Article by Kathie Chute, Gateway Seminary SACATON, Ariz. (BP) – As soon as Eric Gibbs stepped onto the Tohono O’odham Nation, one of the largest Native American reservations in the country, he felt a love for the people there. “After seeing the needs of that community, I knew my time in Arizona would be more than just a week,” Gibbs said of the short-term mission trip he took as a college student, a trip he didn’t think much about beforehand. Gibbs returned home to finish his degree and … [Read more...]
Born This Way? MBTS prof critiques the science of homosexuality
KANSAS CITY – Discussions of homosexuality in the public square often hit a brick wall when those in the pro-camp dismiss Christians who point to the Bible’s teachings, and those Christians in turn dismiss the scientific “proof” that homosexuals and transgendered people are simply “born this way.” Sexuality and identity is as innate and predetermined as skin color, so the thinking goes. Midwestern Theological Seminary ethicist Alan Branch attempts to knock down that wall with his new book, … [Read more...]
Mosque-building satirical rumor exposed as lie
NASHVILLE (BP) – A rumor promulgated by satirical news-like websites and blogs that the Southern Baptist Convention and at least one cooperating state convention are building Islamic mosques is being exposed as a lie. The self-proclaimed "Christian apocalyptic … news satire and parody site" The End Times wrote perhaps the first posting of the false report as early as May 28 when it claimed the SBC had launched a "Mosques Across America" campaign "to build mosques all across the nation in … [Read more...]
Jason Allen: On preaching, public invitations
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following essay was first posted on “For the Church,” a blog published by Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary online at ftc.co. I once preached a series of renewal services at Rosedale Baptist Church in Abingdon, VA. Commonly referred to as a “revival,” or, in previous generations, a “protracted meeting,” each service carried a specifically evangelistic emphasis. I prayed the Lord would be pleased to honor the preaching of His Word, call many to faith in Christ, and … [Read more...]
St. Louis Apostles Church works to bridge racial divide
ST. LOUIS – Delmar Boulevard, also known as The Delmar Divide, crosses St. Louis from east to west and features million-dollar mansions directly to the south and poverty-stricken areas to its north. The neighborhood is also racially divided; south of Delmar is 70 percent white and north of Delmar is 98 percent black. But Missouri Baptist Convention Church Planter Todd Genteman believes that God can unite people divided by such natural barriers. That’s why Genteman, pastor of Apostles … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists multiply church at home, globally
JEFFERSON CITY – In the fall of 2013, five members from Norfleet Baptist Church of Kansas City set out to East Africa in their first effort to reach a people group thirsty for the gospel. Since that time, church members have reach hundreds of people and have helped to plant five churches in the region. When they return this fall, they expect to witness 200 baptisms. “It’s a Gideon thing for us to do this,” said Scott Flippin, pastor of the congregation of roughly 65. But, through the grace … [Read more...]
Responding to Islam: Has the gospel been corrupted?
Muslims believe in the Injil, or gospel, but define it differently than evangelical Christians do. Further, they claim the church has corrupted the biblical texts so that only the Qur’an preserves the genuine good news. In defining the gospel, Muslim commentator Yusuf Ali writes that “the Injil spoken of by the Qur’an is not the New Testament. It is not the four Gospels now received as canonical. It is the single Gospel which, Islam teaches, was revealed to Jesus, and which he taught.” … [Read more...]
Church invites homeless to new life in Christ
NEVADA – When they first met, Pine Street Baptist Church member Ron Smith knew that God had something special in store for Gabe Kincheloe. And he told Kincheloe so, not that Smith would have blamed Kincheloe if he had his doubts about this. Like many others who walk into Pine Street Baptist’s New Life Homeless Shelter here, Kincheloe was at the end of his rope. “The reason I came to the shelter was because I had a drinking problem, and I went through a divorce. And this made it a lot … [Read more...]
A transformed life: Springfield woman saved from life of drugs, adultery
SPRINGFIELD – Transformed by the power of the Gospel, a former Jehovah’s Witness with a history of abortion, drugs, and adultery, now lives to see that same power transform the lives of others. Jessie McDaris of Springfield recently shared her story with the desire that more people would experience the life-changing love of Christ. McDaris spent her early childhood years in a devout Jehovah’s Witness family. Following the teaching of the church, the family did not celebrate birthdays or … [Read more...]
Odessa shows love in mission effort
ODESSA – First Baptist Church here ramped up its efforts to transform lives within their community this spring. For several years, First Odessa has had a passion for missions. For three years, they have sent a team to Nicaragua. For six years, they’ve been to Brazil. A mission team of 90 will go to Minneapolis in July. Yet Mission Pastor David Vailes said that some people in the community, as well as in the church, expressed concern that they were not doing enough to reach people with the … [Read more...]
Husband’s death leads to passion for the lost
ST. LOUIS — Many of her atheist friends think it’s funny that she goes to church, but Sarah Klausner doesn’t mind. She attends local atheist meetings to make new friends and gain understanding of what atheists believe. But sometimes she even adds to the conversation. “They once challenged me with 15 parts of the Bible that they thought was contradictory,” she said. “Each time I showed them how they didn’t contradict. They respect the fact that I’m a follower of Christ who actually knows … [Read more...]
5 years later, Joplin bouncing back from deadly tornado
JOPLIN – With sirens wailing, Greg Hailey closed his Bible, put it safely in a nylon satchel and used it to rest his head. Harmony Heights Baptist Church had no basement, but Hailey and 52 others took cover as best they could as a tornado interrupted their evening worship service May 22, 2011. “There were about 10 or so of us in the library,” he said, “and there were others in the nursery. That’s the older part of the church with smaller rooms and better-built walls. We had maybe 10 … [Read more...]
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