RAYTOWN – “Don’t Worry, Be Holy” was the theme of the presidential address spoken by MBC President Ken Parker, who is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Kearney. He spoke about Jesus’ teachings in Luke 12:22-31. The Lord told His disciples not to be anxious about several areas of their lives. One of them is the encouragement to not be anxious about life in general. Parker said, “There are a lot of people who think President Trump is the Messiah. He’s not. Some think he is the … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists pursue synergy for transforming lives, communities
RAYTOWN, Mo. – Missouri Baptists pursued greater synergy for transforming lives and communities with the gospel during their 183rd annual meeting. A total of 883 messengers and 234 visitors from 391 churches gathered Oct. 23-24 at the Connection Point Church (formerly First Baptist) of Raytown, Mo., where they approved new governing documents, heard a report from the Missouri Baptist Foundation President for the first time in 15 years and welcomed special guests, including Missouri Gov. … [Read more...]
Gospel conversation critical, Ezell tells NAMB trustees
PHOENIX (BP) – North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell told the entity’s trustees that in order to see the kind of turnaround in baptisms that Southern Baptists desire, it will take millions of Southern Baptists having tens of millions of gospel conversations. Without decreasing NAMB’s emphasis on church planting through its Send Network or compassion ministry through Send Relief, Ezell said NAMB will “put every ounce of energy we possibly can to help our convention see the … [Read more...]
The good of Southern Baptist polity: SBC messengers condemn Alt-right white supremacy
By now most of you have probably heard about the confusion which occurred with relation to the Alt-right resolution at this year’s Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix. Allow me to share the non-media, unbiased version of what happened. An African American Baptist pastor from Austin, Texas, asked from the floor to have his resolution condemning the alt-right movement accepted and presented to the whole convention for approval. The Alt-right movement is a loosely organized group of people, … [Read more...]
Missourians brave heat to convene in Phoenix for Baptists’ business
PHOENIX – The exhibit hall of the Southern Baptist Convention was buzzing with activity as SBC related colleges, seminaries, entities and ancillary organizations vied for the attention of the convention messengers. The air conditioning was cranked down sufficiently to cool the conventioneers who braved 100 plus degree heat getting into the downtown convention hall. At the Hannibal-LaGrange University booth some Missourians visited with university staffers. Ray Carty offered HLGU “swag” … [Read more...]
Willow Springs pastor calls for orphan, widow Sunday
PHOENIX (BP) – Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention proposed 11 motions during two 15-minute scheduled segments of the 2017 annual meeting in Phoenix. Messengers approved one motion, presented by James Forbis of First Baptist Church in Willow Springs, Mo., for referral to the SBC’s Executive Committee. Forbis, an associate pastor at FBC Willow Springs, moved that the SBC adopt a special emphasis day called “Orphan and Widow Care Sunday” in the 2018 SBC calendar. “I’ve always … [Read more...]
Family affair: Ozark family takes on SBC registration
PHOENIX – Before Don Currence decided to run for the office of registration secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention, his daughters were the family’s standouts as messengers checked in to the SBC Annual Meeting June 13-14. The elder Currence, who is the minister of children and administration at First Baptist, Ozark, and was serving as acting registration secretary in the absence of Jim Wells, knew going in that help would be scarce in Phoenix, and sensed an opportunity to work with … [Read more...]
IMB now on ‘firm ground,’ Platt reports to trustees
PHOENIX (BP) – Through Southern Baptists’ “faithful, generous and consistent giving” of more than $98 million to the Cooperative Program and approximately $153 million to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, the International Mission Board has reached financially stability, IMB President David Platt told the entity’s trustees June 12. “That’s breathtaking: over $250 million given from Southern Baptist churches for the spread of the Gospel among the nations,” Platt said. “And as a result … [Read more...]
Charles elected as Pastors’ Conference president
PHOENIX (BP) – The 2017 SBC Pastors' Conference proved historic on many levels including the unanimous election of H.B. Charles Jr., pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., as the conference's first black president. The election took place during the afternoon session of the conference at the Phoenix Convention Center, June 12. In addition to the historic nature of the officer elections, this year's lineup of speakers included pastors of smaller to … [Read more...]
Missouri ranks 7th in attendance at SBC
PHOENIX – The Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting drew 5,018 messengers to Phoenix June 13-14. The unofficial total is 31.6 percent fewer than last year’s 7,321 messengers in St. Louis but 164 more than 2011 when the convention last met in Phoenix. Missouri was the seventh largest delegation, bringing 242 messengers. As expected, Arizona Baptist churches turned out for their host-meeting; their 374-messenger total was the second largest of the state delegations. Texas was the … [Read more...]
Hawkins recaps GuideStone’s legal & financial gains
PHOENIX (BP) – GuideStone Financial Resources’ theme for 2017 is the “Year of Innovation,” President O.S. Hawkins said in the opening report to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention, June 13–14 in Phoenix. The annual theme guides the entity’s work, Hawkins said, noting a difference between imitation and innovation. At GuideStone, he said, the focus in 2017 is on innovation for the benefit of participants. Hawkins reported to messengers about GuideStone’s litigation over the … [Read more...]
ERLC prioritizes life, parenting, Moore says
PHOENIX (BP) – Protection of human life and preparation of parents have been among the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's priorities during the last year, Russell Moore told messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention June 14. In his annual report to the convention, Moore, the ERLC's president, said the entity's efforts during the past year have included: Defending life primarily by seeking federal defunding of Planned Parenthood, the scandal-ridden, leading abortion … [Read more...]