SPRINGFIELD – Just like Paul raised up and trained early church leaders behind him, churches in the Springfield area intentionally poured into new preachers for what they’re calling “Timothy Sunday.” The idea began three years at Springhill Baptist Church here, and spread to churches in Greene County Baptist Association, with Feb. 4 being a Sunday to intentionally challenge and equip those who are new to ministry – from door greeters and ushers to Sunday School leaders and nursery workers, … [Read more...]
SBC’s Executive Committee presidential search team announces new candidate ‘is emerging’
NASHVILLE (The Baptist Paper) – The search team for the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has announced that an “excellent” candidate appears to have emerged. The committee shared an update on the process during the EC’s meeting in Nashville, Feb. 19. “We were able to hit the ground running after the last candidate removed his name. This was mainly due to credible opportunities available to us from the invitation phase that was done in August and … [Read more...]
Historic rural church building, empty for five years, houses new Missouri congregation
CHULA, Mo. (BP) – Amanda Hicks knew there were bees inside the building that once housed Chula Baptist Church. Everyone in the small Missouri town knew that. The old church had been sitting empty for nearly five years, the last of four churches that once served the small community of Chula, Missouri. While it sat empty, bees had made a home inside it, but everyone thought the bees were hiding in the walls. However, last July, as Hicks, her husband, and a friend ventured into the old … [Read more...]
Barna: U.S. deeply fragmented, national survey shows; ‘future hinges on spiritual renewal, not politics’
Barna: Foundational beliefs of Americans are so fragmented that the nation is 'presently incapable of developing a united perspective on who America is and how we will move forward' 'Placing the burden of uniting a country so divided on the shoulders of a president or political party is unrealistic' by Cultural Resource Center GLENDALE, Ariz. (CRC) – Many Americans hope the next president will unite our divided nation. A new survey conducted by the Cultural Research Center at Arizona … [Read more...]
MBU partners with 3 new Chick-fil-A restaurants to offer tuition-free bachelor’s degrees to employees
ST. LOUIS (MBU) – Welcoming three new Chick-fil-A restaurants in Ellisville, Edwardsville and Creve Coeur, MBU continues to expand its mutually beneficial partnership with St. Louis area Chick-fil-A restaurants. The partnership, which began in the fall of 2022, offers tuition-free bachelor’s degrees to Chick-fil-A team members. “At Chick-fil-A Creve Coeur, we are all about finding ways to add value to people,” said Devin Bruce, owner/operator of the new Chick-fil-A in Creve Coeur. “Our … [Read more...]
New, returning missionaries evidence of Southern Baptist presence among the lost
EDITOR'S NOTE: Myriah Snyder writes and edits for the IMB. Leslie Peacock Caldwell, managing editor at the IMB, also contributed to this article. PHOENIX, Ariz. (IMB) – On Valentine’s evening, many Southern Baptists gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, to celebrate the latest group of missionaries heading to the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ. In total, 62 missionaries were approved unanimously for appointment earlier that day by IMB’s board of trustees who were also in Phoenix for … [Read more...]
One pastor’s plan for cooperative ministry
When the search committee for FBC Mayfield contacted me in December of 2010, one of my first requests was for a copy of the church budget. I wanted to see what the church members prioritized and what they valued. I wanted to evaluate how much was budgeted for internal matters, such as fellowships, versus how much was budgeted for evangelism and missions. I believe you can tell a lot about a church by looking at its budget. FBC Mayfield has a long history of faithfulness. It’s where I was … [Read more...]
‘One generation will declare Your works to the next’
From within the walls of a bleak Nazi prison cell, German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote words of joy and wisdom to his niece and her soon-to-be husband in May 1943. “Marriage is more than your love for each other,” Bonhoeffer wrote at the conclusion of his letter. “It has a higher dignity and power, for it is God’s holy ordinance, through which He wills to perpetuate the human race till the end of time. “In your love you see only your two selves in the world,” he added, “but in … [Read more...]
Lifeway remembers the life and legacy of ‘Experiencing God’ author Henry Blackaby
NASHVILLE (BP) – Henry Blackaby, author of Experiencing God, passed away today, Feb. 10, 2024. He was 88. Considered a spiritual statesman by many, the quiet pastor from Canada had a ministry that reached from pastors, missionaries and lay people, to CEOs, U.S. presidents and world leaders. Blackaby’s famous summary of how to know and do the will of God—“watch to see where God is working and join Him”—has guided numerous people, churches and ministries to join God’s work. Blackaby’s … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptists generously give to state missions
JEFFERSON CITY – For the second straight year, Missouri Baptists gave more than $900,000 to state missions through the Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering (MMO), continuing a decade-long trend of rising financial support to statewide projects ranging from foster care to prison ministry. MMO receipts in 2023, which are disbursed in 2024, totaled $926,010, far outpacing the goal of $750,000. Further, 2023 marked the 11th straight year of MMO receipts above $700,000. The number of … [Read more...]
Should pastors use Artificial Intelligence to prepare their sermons?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Matt Kimbrough serves as associate professor of theology at Southwest Baptist University. Language-learning Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools have exploded onto the scene and are expected to add $2.6 trillion to the global economy. ChatGPT, in particular, has gained popularity because it is simple and accessible. I don’t have the expertise to explain how AI works, but I can offer a few analogies to consider. In one sense, ChatGPT (a language-learning AI tool) is a … [Read more...]
Street evangelism works in East Asian megacity
EAST ASIA – “Street evangelism just doesn’t work here.” That’s what Markus Feirer was told by members of the church he was training in evangelism. The International Mission Board missionary didn’t believe the church members were right. Walking up and down the streets of the East Asian megacity, people were everywhere, yet they were so disconnected. Looking down at their phones while they boarded buses and metros. AirPods in ear as they crossed the street. No one stopping — all laser … [Read more...]
- « Previous Page
- 1
- …
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- …
- 219
- Next Page »