NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention is a diverse, cooperative “force for good” that is poised to move forward on mission, Jeff Iorg said at his installation as the eighth president of the SBC Executive Committee Sept. 16 in Nashville. Whether in Christian youth education and discipleship, church planting and development, pastoral and ministerial preparation, evangelism, national and international missions, women’s ministry or financial giving, Southern Baptists have … [Read more...]
Iorg announces reorganization of SBC’s Executive Committee staff leadership
NASHVILLE (BP) – A reorganization of executive level leadership roles at the SBC Executive Committee was announced Tuesday (Sept. 3). The move comes a little less than three months after Jeff Iorg became EC president. While there were no staff reductions, Iorg made changes to the EC’s departmental structure. Interim Chief Financial Officer Mike Bianchi was hired to fill that role on a permanent basis. “We are delighted Mike has agreed to continue with us – removing the interim title – … [Read more...]
Todd Fisher reflects on God’s faithfulness amid continuing recovery from accident
by Baptist Messenger staff OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) – Oklahoma Baptists Executive Director-Treasurer Todd Fisher announced on Facebook Aug. 28 he was heading home after an extended hospital stay that resulted from a serious automobile accident that occurred in late July. In the Facebook post, Fisher shared an update on his health and reflected on God’s provision on his road to healing. “Overall, everything looks positive regarding my injuries,” he wrote. “One of my ankles still concerns … [Read more...]
Young Oklahoma prayer warrior meets St. Louis church planter
ST. LOUIS – You never know who might be praying for you. Just ask Michael Byrd, the pastor of Faith Community Bible Church in north St. Louis. Or you could ask Bethany Chapin, an 11-year-old from Oklahoma City. Byrd, his wife, Traci, and Faith Community were featured last summer as part of LifeWay’s Vacation Bible School curriculum, highlighting North American missions. Byrd said it was humbling to know people were praying for them from all over the nation. “During the time we received … [Read more...]
Historic pulpit survives fire at First Baptist Church, Dallas
DALLAS (BP) – A pulpit used by Southern Baptist notables like George Truett and W.A. Criswell emerged intact after surviving a fire that gutted the historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church here over the weekend. “So indescribably grateful for this miracle,” another former FBC pastor, O.S. Hawkins, shared. “In the midst of the total destruction of the church in the fire this 130 year old pulpit of Truett and Criswell and the others of us somehow someway miraculously survived. Thank you … [Read more...]
ERLC executive committee releases statement on leadership confusion
NASHVILLE (BP) – Members of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission’s executive committee acknowledged on July 23 that the events of the previous 24 hours brought confusion and frustration as conflicting press releases tried to clarify that Brent Leatherwood is still at the helm of the SBC entity. “We know that these events have shaken trust in the executive committee, the trustee board, and the organization especially. It is imperative that we commit ourselves as trustees to … [Read more...]
Smith resigns from ERLC board, issues apology for removal of Leatherwood ‘without a formal vote’
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (BP) – Southern Baptist pastor Kevin Smith announced Tuesday morning, June 23, that he has resigned as chairman and from the board of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Smith’s resignation comes on the heels of a turbulent 24 hours for the Southern Baptist public policy entity. The ERLC announced Monday evening, July 22, that the board’s executive committee had removed President Brent Leatherwood “in accordance with our bylaws.” However, that decision … [Read more...]
UPDATE: Leatherwood to remain ERLC president; ERLC board chairman resigns
NASHVILLE (BP) – Brent Leatherwood remains president of the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. ERLC executive board members say board Chairman Kevin Smith acted alone in an announcement of Leatherwood’s removal on July 22 and violated the entity’s bylaws. A early morning release from the ERLC executive committee says: “As members of the ERLC’s Executive Committee, we formally retract the press release which was sent yesterday. “There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or … [Read more...]
Leatherwood removed as ERLC president
EDITOR’S NOTE: A day after this announcement was made by the ERLC, the organization retracted the announcement and stated that “There was not an authorized meeting, vote, or action taken by the Executive Committee. Kevin Smith has resigned as Chair of the Executive Committee. Brent Leatherwood remains the President of the ERLC and has our support moving forward.” NASHVILLE (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention announced Monday night, July … [Read more...]
FBC Dallas meets in convention center after fire destroys church’s historic sanctuary
by Jonathan Howe DALLAS (BP) – Two days after a four-alarm fire ripped through the historic sanctuary at First Baptist Church, Dallas, the church gathered for worship in the nearby Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center Sunday morning, June 21. “It’s not the building, it’s what that building represents: it represented the bedrock foundation of God’s Word that never changes… We are going to rebuild and recreate that sanctuary as a standing symbol of truth,” pastor Robert Jeffress told … [Read more...]
Annual meeting parking lot encounter brings food, clothes, payday to migrant
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (BP) – The man asked Daren Belardo for some cash. He received much more than that. A member of Lifepointe Church in Sedalia, Mo., supply pastor and Missouri state trooper, Belardo was attending his first SBC Annual Meeting at the invitation of his father-in-law Paul Ray Grubb, pastor emeritus of First Southern Baptist Church in Sylmar, Calif. On June 12 he dropped his in-laws off for the Send Relief breakfast and proceeded to park some four blocks away. “I parked … [Read more...]
Lifeway study: Southern Baptists supportive of the Cooperative Program
EDITOR'S NOTE: The SBC’s Cooperation Group initiated a survey of all Southern Baptist congregations to collect data that would provide insight on churches’ understanding of and partnership through the Cooperative Program, as well as thoughts, feelings and perceptions about the Cooperative Program and stewardship. The study was administered by Lifeway Research and was sent to up to one email address on file for Southern Baptist congregations. BRENTWOOD, Tenn. (Lifeway Research) – The … [Read more...]
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