JEFFERSON CITY – Missouri Baptists are eager to celebrate their first Sunday back at church, but the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) advises worshipers not to let down their guards with respect to church security. Most local churches have security measures in place, and these should be reviewed and practiced as they open their doors in the days ahead. Brian Harrell, assistant director for Infrastructure Security for DHS, issued a letter April 8 to U.S. houses of worship … [Read more...]
Chocolate factory now making medical face shields
MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas (BP) – A chocolate factory owned by a couple of Southern Baptists is among the factories that have converted to make medical face shields to supply hospitals with personal protective equipment needed in the COVID-19 fight. Michael and Angie Moss own Sweet Shop USA, the largest handmade chocolate manufacturer in the country, in Mount Pleasant, Texas. The company was founded in Fort Worth nearly 50 years ago before relocating to northeast Texas, and they supply … [Read more...]
Teen baptisms falling – Southern Baptists urged to reverse ‘horrific decline’ by calling, equipping parents to disciple teenagers
NASHVILLE – Equipping parents to disciple their teenagers must be central to efforts to reverse the decline in teen baptisms within Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) churches, according to youth ministry experts within the denomination. SBC Executive Committee (EC) President Ronnie Floyd implored Southern Baptists to address this decline during his address to EC members meeting in Nashville, Feb. 17. He told committee members how he came to Christ as a teenager in 1972, at the height of … [Read more...]
‘Jesus Loves Me’: Children calm in Ky. storm
PADUCAH, Ky. (BP) – In the eye of a storm that ripped the roof off the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, preschool director Michelle Rushing found calm for herself and the 40 children who were there sheltering in place. As a tornado was sweeping through a five-mile stretch in west Kentucky around 9:30 a.m. on March 14, Rushing guided the children into the innermost room, following the church’s storm plan, she told WPSD in Paducah. Then she said they sang songs like “Jesus Loves Me” and “He’s Got … [Read more...]
Social media strategy & the church
NASHVILLE (BP) – By the time churches have fully embraced Facebook, many of their members and those they are trying to reach may have left it behind. Nearly three-quarters of Facebook users (74 percent) have adjusted their connection with the social media platform in some way over the past year, according to Pew Research. That reportedly includes the 54 percent who adjusted their privacy settings, 42 percent who took a break from checking it for several weeks or more, and 26 percent who … [Read more...]
Pastor salaries not keeping pace with inflation
NASHVILLE (BP) – Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist pastors and church staff has lagged behind the growth in the cost-of-living over the past two years. And health insurance coverage remains low, according to the 2018 SBC Church Compensation Study. The biannual study is a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data is collected anonymously from ministers and office/custodial … [Read more...]
ACP: Worship attendance rises, baptisms decline
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention expanded by more than 270 churches in 2017. More people showed up for weekly worship services, and congregations gave more generously in a strengthening economy. However, reported baptisms and membership declined as fewer churches participated in the SBC's Annual Church Profile (ACP). Similar statistics are reflected in ACP reports from Missouri Baptist churches. Longstanding patterns continued to dominate the ACP, which is compiled by … [Read more...]
Churches must abandon 600MHz wireless sound systems
WASHINGTON (BP) – Churches that haven't updated their wireless sound system may have trouble being heard on any given Sunday, as the federal government is phasing out the 600MHz frequencies many congregations use. The Federal Communications Commission will complete the transition of the 617-652 MHz and 663-698 MHz spectrum bands from wireless microphones and television broadcasts by July 13, 2020, but the transition began in 2017. The frequencies are being transitioned to wireless … [Read more...]
Missouri Baptist veterans’ legacies live on
EOLIA - War is full of extraordinary men and women doing extraordinary feats under extraordinary circumstances. But just because a soldier or sailor doesn’t have a story worthy of the silver screen doesn’t mean they – and their families – didn’t make enormous sacrifices for God and country. Such is the case with just two of countless Missouri Baptists who served in harms way during World War II: William Friese, Sr., who fought in the Battle of the Bulge and James Wheeler, Sr., who landed … [Read more...]
After 77 years, USS Oklahoma missing sailor honored at FBC Diamond
DIAMOND - Clifford George Goodwin’s last day on earth was the “day that will live in infamy,” but no one knew of his fate for sure until just recently. His life and sacrifice were celebrated at First Baptist, Diamond May 12, 77 years after his death. Goodwin, an electrician’s mate hailing from Diamond in southwest Missouri, was assigned to the bowels of the USS Oklahoma along with his older brother, Daniel, a gunner’s mate. Clifford was one of hundreds of men trapped in the ship as the … [Read more...]
Faith initiative marks Day of Prayer
NASHVILLE (BP) – Multitudes prayed in thousands of venues on the 2018 National Day of Prayer, capped with a televised national prayer service scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Eastern today (May 3) in the U.S. Capitol. Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference President H.B. Charles, pastor of Shiloh Metropolitan Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., will be a main speaker at the 67th annual observance in Washington. Former SBC president Ronnie Floyd is the 2018 National Day of Prayer (NDOP) … [Read more...]
350-plus baptized in ‘One GRAND Sunday’ in Illinois
STAUNTON, Ill. (BP) – Volunteers carried a livestock feeding trough April 8 into the high school gymnasium where NET Community Church meets each Sunday. The trough had a lofty purpose as 11 people were baptized during morning worship, each wearing T-shirts with the words “going public.” “Their life stories were all very different, but their life conversion was the same,” said Derrick Taylor, pastor of NET Community. “It was so exciting to witness each one ‘going public’ with their new … [Read more...]
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