CLARKSTON, Ga. (BP) – Carrie A. can point to the moment during her experience as a North American Mission Board (NAMB) Journeyman when she realized she was simultaneously in the middle of the Bible Belt and the 10/40 window. The 10/40 window is an area of the world between 10 degrees north latitude and 40 degrees south latitude between North Africa and East Asia where most of the world’s unreached and unengaged people groups (UUPGs) live. Carrie, who is concluding her term as a … [Read more...]
Even during pandemic, Southern Baptist church has much to be thankful for
ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (BP) – Dusty Marshall has only served as pastor of New Life Baptist Fellowship for about 11 months. But it has been a wild 11 months. When he arrived last December, the church had six members and faced an uncertain future. Marshall got to work on developing a plan to relaunch the church. Like the rest of the country, his plans ran squarely into the COVID-19 pandemic in March. God continued to work in ways Marshall never saw coming. Attendance has tripled. People have … [Read more...]
Adoniram Judson’s spiritual descendants in Massachusetts
WORCESTER, Mass. (BP) – It has been 10 years since a group of refugees from Myanmar (formerly Burma) showed up on the doorsteps of Worcester Baptist Church in Worcester, Mass., wearing traditional Burmese clothing and having very little else. They had shown up at the local Southern Baptist church because they were Baptists and wanted a place to worship. The church welcomed the refugees into their worship service and into their lives over the next decade. The refugees knew little about the … [Read more...]
Silicon Valley Buddhist finds Christ at NAMB church plant
SAN JOSE, Calif. (BP) – On Father's Day 2017, Sophie Nguyen found herself in San Jose, close to 2,000 miles from her father back home in Granger, Ind. Nguyen and her boyfriend had moved across the United States to the Silicon Valley the year before. Since it was her first Father's Day without her dad nearby, she took up a friend on his invitation to Eden Church. Nguyen knew little about Christianity and didn't understand the songs the church was singing. But God drew her in anyway. "I had … [Read more...]
Kendrick brothers talk ‘Overcomer,’ identity in Christ
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) – Alex and Stephen Kendrick have an ambitious vision for their new movie, "Overcomer." And the vision has nothing to do with winning any awards or box-office glory. Instead, they say, it's about helping people discover their identity in Christ. "When the church rises up and knows who she is in Christ and knows she is forgiven, redeemed, loved and chosen, she is going to operate differently," Alex said. "We want you guys to be bold in your faith, to have the … [Read more...]
So. Baptists respond to Midwest tornadoes, flooding
CARL JUNCTION, Mo. (BP) – Just days after devastating storms hit the Midwest earlier this week, Southern Baptists have mobilized to help homeowners and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in the impacted areas. On Monday and Tuesday (May 20-21), a violent storm system swept through the central United States producing 97 tornadoes and leaving at least eight dead. The storms have led to extensive flooding throughout the region, too. Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief teams are set up in the … [Read more...]
20,000 homes: Crossover’s goal for SBC outreach
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) – As Southern Baptists from across the country make plans for the SBC annual meeting in June, they’re also preparing to engage more than 20,000 homes with the Gospel through Crossover activities. The North American Mission Board and Alabama State Board of Missions will mobilize 400 teams of volunteers to knock on 20,000 doors in the metro Birmingham area on Saturday, June 8, the weekend before the SBC annual meeting. “This year we have a really simplified approach … [Read more...]
African American history illuminates pastor’s life
MESQUITE, Texas (BP) - Terry Turner understands the value of knowing African American history by having seen the importance of discovering his own family's history. Turner, a past president of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, began looking into African American history as part of his doctoral research and discovered a connection between his story and the larger story of African Americans. He was introduced to the research of Harvard sociology professor Orlando Patterson who … [Read more...]
Volunteers needed for Crossover
PHOENIX (BP) – The goal of this year’s Crossover is to “Engage Phoenix with the Gospel” through a partnership with Harvest America. North American Mission Board and Arizona Southern Baptist Convention leaders are praying for more than 5,000 salvation decisions through this summer’s Crossover activities prior to the 2017 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. But for that to happen, they need the help of Southern Baptists to come and serve as volunteers, according to Eddy Pearson, evangelism … [Read more...]
Volunteers needed for Crossover
PHOENIX (BP) – The goal of this year’s Crossover is to “Engage Phoenix with the Gospel” through a partnership with Harvest America. North American Mission Board and Arizona Southern Baptist Convention leaders are praying for more than 5,000 salvation decisions through this summer’s Crossover activities prior to the 2017 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. But for that to happen, they need the help of Southern Baptists to come and serve as volunteers, according to Eddy Pearson, evangelism … [Read more...]
DR leaders mark 50 years of ministry, eye future
DENTON, Texas (BP) – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders throughout North America met for their annual “Round Table” meeting and to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the founding of SBDR. Representatives from nearly all the state Baptist conventions participated in the Jan. 23-27 event at Camp Copass in Denton, Texas. Portions of the week focused on celebrating five decades of ministry efforts, looking at the present state of the ministry and preparing for the future. “Fifty years … [Read more...]
Crossover St. Louis: Hundreds come to faith in Christ
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Southern Baptist volunteers reported more than 350 professions of faith in Jesus Christ during Crossover events throughout metro St. Louis this year. One man who made a decision for Christ had been considering suicide just a few days earlier, said Eloy Rodriquez. Rodriquez, a longtime Crossover volunteer, serves as Hispanic pastor of Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz, Fla. Rodriquez said his team knocked on the door of the man's house and asked if they could pray with … [Read more...]