LESTERVILLE – Fellowship Baptist Church of Lesterville has a history of working together and having fun doing it. Collecting this year for the Annie Armstrong offering was no exception. In fact, they had so much fun collecting that they shot past the goal of $6,000 to $10,824.41. “I’ve served as WMU director for the last five years,” Terry Bryant, member and financial secretary, said, “and I was asked to head up the collection.” “We’ve had a tradition of competition of teams for the … [Read more...]
IMB missionaries help churches reach nations while in U.S.
GUYMON, Okla. – The sun was blazing and the 102° heat was taking its toll on IMB missionary Mark Chambers*. He had driven four hours across a rugged, desolate landscape for this ministry opportunity and now he and pastor Michael Carter were lost. They asked for directions from an African man sitting outside of his home and a conversation began that soon turned to spiritual matters. A short while later, the man had heard the gospel and professed faith in Jesus Christ. Stories of God … [Read more...]
SBC entity trustee meetings move primarily online due to COVID-19 restrictions
NASHVILLE (BP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee meeting scheduled to be held in Nashville Sept. 21-22 has been canceled and replaced with a special called meeting, to be held online Sept. 22. EC Chairman Rolland Slade said given the COVID-19 pandemic, meeting virtually was the best decision for the safety of EC members, their families, congregations and others who might participate. “Canceling the in-person meeting and moving to virtual, though not what we wanted … [Read more...]
Replant Summit scheduled for Aug. 24-25
GREENWOOD – Missouri Baptists can still register for the 2020 National Replant Summit, hosted at the Fellowship Church here, Aug. 24-25. According to Bob Bickford, associate director of replant for the North American Mission Board, the summit “will introduce different methods and models of replanting to those interested in knowing more about which options are best for their congregations.” “Replanting and Revitalization is not a one size fits all approach,” he said. “Each church is … [Read more...]
NAMB files en banc request, First Liberty Institute joins case
NEW ORLEANS (BP) – Citing a recent U.S. Supreme Court decision, the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board has asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for a hearing by the full court in order to reconsider a ruling in a lawsuit filed by a former executive of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. Last month, a three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit remanded the case to a district court, reversing a dismissal decision from April 2019 that stated the court could … [Read more...]
Franklin Graham announces national prayer march in Washington
WASHINGTON (BP) — Evangelist Franklin Graham is asking Americans to join him in a Washington prayer march Sept. 26 to plead for God to save the nation from its present distress. “Our communities are hurting. Our people are divided, and there’s fear and uncertainty all around us,” Graham said in a video announcing the event. “So let’s join together and do the most important thing, and that is to pray.” Amid a global COVID-19 pandemic and an international uprising decrying injustice and … [Read more...]
Religious access to state programs affirmed
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court narrowly upheld June 30 a state tax credit scholarship program that includes religious schools, thereby maintaining its recent support of the right of faith groups to participate in government programs. The high court voted 5-4 to overturn a Montana Supreme Court decision that invalidated a state program that provides a tax credit of up to $150 for a donation to a Student Scholarship Organization (SSO). Contributions to SSOs finance scholarships … [Read more...]
SBU alumnus killed while helping stranded motorist
BOLIVAR – Southwest Baptist University (SBU) alumnus and Southern Baptist church planter John Powell, 38, was killed on July 18, while helping a stranded motorist on U.S. Highway 75 in Sherman, Texas. Powell graduated from SBU in 2005 with a degree in biblical studies, and at the time of his death he was serving as pastor of Emmanuel Baptist Church in New Caney, Texas. According to local reports from television station KXII, Powell was one of two men who stopped to help a motorist whose … [Read more...]
Religious employment, insurance convictions protected
WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed in two 7-2 rulings July 8 that churches and religious organizations are free to make employment and health insurance decisions based on their convictions. In one ruling, the justices reiterated their support for a “ministerial exception” that enables churches and other religious bodies to hire and fire based on their beliefs. They had ruled unanimously in 2012 in favor of such an exception. In consolidated cases, two Catholic schools in … [Read more...]
‘Grievously wrong’ – Court’s abortion ruling disappoints pro-life advocates
WASHINGTON (BP) – Pro-life leaders expressed deep disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal June 29 to uphold a Louisiana law designed to protect the lives and health of women by requiring hospital admitting privileges for doctors who perform abortions. In a 5-4 decision, the high court ruled the law – which mandated a physician must have admitting privileges at a hospital within 30 miles of a facility where he or she performs an abortion – violated the U.S. Constitution by … [Read more...]
Federal appeals court allows McRaney lawsuit against NAMB to proceed
NEW ORLEANS (LBM) – On July 16, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals gave Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, a procedural victory in his lawsuit against the North American Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention “for intentional interference with business relationships, defamation, and intentional infliction of emotional distress.” The BCMD is an independent state organization of Baptist churches and the NAMB is a ministry … [Read more...]
Missouri Senator urges civil rights probe of state limits on churches
WASHINGTON (BP) – A United States senator has called for a federal civil rights investigation of states that have continued during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic to place strict limitations on religious gatherings while permitting massive protests of the police killing of George Floyd. Southern Baptist leaders, meanwhile, encouraged public officials to treat worship services the same as similar events while they loosen restrictions resulting from the pandemic. Sen. Josh Hawley, … [Read more...]
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