERLC executive committee, in a 536-word portion of the statement, affirmed Moore's ongoing leadership as … [Read more...]
Crossover efforts aimed at Hispanic communities in St. Louis in June
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Already a hub of ethnic outreach, Tower Grove Baptist Church in central St. Louis will extend the Gospel to a nearby Hispanic community during Crossover. Tower Grove Baptist Church A yearly evangelistic outreach, Crossover precedes the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in the host city. It will peak on Saturday, June 12, as local Baptists and volunteers from across the country conduct block parties and other community events throughout the metro St. Louis … [Read more...]
LifeWay’s Ed Stetzer to join Wheaton College faculty
WHEATON, Ill. (BP) – Ed Stetzer, executive director of LifeWay Research and executive editor of The Gospel Project curriculum published by LifeWay, has been named to the faculty of Wheaton College and as executive director of Wheaton's Billy Graham Center for Evangelism. Stetzer, 49, will begin his new roles at Wheaton July 1, which also will include publisher of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, founded nearly 50 years ago, and chair of the Wheaton College Graduate School's evangelism and … [Read more...]
CP has broad reach for the gospel
NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist churches are advancing the gospel state by state – and around the world – through their commitment to the Cooperative Program. From national and international mission boards to church-hosted evangelism training, the Cooperative Program plays a key role in introducing people near and far to Jesus. Among those with a grassroots vantage point to see the broad scope of Cooperative Program outreach are state convention leaders. Here are some of their … [Read more...]
LifeWay reopens search for new headquarters
NASHVILLE (BP) – LifeWay Christian Resources is stepping away from the purchase of a 1.5-acre site in downtown Nashville to look at other sites for a new headquarters, LifeWay President Thom Rainer said in a letter to employees today (Nov. 16). Rainer said the Southern Baptist entity does intend to complete the sale of its 14.5-acre campus, also located in downtown Nashville. LifeWay’s bid for the 1.5-acre property was accepted in July for $12.7 million with a $4.9 million tax incentive, … [Read more...]
Floyd makes multi-language appeal to SBC St. Louis
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Ronnie Floyd, in just over 3 and a half minutes, speaks volumes about ethnic inclusiveness within the Southern Baptist Convention. Floyd speaks in English and, through a translator’s voice, in Spanish and Korean in a new video to invite Southern Baptists to the SBC annual meeting next June in St. Louis. More than 3,200 Hispanic churches and church-type missions are among the 40,700-plus Southern Baptist congregations across the U.S. and its territories. Korean … [Read more...]
Floyd makes multi-language appeal to SBC St. Louis
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Ronnie Floyd, in just over 3 and a half minutes, speaks volumes about ethnic inclusiveness within the Southern Baptist Convention. Floyd speaks in English and, through a translator’s voice, in Spanish and Korean in a new video to invite Southern Baptists to the SBC annual meeting next June in St. Louis. More than 3,200 Hispanic churches and church-type missions are among the 40,700-plus Southern Baptist congregations across the U.S. and its territories. Korean … [Read more...]
Floyd calls for awakening, ponders IMB/NAMB merger
KANSAS CITY (BP) – Merging the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board is a key question Southern Baptists must address if a much-prayed-for spiritual awakening comes to their network of churches. SBC President Ronnie Floyd raised the question during his address at a symposium on “The SBC & the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal & Recommitment” Sept. 28-29 at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. “Spiritual renewal leads to strategic … [Read more...]
Floyd calls for awakening, ponders IMB/NAMB merger
KANSAS CITY (BP) – Merging the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board is a key question Southern Baptists must address if a much-prayed-for spiritual awakening comes to their network of churches. SBC President Ronnie Floyd raised the question during his address at a symposium on “The SBC & the 21st Century: Reflection, Renewal & Recommitment” Sept. 28-29 at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City. “Spiritual renewal leads to strategic … [Read more...]
SBC committee candidates sought by Ronnie Floyd
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) – Candidates to serve on committees pivotal to the Southern Baptist Convention are being sought by SBC President Ronnie Floyd. In addition to sending letters to SBC entity and state convention leaders, Floyd is broadening his call for candidates for several committees whose work is key to the SBC’s annual meeting each year. In his letter, Floyd explained that he was seeking nominations for the Committee on Committees, the Committee on Nominations. The Committee on … [Read more...]
SBC Columbus: Praying for next Great Awakening
COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – For an “epic night of prayer” during the Southern Baptist Convention, 11 pastors have been named by SBC President Ronnie Floyd to help lead the Tuesday evening session, June 16, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the Ohio capital. Floyd has titled the session, “A National Call for Prayer to All Southern Baptists for the Next Great Awakening and to Reach the World for Christ” on the opening night of the June 16-17 SBC annual meeting. “We will join together … [Read more...]