PARCHMAN/GREENWOOD, Miss. – A team of Missouri Baptists facilitated vision clinics in October at two Mississippi prisons, sharing the gospel widely as they provided inmates with glasses. The trip was a joint effort of two Missouri-based nonprofits, Vision 3:16 and Focus On Missions. Both organizations, with roots in local Baptist churches, are geared toward vision ministry and often collaborate on projects. Steve Smith, the founder of Focus On Missions and a member of First Baptist, … [Read more...]
‘This is really, really important’: 6-year-old issues missions offering challenge
Ethan Gee: "I’m trying to raise 1,000 and 100 dollars for missions...but, I only have $6." Like most boys at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 6-year-old Ethan Gee wanted to win the penny war against the girls. “Like really, really, really bad,” he agonized. “The girls always win.” He asked his mother, Sarah, if he could take some pennies from his shark-shaped bank for the contest. They emptied the coins on the table. As they pulled out pennies, they talked … [Read more...]
Veteran’s service fuels ministry to prisoners, law enforcement
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) — August 9, 1967, could’ve been the last day on earth for Warrant Officer Paul Davis. Yet God had other plans for his life. The Battle of Landing Zone Pat had broken out in the Song Re Valley of Vietnam as the U.S. Army tried to destroy what had become a hub of activity for Communist North Vietnam. Davis, then a 22-year-old helicopter commander, was preparing for one of the 700 combat missions he took part in during his deployment to Vietnam. He had often flown … [Read more...]
McLaurin resigns as SBC’s interim EC president and CEO, removed from search consideration
NASHVILLE (BP) — Willie McLaurin has stepped down as interim president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee and is no longer considered to be a candidate for that position by the presidential search team. McLaurin confessed to EC Chairman Phillip Robertson and EC Presidential Search Committee Chairman Neal Hughes Aug. 17 that the education credentials on his resume were forgeries. In an email statement to EC members shared with Baptist Press, Robertson said, “While considering … [Read more...]
Freshwater takes ‘family mission trip’ to Montana
BILLINGS, Mont. – For Freshwater Church in Jefferson City, mission trips are a family affair. The congregation took 32 people – representing families with ages ranging from 4 to 65 – on a mission trip to partner with three churches in Montana. From June 23 to July 1, the Missouri Baptists worked alongside believers from Big Sky Country to serve the community and point people to Jesus. They broke into two teams, one serving in Billings in center of the state, and another serving in … [Read more...]
Fifty-eight baptisms at Tennessee jail result from ministry of neighboring churches
GALLATIN, Tenn. (BP) – When more than 50 people were baptized at the Sumner County Jail in early May, it was the culmination of many years of ministry from two neighboring churches. “It was a beautiful thing, one of the highlights of my life,” said Danny Spano, a chaplain from the Sumner County Jail, of the 58 baptisms. Spano serves as the pastor of member care and recovery at Long Hollow Church in Hendersonville, Tenn. Hendersonville is one of several towns and cities which make up … [Read more...]
Serve Tour, Crossover brings gospel hope, tangible help to the Big Easy
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Southern Baptist seminary students walked the streets, presenting the hope of the Gospel. Churches hosted block parties for their neighbors. New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary (NOBTS) held an appreciation event for local law enforcement. These events barely scratch the surface of all that took place during the Serve Tour + Crossover outreach events for New Orleans and the surrounding areas. In an interview, New Orleans Police Chief Michelle Woodfork said the … [Read more...]
Messengers deem Saddleback, two other churches not in friendly cooperation with SBC
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Messengers to the 2023 Southern Baptist Convention have upheld the Executive Committee’s decision that Fern Creek Baptist in Louisville, Ky., Freedom Church in Vero Beach, Fla., and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., are not in friendly cooperation with the SBC. Registration Secretary Don Currence reported the results to messengers on Wednesday morning: Vote to sustain EC actions – Fern Creek Baptist: For – 91.85% (9,700) Against – 7.63% … [Read more...]
Barber reelected SBC President
NEW ORLEANS, La. (BP) – Texas pastor Bart Barber was reelected to a second term as president of the SBC on Tuesday, June 13, at the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting in New Orleans. Out of 11,014 messenger votes, Barber received 7,531 votes (68.38 percent) while Georgia pastor Mike Stone received 3,458 (31.40) percent. There were 25 ballots disallowed. Barber was nominated by Jarrett Stephens, senior pastor of Champion Forest Baptist Church in Houston, Texas. Stone was nominated by Florida … [Read more...]
Legacy of Crossover’s evangelism efforts set to continue in New Orleans
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Southern Baptists were venturing to Las Vegas in 1989 for the SBC’s Annual Meeting, a controversial location due to the city’s negative reputation. Many reportedly threatened to boycott the meeting, but others recognized the intent – to emphasize evangelism and make an impact for the Gospel in the host city. “The intent that is being made to witness to the people in Las Vegas is a unique feature of this convention,” John Wright, chairman of the SBC Committee on Order of … [Read more...]
Three churches deemed ‘not in friendly cooperation’ plan to appeal to SBC
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Three churches that were deemed not to be in friendly cooperation with the Southern Baptist Convention by the SBC Executive Committee at its February meeting will be appealing that decision, it was announced, May 16. In total, eight churches have been deemed not in friendly cooperation with the SBC since the 2022 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim – two at the SBC EC’s meeting last September and six in February of this year. Though the SBC has disfellowshipped churches for … [Read more...]
Currence to be renominated as SBC registration secretary
JEFFERSON CITY (BP) – Missouri pastor Jon Nelson announced Tuesday, April 25, that he intends to nominate Don Currence, mayor of Ozark, and administrative pastor at First Baptist, Ozark, for the office of SBC Registration Secretary. “It is my honor and joy to nominate Don Currence for Registration Secretary at the 2023 SBC in New Orleans,” said Nelson, pastor of Soma Community Church in Jefferson City. “Don accomplishes his duties with the highest standard of ethics and professionalism, … [Read more...]
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