COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – God can send the flames of spiritual awakening that the church and nation so desperately need, Eddie Bumpers told messengers during his convention sermon June 17 at the SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. "It is possible for God to send revival to bring us to a place of new obedience to God, a new commitment to the Great Commission and the Great Command of the Lord Jesus," said Bumpers, pastor of Crossway Baptist Church in Springfield, Mo. Bumpers said the … [Read more...]
Floyd & former SBC presidents take marriage stance
COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) -- The current and 16 former Southern Baptist Convention presidents released a statement on biblical marriage and the national implications of same-sex marriage in a June 17 news conference prior to the concluding sessions of the SBC annual meeting in Columbus, Ohio. The full statement follows: As Southern Baptist Christians, we are committed to Biblical faith and ethics. As a result, this body of Believers stands on the authority of Scripture and God's Truth as … [Read more...]
IMB to align missionary requirements with BF&M
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – The International Mission Board’s (IMB) new policy on missionary qualifications – replacing previous restrictions related to baptism, speaking in tongues and divorce among other matters – represents an effort to keep basic requirements from going beyond the Baptist Faith and Message, IMB President David Platt told reporters May 14. “We want it to be simple and clear that what’s driving us doctrinally is what all these churches [of the Southern Baptist Convention] have … [Read more...]
SBC reports more churches, fewer people
By Carol Pipes NASHVILLE (BP) -- Southern Baptists are adding more churches but serving fewer members who are giving fewer dollars, 2014 data compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources shows. The number of cooperating churches within the Southern Baptist Convention rose for the 15th consecutive year, but the churches lost more than 200,000 members, the biggest one-year decline since 1881, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay in cooperation with Baptist state … [Read more...]
Abedini beating intensifies calls for release
TEHRAN, Iran (BP) -- American pastor Saeed Abedini has been "viciously" beaten in the Iranian prison where he is being held for his Christian faith, the American Center for Law and Justice reported June 10, prompting renewed calls for Abedini's release as a condition of any nuclear deal between the U.S. and Iran. "It is crucial to speak out for Saeed as we approach the June 30th deadline between the United States and Iran," Abedini's wife Naghmeh said in a June 10 Facebook post. She … [Read more...]
Possible federal grant changes would threaten faith-based charities
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama administration has said they have no plans to tie grants to faith-based humanitarian organizations to hiring employees that may violate the organization’s religious beliefs, but reports previously indicated otherwise. Reports from the Liberty Council and the Center for Family and Human Rights suggested the rule change would require all entities that accept federal grant money – including faith-based ones – not discriminate against homosexuals or transsexuals in … [Read more...]
SBC Columbus: Praying for next Great Awakening
COLUMBUS, Ohio (BP) – For an “epic night of prayer” during the Southern Baptist Convention, 11 pastors have been named by SBC President Ronnie Floyd to help lead the Tuesday evening session, June 16, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in the Ohio capital. Floyd has titled the session, “A National Call for Prayer to All Southern Baptists for the Next Great Awakening and to Reach the World for Christ” on the opening night of the June 16-17 SBC annual meeting. “We will join together … [Read more...]
Wells nominated for 14th term
COLUMBUS, Ohio – James T. Draper, formerly a pastor, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) president and president of LifeWay Christian Resources, has announced that he will nominate Jim Wells, strategic partners team leader for the Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC), for his 14th term as SBC registration secretary during the 2015 SBC annual meeting here, June 16-17. “I’ve known Jim for 50 years and have great confidence in him,” Draper said, adding that he “watched him mature as a very … [Read more...]
Deadline looms for churches
DALLAS (BP) – Churches and ministries that reimburse their employees for individual health coverage may soon find themselves facing stiff penalties of up to $36,500 per employee, per year, under the federal health care law commonly known as Obamacare, as a grace period expires June 30. The penalties on employers who maintain employer payment plans were to begin in January, but the IRS granted a six-month reprieve. Organizations that offer GuideStone health plans are not at risk of these … [Read more...]
Historic floods draw Baptist relief efforts
HOUSTON (BP) -- Southern Baptists of Texas Convention disaster relief leaders had "boots on the ground" in Houston Thursday (May 28) following a month of historic rains and tornadoes across Texas and Oklahoma that led to deadly flooding over Memorial Day weekend with at least 15 dead and hundreds evacuated. While images of separated families in raging waters, floating cars, submerged intersections and uprooted caskets caught the nation's attention and caused an outpouring of concern, … [Read more...]
Bumpers preparing for SBC sermon
SPRINGFIELD – Crossway Baptist Church’s 1,800 attendance on a Sunday is nothing to sneeze at, but pastor Eddie Bumpers is preparing to preach to a crowd that could top 7,000 in Columbus, Ohio. Bumpers said he is still considering what the Lord would have him say to messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) June 17 when he preaches the “convention sermon” slated for 4:30 the final day of the meeting. “Either I’m going to be speaking about Elijah on Mt. Carmel or I’m going to look … [Read more...]
Google update could decrease churches’ web traffic
NASHVILLE (BP) – A change in Google’s formula for prioritizing search results could keep churches without mobile-friendly websites from being as visible online to potential visitors. Starting April 21, Google updated its algorithms for searches done from mobile devices to give higher placement in the results to websites that are compatible with such devices. That means churches with older, more basic websites may not appear among the top results when, for example, mobile phone users search … [Read more...]
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