Joni B. Hannigan/Florida Baptist Witness JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – An attorney for the Florida Baptist Convention has voiced confidence that a judgment by a jury to award $12.5 million to a man molested by a former church planting pastor will be overturned on appeal. “That confidence is based, in large part, on the jury’s express finding that Myers was an independent pastor who was not hired, employed or supervised by the convention,” Gary Yeldell, the Florida Baptist Convention’s … [Read more...]
Racial diversity in churches elusive
Bob Smietana NASHVILLE (BP) – Having a racially diverse church remains more dream than reality for most Protestant pastors. More than eight in 10 (85 percent) say every church should strive for racial diversity, according to a survey from LifeWay Research. But few have diverse flocks. Most (86 percent) say their congregation is predominately one racial or ethnic group. It’s a reality that once led Martin Luther King Jr. to call Sunday mornings the most segregated time of the … [Read more...]
WMU challenged to raise missions bar
Julie Walters/WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Raising the bar of missions involvement was the challenge woven throughout national WMU’s board meeting at Shocco Springs Conference Center in Talladega, Ala. National WMU President Debby Akerman said in her address, “With Jesus’ words in Mark 8:34, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me,’ the bar was raised for those following Jesus.” “For the disciples He had called, as well … [Read more...]
‘Downton Abbey’ – the larger story
By Al Mohler/President of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) — Americans by the millions tuned in to “Downton Abbey” at the beginning of its fourth season, eager to enjoy the continuation of the saga of the Earl and Countess of Grantham and their household. According to press reports, 10.2 million Americans watched the first episode Jan. 5, catching up on developments since the end of the third season, which ended with yet another tragedy, this time the … [Read more...]
Compensation survey helps set pay for pastors, staff
Shelly Moon/GuideStone DALLAS – Ministers and church employees are invited to participate in the 2014 SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) Church Compensation Survey: a tool used by churches of all sizes to determine fair wages and benefits. Participants will be entered for a chance to win an iPad. The survey and complete contest rules are available at www.GuideStone.org/CompensationSurvey. “GuideStone continues to be an advocate for pastors and church staff, ensuring that they are … [Read more...]
Ezell: SBC church planting proceeding ‘pretty well’
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – All church planters are special to us, but the church planting “Class of 2010” gets some additional attention and scrutiny because in that year we began reporting on Southern Baptist church plants in some new ways, Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Missions Board, said recently. “In 2010 Southern Baptist churches planted a total of 943 new churches,” he noted. “Each of those new churches have an SBC (Southern Baptist Convention) ID number which allows us to … [Read more...]
States budget more for Great Commission
Tammi Reed Ledbetter/Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Trending among Baptist state convention meetings this year was the decision to send more money to the mission field – a challenge set forth by the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force adopted by the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) at its 2010 annual meeting in Orlando. This year more than half of the cooperating state Baptist conventions increased the portion of undesignated Cooperative Program (CP) receipts from local churches … [Read more...]
Winter Olympics outreach ready
William Bagsby/International Mission Board Editor’s note: For more information on Southern Baptists’ efforts concerning the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, visit commissionstories.com/sochi-winter-olympics. The site will be updated with stories, photos, videos, prayer requests and more during the Feb. 7-23 Games. SOCHI, Russia (BP) – Will Baptists have a witness at the Winter Olympics in Russia? Will it be safe from terrorists? Will other issues arise? Marc Ira Hooks, one of … [Read more...]
Praise for If I Tell You I’m Gay, Will You Still Love Me?
“I would strongly encourage every pastor – indeed every staff member, teacher, ministry leader, youth worker and certainly every parent – to keep this book on their desk. It is very readable, drawing you in from the first page. It maintains a level of interest throughout and contains a wealth of extremely valuable information and insight for dealing not only with this very complex subject, but with those who are impacted by it. Get this book. Get several copies of this book so you will have … [Read more...]
Video: Don Hinkle interviews Gail McWilliams
Pathway Editor Don Hinkle begins an on-going series of occasional, brief interviews with newsmakers and interesting people of the Christian faith. His initial interview is with author and inspirational speaker Gail McWilliams, who shares her testimony and how she sacrificed her eyesight in order to save her baby. The interview was filmed in January 2014 in a studio at the Baptist Building in Jefferson City, Mo. … [Read more...]
Concord Baptist Members camp out for Chick-fil-a
JEFFERSON CITY – Three members of Concord Baptist Church here (from left, Gerad Fox, CR Miller and Chris Rhodes) were among those that camped out in sub-freezing temperatures for 24 hours prior to the opening of Chick-fil-A’s newest store at 6 a.m., Jan. 23. In addition, the restaurant gave out 52 coupons for free chicken sandwich combos to those camping out. The restaurant continued to feed them while they were waiting for the store to open in temperatures that dipped to as low as zero the … [Read more...]
Page: Bright future possible with God
Timothy Sweetman/MBTS communications KANSAS CITY (BP) – Calling his message a “frightening responsibility” because of his desire to speak accurately, while simultaneously being “honoring of our Lord,” Frank Page, president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee, delivered an “State of the SBC” address at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Students, faculty, staff and local church pastors from Missouri, Kansas and the Midwest region gathered in the … [Read more...]
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