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...]
Southern Baptists donate 200,000+ masks, protective equipment items to medical workers
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) - As COVID-19 cases continue to increase in the United States, many medical facilities have faced shortages of masks and other protective gear. In response, Southern Baptists have donated more than 228,000 sets of protective equipment to hospitals and healthcare workers in different states. On Thursday (March 26), the U.S. surpassed China as the nation with the most confirmed cases of the virus. Southern Baptist donations include more than 172,000 N95 masks and … [Read more...]
Q&A: How churches, pastors are eligible for relief in stimulus package
DALLAS (BP) - The COVID-19 Pandemic Phase III Stimulus Package signed into law today (March 27) by President Trump will provide potential relief for churches and pastors, thanks to efforts by the Church Alliance, a national coalition of large and historic church benefit boards, including GuideStone, and Southern Baptist partners to ensure churches and pastors have the same options as small businesses and self-employed individuals attempting to financially weather the economic turmoil … [Read more...]
Midwestern Seminary offers online format for summer classes; cancels public graduation ceremony
KANSAS CITY – In moves directly related to the safety of the Midwestern Seminary community amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, President Jason Allen announced that all summer classes will be offered in a synchronous technology format and that the school’s May 1 public graduation ceremony will be cancelled. “First, and foremost, on our minds right now is the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and their families during this most unprecedented time in our nation’s history,” Allen said. … [Read more...]
NAMB church planting missionaries adjust to COVID-19 crisis
ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Eight months ago, Gregg Gober and his family arrived in New York City, ready to begin the process of launching a new church. Hope Community in Brooklyn had just started gaining momentum when the COVID-19 virus brought life in the city – and the world – to a halt. "We had just moved the church out of our apartment," Gober said. "We started renting space in an old synagogue. Last Wednesday (March 11), we had more people than we've ever had, and this was a momentum killer … [Read more...]
BREAKING: 2020 SBC Annual Meeting canceled
NASHVILLE (BP) – In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting has been canceled for the first time in 75 years. Citing authority provided by the SBC Constitution "in the case of grave emergency," the decision was made Tuesday (March 24) in a unanimous vote of a body composed of SBC officers, the SBC Executive Committee and leaders of the SBC's boards and institutions. The Annual Meeting, which was originally scheduled June 9-10 in Orlando, is … [Read more...]
Online curriculum, family discipleship tools available
ST. LOUIS – In response to the COVID-19 outbreak, free online resources are available to Missouri Baptist churches for Sunday school and small group classes, as well as for family discipleship. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is offering on its website a family discipleship plan created by August Gate Church, a Missouri Baptist church plant in St. Louis. The plan provides practical tools for leading a family in worship, reading of God’s Word and prayer. To download the family … [Read more...]
Bott Radio impacts lives on the road, beyond
NASHVILLE – Christian communicators have an important role to play in spreading truth and defending religious liberty, said Rich Bott, president and CEO of the Bott Radio Network. During this year’s National Radio Broadcasters conference in Nashville, Bott shared with The Pathway how Christian radio is helping spread the Gospel and keeping fellow-believers informed on important issues – issues that include the sanctity of life and religious liberty. In addition to running the radio … [Read more...]
COVID-19: NAMB spending changes aimed at keeping missionaries on field
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) - The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is implementing a series of budgetary freezes and cutbacks designed to keep missionaries on the field during the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. NAMB president Kevin Ezell shared information March 19 with staff and missionaries on a video conference call and in emails to state convention leaders and other mission partners. "We hope these proactive steps will allow our missionaries to continue ministering throughout the crisis, … [Read more...]
MBTS Sizemore Lectures focus on early church fathers, recognition of biblical canon
KANSAS CITY (BP) – New Testament and canonical scholar Michael Kruger delivered Midwestern Seminary's annual Sizemore Lectures on Feb. 25-26, exploring the topic of "Were the Church Fathers Inspired in the Same Way as Scripture?" when selecting the biblical canon. Kruger, who serves as president and the Samuel C. Patterson professor of New Testament and early Christianity at Reformed Theological Seminary's Charlotte campus, focused his two-lecture series on the questions: "Were the church … [Read more...]
Center for Biblical Counseling to open at MBTS
KANSAS CITY – A new Center for Biblical Counseling (CBC) at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary here will train students to serve as biblical counselors who serve within their local churches and communities. “One of the primary weaknesses of many counseling programs in academic institutions is having an appropriate mix of theoretical training and practical ministry application,” Midwestern President Jason Allen said. “The CBC will attempt to remediate this tension by providing biblical … [Read more...]
MBTS classes shift to online-only through spring semester
KANSAS CITY - Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Spurgeon College join institutions like Southwest Baptist University, Missouri Baptist University and Hannibal-LaGrange University in cancelling in-class instruction due to coronavirus concerns. Beginning March 16, classes and seminars for the duration of the spring semester are moving to online (Canvas) delivery. MBTS is canceling all official campus events through the end of April. Informal community interaction can continue as … [Read more...]