“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.” – Deuteronomy 6:7 What better thing can we do to prepare our children for the future than to teach them Scripture? When Scripture becomes engrained in a person, it becomes the basis for decision-making. It gives comfort as well as guidance, yet in many instances our children are not being taught enough verses from the … [Read more...]
Awash in God’s grace
You can tell a lot about people by the way they do their laundry. I have friends who have certain days they designate as “laundry days.” I confess, I’m probably much more impressed by that than any grown woman should be. My laundry days? They usually happen on whatever days I realize I have to make a choice: I have to wash a load, or I have to be one of those people who goes to Wal-Mart in pajama pants. I’m further impressed by my friends who go the extra mile, laundry-wise. They...are … [Read more...]
Week of Prayer set for Dec. 4-11
RICHMOND, Va. (IMB) – For 12 years Brian and Becky Harrell have shared the gospel with the Makhuwa Nahara Muslims on the coast of Mozambique. Their efforts in telling gospel stories and training national believers has been effective. But this year they’ve upped their game. “We have made . . . conscious efforts to be more deliberate in our prayers for our people group, and also in encouraging churches back home to be praying,” Becky Harrell says. “Because we know that we cannot bring anyone … [Read more...]
Good seeds take root at GA retreats
JEFFERSON CITY – Wide-eyed peers looked on as an emotional yet confident 10-year-old Kaylee walked the aisle in the little camp chapel and invited Jesus into her heart. It was during the witness conference that Megan understood her need to accept Jesus and talked to her leader. Ginny talked to her mom about what she heard at GA Retreat and gave her heart and life to Jesus that night. Following GA Retreat, 7-year-old Lola told her best friend that God loves her, giving her a Bible on the … [Read more...]
50 new missionaries appointed by IMB
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Bob and Melanee Gallina invested 18 years in leading The Church at Green Hills in La Habra, Calif. They lived in a comfortable house that was a home base for their children, who are missionaries overseas. After retirement, the couple noted, they planned to serve overseas themselves. But then they felt God prompting them to consider, “Why wait until you retire? Why not now?” Now the church they once led is sending them through the International Mission Board to take the … [Read more...]
For Kingdom growth, pastor trims beard
ST. LOUIS – During “No-Shave” November, bearded evangelicals take pleasure in citing the words of renowned Baptist preacher C.H. Spurgeon, who reportedly said that growing a beard “is a habit most natural, scriptural, manly and beneficial.” But one Missouri Baptist church planter here recognized this month that, for the growth of God’s kingdom, a good beard-trimming is also worthwhile. Noah Oldham, an elder at August Gate Church and North American Mission Board SEND City coordinator for … [Read more...]
Did Jesus descend into hell?
This is the first in a two-part series on the whereabouts of Jesus between His death and resurrection. One of the more puzzling questions about the redemptive work of Christ is where His soul went between death and resurrection. The Gospel writers confirm that Jesus’ body was placed in a tomb after His death, and remained there until His resurrection. But what about the immaterial part of Jesus – namely His soul and / or spirit? One view is stated in the Apostles’ Creed: “He [Jesus] … [Read more...]
Learning gratitude
There is a sense in which our basic human flesh rebels against gratefulness. Yet gratefulness is one of the most important character traits for an individual, family, church or culture to learn. Let’s begin with a definition. There is the common definition: “warmly or deeply appreciative of kindness or benefits received.” The Encyclopedia of Ethics defines gratefulness as “the heart’s internal indicator on which the tally of gifts outweighs exchanges.” Some of us were taught that … [Read more...]
Ministry to ex-cons, drug addicts goes global in 2017
CAPE TOWN, South Africa – Freeway Ministries, a Springfield-based outreach and discipleship ministry to ex-cons, drug addicts and other hard-to-reach people, is going global next year. In October, John Stroup – a member of Crossway Baptist Church, Springfield, and one of the founders of Freeway Ministries – preached a revival at Lakeview Community Church in Cape Town, South Africa. Now, Stroup looks forward next spring to flying Gregory Craig, a member at Lakeview, to Missouri for … [Read more...]
Family uses agri-tourism to share Christ
DURHAM – For three years – and counting – a family here has used a seasonal corn maze to share Jesus Christ. The Pumpkin Crate wrapped up its third season October 30. The Brent Luttrull family of Durham uses the Pumpkin Crate to witness of their faith. “It always had and always will have a Christian emphasis. I decided if we were going to do this, we would do so with a purpose,” said Katy Luttrull, who runs the agri-tourism business with other family members. Katy grew up Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Americans thankful for family
NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When Americans count their blessings at Thanksgiving, God will get most of the credit. And money might be the last thing on their minds. Most Americans are thankful for family (88 percent), health (77 percent), personal freedom (72 percent) and friends (71 percent). Fewer give thanks for wealth (32 percent) or achievements (51 percent), according to a new study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research. Responses were shaped in part by demographics. Those 65 and older are … [Read more...]
New book examines Protestant, Catholic dividing lines
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – With the approaching 500th anniversary of the Protestant Reformation, the need for clarity on the commonalities and differences between Catholics and Protestants grows ever more urgent, according to the authors of “The Unfinished Reformation.” Gregg R. Allison, professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Chris Castaldo, lead pastor of New Covenant Church, Naperville, Ill., provide a thorough and careful examination of the issues at … [Read more...]
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