NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) considered a number of referrals from messengers at the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting and approved several financial items at the entity’s meeting, Sept. 21. Among the actions taken were the approval of the EC’s 2021-2022 operating budget and approving a preliminary financial allocation for the EC’s legal services connected to the upcoming investigation of the Sexual Abuse Task Force established by the messengers … [Read more...]
EC motion funds Guidepost contract, attorney-client privilege to be ‘fleshed out through negotiation’
NASHVILLE (BP) – A marathon afternoon session that stretched past three hours, Sept. 21, ended with Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Executive Committee (EC) members approving a motion to fund a contractual agreement with Guidepost Solutions for investigating claims of mishandling sexual abuse allegations. EC member Melissa Golden’s motion, which replaced the original one submitted by EC officers, authorizes a budget of up to $1.6 million – funded through the Cooperative Program – for the … [Read more...]
Seeing God in the storm
Missouri DR deploys to Louisiana in the wake of Hurricane Ida EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was written by Cindy Gladden, a member of Charrette Baptist, Marthasville, who serves as public information officer with the Marthasville Fire Protection District and as a Missouri DR Mass Care responder. MANDEVILLE, La. – Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (MODR) volunteers were waiting and watching as Hurricane Ida surged into the Gulf Coast. They’ve seen it before and knew if forecasts were correct, … [Read more...]
9/11 drives two Manhattan Southern Baptists closer to ministry, God
NEW YORK (BP) – Trina Craft is habitually 50 minutes early for most anything. But with a 9:45 a.m. job interview on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center 20 years ago, she was delayed in the rush of getting her daughter Florence Marie to school. “By the time I got her to school and came home to dress for the interview,” Craft said, “I (saw) that the planes had hit the building. … I then found out later that night that my cousin Rodney was in the building.” Craft’s cousin, Sgt. … [Read more...]
9/11: Reflections from 3 SBC leaders
NASHVILLE (BP) – As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, three Southern Baptists leaders who held significant leadership roles on Sept. 11, 2001, help us remember that infamous day and consider its impact on the Southern Baptist Convention and our world. At that time, Richard Land was president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; James Merritt was president of the SBC; and Jerry Rankin was president of the International Mission Board. As each man shares his experience, … [Read more...]
9/11: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief left legacy at Ground Zero
NEW YORK CITY (BP) – Twenty years after spending weeks in what could only be called a war zone, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are reflecting on their experience working in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and how it affected their lives. Sam Porter is the national director for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief for Send Relief with the North American Mission Board. At the time of the 9/11 attacks, Porter was serving as the disaster relief director for the Baptist General … [Read more...]
Missouri DR sends teams to Mandeville, La., for hurricane relief
MANDEVILLE, La. – An initial team of MBC disaster relief (DR) workers has arrived in this southern Louisiana city where Hurricane Ida swept through in the region on August 29. The category 4 hurricane left a lot of damage in its wake and the initial reports from MBC DR assessors was there will be several weeks of flood relief and chain saw recovery efforts. Wesley Hammond is serving as the incident commander in this DR call-out. He is the pastor of First Baptist Church, Paris. Hammond … [Read more...]
MBTS trains musician-theologians ‘for the church’
Worship ministries program seeks to partner with Missouri Baptists KANSAS CITY – Students of all ages are returning to campuses across Missouri, including at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. For MBTS professors Matthew and Angela Swain, they’re hoping for not just a smooth start to the school year, but an increased focus on equipping musician-theologians, on and off campus. The Heart of Worship The wording there is important to the Swains: musician-theologians. Yes, they’re … [Read more...]
Litton announces chair, vice chair for Committee on Committees
SARALAND, Ala. (BP) – Oklahoma pastor Jeremy Freeman and Florida ministry leader Amanda Stanton have been named as chair and vice chair, respectively, of the Committee on Committees, Southern Baptist Convention President Ed Litton announced today (Aug. 31). The Committee on Committees will meet prior to next year’s June 14-15 SBC Annual Meeting in Anaheim. There, they will nominate members of the 2022 Committee on Nominations, who will nominate trustees for the boards of SBC entities in … [Read more...]
MMO helps abused & neglected, fosters gospel work in Montana
JEFFERSON CITY – The Rheubin L. South Missouri Missions Offering supports 24 ministries in Missouri. This year’s theme is taken from 2 Corinthians 8:5: “They gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us by God’s will.” Following are two short stories about how the gifts of Missouri Baptists support missions projects throughout the Show Me State. Caring for the abused, neglected Missouri faces a foster-care crisis. No one knows this better than Ramona Conrad-Cooper, who leads … [Read more...]
NOBTS avoids significant damage, awaits return of electricity
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – As hundreds of power trucks pour into New Orleans in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, said that now, “It all comes down to power.” As New Orleans’ power company, Entergy, faces what it described as “catastrophic transmission damage” and the city faces what might be weeks without power, Dew pledged the seminary’s support to displaced students, staff, and faculty as they face displacement for the next … [Read more...]
Missouri DR among Southern Baptists bringing help, hope in the wake of Hurricane Ida
ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Sixteen years to the day after Katrina’s historic landfall, Hurricane Ida arrived in Port Fourchon, La., around noon on Aug. 29 as a Category 4 storm. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) teams will start assessing damage and preparing their response on Aug. 30. Joining other Southern Baptists from across the nation, Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) has deployed teams to bring help and hope to survivors of Hurricane Ida. Missouri DR has been asked to lead … [Read more...]