NASHVILLE (BP) – Twenty-three state conventions voted to increase the portion of Cooperative Program receipts being forwarded to Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries in the coming year, continuing a trend inspired by passage of the Great Commission Task Force recommendations five years ago. This year, Florida Baptists made the largest shift, moving from 41 to 51 percent allocated to SBC causes. “This epic, pacesetting decision will set a precedent in the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
Mo. Baptists defending the faith in 2016
Thanks, Missouri Baptists, for defending the Christian faith this year through the MBC’s apologetics ministry. A few metrics in the paragraphs below illustrate the degree to which you have sought to fulfill Peter’s exhortation to “always be ready to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you … with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15-16). New resources In 2015 the MBC released two timely new resources: What Every Christian Should Know about Islam and … [Read more...]
Jesus Christ better than Old Saint Nick
Christmas – it is one of the most anticipated seasons of the year! It is a time of joy, of endless celebration, and peace. People bustle around in efforts to display kindness and love to one another. It is a season of extravagant lights and décor, of delicious treats and simmering meals. It is a time of familiar music, warm coffee, and corny movies that we watch over and over again. Christmas is one of the truly best times of the year, for a multitude of reasons. Why is that so? What is it … [Read more...]
Clinton church raises $2.5 million for missions
CLINTON – Two-and-a-half million dollars seems like a lot of money. Many Missouri Baptist churches will not handle that kind of cash in several decades or a hundred years. But a western Missouri county seat town church has generated that much or more for funding missions efforts in the last decade. After a mission celebration which highlighted the need of missionary efforts, the First Baptist Church of Clinton began sending out mission teams and doing missions in their local community. … [Read more...]
Down syndrome does not exclude from serving God
MARSHFIELD – As TJ Slocum took his place behind the microphone that Sunday morning, he looked out at the congregation of Timber Ridge Baptist Church. Every church member looked up at him expectantly; each with a warm smile on his or her face. TJ’s song selection that morning was “Whom Shall I Fear (God of Angel Armies)” by Chris Tomlin. He loves to sing Chris Tomlin songs. “He’ll get up there and sing his heart out and the beauty of it is he’s not doing it to hear himself sing; he’s doing … [Read more...]
First days of Jesus’ life explored: What really happened
NASHVILLE (BP) – Everyone knows the biblical Christmas story, with Mary riding on a donkey, an innkeeper turning away Mary and Joseph, animals surrounding the Christ child and three wise men visiting Jesus on the night of His birth. Or do they? It may come as a surprise to some that none of these elements are included in the two scriptural accounts of Jesus’ birth in Matthew and Luke -- though they commonly are featured in Christmas pageants. In The First Days of Jesus, published this … [Read more...]
Obama’s claims on Islam evaluated
WASHINGTON (BP) – In an address on a “new phase” in America’s war on terror, President Obama said committing acts of violence in the name of Allah represents a perversion of Islam. Presenting a televised speech from the Oval Office for just the second time in his presidency, according to the Associated Press, Obama called Muslims “to speak out against ... those interpretations of Islam that are incompatible with the values of religious tolerance, mutual respect and human dignity.” He … [Read more...]
Now is the time
Merry Christmas! Sharon and I pray you and yours have a glorious celebration of Jesus’ first coming. He who knew no sin became sin for us so that we by faith can be inheritors of His righteousness. What joy!! With a humble heart, Sharon and I are blessed to be fellow heirs and fellow servants of the Most High with Missouri Baptists. You are a great people through whom the Lord is working His wonders. In 2015, while we dealt with Sharon’s cancer and the home going of both of our moms … [Read more...]
Four examples of where the New World Translation gets it wrong
This is the last in a three-part series on Jehovah’s Witnesses Jehovah’s Witnesses regard The New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures as “an accurate, easy-to-read translation of the Bible” (jw.org). What many don’t realize is that four of the five men on the translation committee producing the complete 1961 edition had no Hebrew or Greek training whatsoever. The fifth, who claimed to know both languages, failed a simple Hebrew test while under oath in a Scottish court. What all … [Read more...]
The war on Christmas, past and present
KANSAS CITY – Centuries before the coffee giant Starbucks’ alleged war on Christmas, faithful Protestants fought their own battle against the festive season – taking aim even at Father Christmas himself. Last month, debates about the war on Christmas gained national media attention when Starbucks released its holiday coffee cup—a plain red cup lacking any Christmas décor. The cup drew criticism from various Christian groups who viewed it as an attempt to downplay the celebration of … [Read more...]
Star Wars & Christians: Old, new analysis awaken
NASHVILLE (BP) – The latest Star Wars movie has awakened a force of Christian-themed commentary touching on subjects from the film's theological errors to its relation to the storyline of the Bible. "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," rated PG-13, is expected to gross approximately $200 million in North America for its opening weekend Dec. 18-20 and could earn up to $1 billion in domestic box office revenue, becoming the top grossing movie of all time, according to The Hollywood … [Read more...]
Christian leaders raised up amid ‘ocean of idolatry’
SOUTH ASIA (BP) – Donald and Helen McKinney’s* outreach to South Asians started in North America. They first got to know a South Asian people group in their church’s backyard in New York state before becoming Christian workers on the other side of the world. Helen and her Sunday School teacher from Trinity Baptist Church in Niskayuna, N.Y., began visiting the homes of the church’s neighbors, several of whom were from South Asia. Each Thursday over tea, they formed friendships with the … [Read more...]
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