DALLAS (BP) — When the Larson family’s son, Alaska, began struggling with his eyesight, they initially thought he would need glasses. Little did they know that he was in the early stages of a terminal genetic condition. Sam and Sydney Larson are planting a church in rural Hickman, Nebraska, and this year theirs became the latest family to be blessed during the NAMB Luncheon on June 9 hosted by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) ahead of the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting … [Read more...]
More than 80 churches participate in Crossover Dallas, sharing Gospel throughout DFW
DALLAS – A sweltering Saturday in Dallas served as the capstone to a week of Gospel-centered outreach and service to the communities in the metroplex as Southern Baptists gathered for Crossover Dallas to reach the city. Volunteers from churches across the nation gathered to serve alongside more than 80 churches who were hosting events and visiting homes throughout the week to meet and encourage their neighbors. For Faithful Believers Church in DeSoto, going door to door and hosting … [Read more...]
Major earthquake in Myanmar spurs Send Relief response
BANGKOK – A devastating 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed more than 2,000 people in Myanmar and Thailand on Friday, March 28. Collapsing mosques killed hundreds of Muslims at Friday prayers, The Associated Press reported, while about 150 monks were apparently killed when a monastery was destroyed. Relief workers expect the number of casualties to rise sharply. Send Relief is responding through local partners and churches to provide essential supplies, including food, water, emergency … [Read more...]
Wright to retire after five years as Send Relief president
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – After five years serving as president of Send Relief, Bryant Wright is set to retire at the end of March. “I am so thankful for the opportunity to steward Send Relief as we sought to extend the ministry’s reach these last several years, going from a national compassion ministry to an international one,” Wright said. “I feel my calling with Send Relief at this stage of my life has been to help the ministry to get up and running. Thankfully God has allowed that to … [Read more...]
Southern Baptist Disaster Relief ramps up response to Hurricane Beryl in Texas, continues efforts in Iowa, New Mexico
EDITOR'S NOTE: This article includes additional reporting from Missouri Disaster Relief about their work in Iowa. HOUSTON (BP) – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) units have deployed in and around Houston up into Texarkana in response to Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall early Monday morning, July 8. Units with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), Texans on Mission, Arkansas and Alabama are providing meals, showers and chainsaw work to survivors. As of Wednesday … [Read more...]
Crossover 2024: Southern Baptists partner to take Gospel to Indianapolis during annual evangelistic outreach
INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – About 51 percent of Hoosiers, inhabitants of Indiana, say they seldom or never attend church or religious services, according to a recent report by Axios Indianapolis. One local pastor is praying that Crossover will help to turn those numbers around. “We are hoping that Crossover is a spark that will light that fuel of revival and evangelism here in our community, help us build up some of our churches,” said Roger Kinion, pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in … [Read more...]
Send Relief helps victims of Hamas terror attack in Israel
TEL AVIV, Israel (BP) – War has come to the Holy Land. Following a brutal attack by Hamas terrorists on Saturday, Oct. 7, that killed and injured thousands of people, Israel officially declared war against the militant group. With the conflict expected to rage for some time to come, Send Relief is working with partners in Israel and the region to quickly respond to needs of people reeling from the effects of war and displacement. Send Relief is working with Baptist Village, a … [Read more...]
NAMB’s Annie Offering exceeds $70 million, new giving milestone
DENVER (BP) – North American Mission Board (NAMB) President Kevin Ezell announced recently that in 2023 Southern Baptists gave an all-time record $70.2 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering (AAEO) for North American missions. Ezell shared the news during the annual fall meeting of NAMB’s board of trustees in Denver. For six of the last seven years, Southern Baptists have set records in their giving to the Annie offering.“I am grateful for how Southern Baptists love their … [Read more...]
NAMB celebrates planters, chaplains, Send Relief in presentation to SBC messengers
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – The North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) report and presentation began with messengers and guests at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting rising to give a standing ovation to police chaplain Andrew Ivey, who was a police chaplain on duty during the tragic March 27 Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tenn. “Even in the midst of pain and loss and hurt and uncertainty, we saw God’s presence there with us. We had myself and our other chaplains who were constantly praying,” Ivey … [Read more...]
Serve Tour, Crossover brings gospel hope, tangible help to the Big Easy
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Southern Baptist seminary students walked the streets, presenting the hope of the Gospel. Churches hosted block parties for their neighbors. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) held an appreciation event for local law enforcement. These events barely scratch the surface of all that took place during the Serve Tour + Crossover outreach events for New Orleans and the surrounding areas. In an interview, New Orleans Police Chief Michelle Woodfork said the … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists set to recognize Global Hunger Sunday Aug. 28
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The last few years have witnessed world-changing events that have disrupted supply chains and limited access to food for many people. Southern Baptists will, on Aug. 28, recognize Global Hunger Sunday to raise support for those in need. “Over the last couple of years, we’ve seen world events impact food supplies. First, it was the COVID pandemic, then the war in Ukraine hindered access to their wheat harvest,” said Bryant Wright, president of Send Relief. “A drought in … [Read more...]
Southern Baptists responding to ‘overwhelming’ Kentucky floods
WHITESBURG, Ky. (BP) — As surveyors continue assessing the damage done by the historic flooding that has deluged eastern Kentucky, Southern Baptists have begun planning their response. Dozens of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers from across the Southeast have started arriving, and Send Relief, the compassion ministry of Southern Baptists, has provided resources for meals and flood relief supplies to help with the recovery. “The destruction is absolutely catastrophic … [Read more...]