EDITOR’S NOTE: This is the ninth column in a year-long series leading up to the 500th anniversary of the 16th-century Reformation on Oct. 31, 2017. * * * “Amongst all other chances lamentable, there hath been none a great time which seemed unto me more grevious, than the lamentable death and cruel handling of John Frith” – John Foxe, Book of Martyrs (aka, Acts and Monuments, 1570) Confined in London’s Newgate prison in the summer of 1533, a young English Reformer penned … [Read more...]
BGR amps up Vacation Bible School giving
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BGR)—Southern Baptists will find vacation Bible school ideas and more in the 2017 Baptist Global Response (BGR) Spring Gift Catalog. BGR is a Southern Baptist humanitarian relief agency that focuses on disaster relief and community development in some of the world’s poorest areas. Its spring and Christmas gift catalogs offer donors new avenues for connecting with people in need. Supporters can purchase items like cows, water filters and wells and donate them in honor of … [Read more...]
Bible Drill seeks to up kids’ scriptural literacy
SPRINGFIELD – Don Wilson has seen the difference the Word of God makes in childrens’ lives. The volunteer from Ridgecrest Baptist Church in Springfield is the go-to person for Bible Drill in Missouri. “The thing I’ve always loved about Bible Drill is it teaches kids to use the Bible,” he said. “They open it, they learn key passages, they learn where things are. If they stay in it, in three years they’ll learn 30 key passages that they can find at any time. They learn the books of the … [Read more...]
Texas Prison’s ‘field ministers’ see wide-ranging gospel impact
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (BP) – “I’ve been in prison before,” Michael Rios humbly reflects. “I came in when I was very young. I had the right ideas, I had the right intents: get out, get married, have a life.” Dressed in a white prison uniform, Rios speaks slowly but directly, his tattooed hands slowly gesturing to accentuate his words. He has been in prison longer than some of his fellow inmates have even been alive. Though Rios had the “right intents,” bad choices kept him locked up, and he is … [Read more...]
Churches combine resources for youth event
HALLSVILLE – Baptist cooperation isn’t just limited to missions giving. Crossroads Baptist Association proved that with Challenge D-Now youth conference, Feb. 17-19. “We had four joint worship services with a band and small groups in between,” said Jason Kramer, pastor of Sturgeon Baptist. We ate together and played games together.” The events included about a dozen participating churches, including some outside of the Crossroads Association. “Our goal was to challenge people with the … [Read more...]
‘JESUS’ film, at 1,500 languages, reaches millions
ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- For one morning a week for quite some time, both women had been nothing but consistent. Riah* had been faithfully working to help keep up the home of Yvonne Cantwell*, an IMB missionary in Southeast Asia. And Cantwell had been faithfully sharing the Gospel and Bible stories with her as they built a relationship. "She is from a UPG [unreached people group]," Cantwell said. "I speak her national language but not her heart language." Riah was "friendly and open … [Read more...]
Prestonwood escrows CP funds, cites ERLC actions
PLANO, Texas (BP) – A Dallas-area megachurch has decided to escrow Cooperative Program funds temporarily in order to evaluate future support of Southern Baptist Convention causes. At issue are what the congregation calls "various significant positions taken by the leadership of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission that do not reflect the beliefs and values of many in the Southern Baptist Convention," according to a statement the church released to Louisiana's Baptist Message … [Read more...]
Gaines Q&A: from Trump to prayer for revival
ONTARIO, Calif. (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines discussed a range of topics of interest to Baptists in a question-and-answer session with state Baptist paper editors during their Feb. 14-16 annual meeting in Ontario, Calif. The discussion covered President Donald Trump's first 25 days in office including the refugee crisis; controversial comments by Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission president Russell Moore during the election; churches tithing 10 … [Read more...]
Trump’s potential impact on markets sparks discussion
DALLAS (BP) -- As the era of President Trump begins to unfold, his potential impact on financial markets prompted analysis in the first of a new video series released by GuideStone Financial Resources, the financial services arm of the Southern Baptist Convention. In the series entitled "Conversations with GuideStone," Chief Strategic Investment Officer David S. Spika will periodically offer insights for investors about current events and what they can expect in 2017. Regarding the … [Read more...]
Trump immigration order sparks biblical analysis
WASHINGTON (BP) -- With President Trump's travel ban from seven predominantly-Muslim countries on hold at least temporarily, some Christians are evaluating biblical teaching on immigration and refugees. On one side of the debate, the National Association of Evangelicals' World Relief arm is helping to draft a letter signed by hundreds of pastors asking Trump to rethink the travel ban. Other Christians have emphasized the need for stringent border security along with compassion toward … [Read more...]
GCC features musical diversity
SPRINGFIELD – Worship will play a role in the Great Commission Conference at Ridgecrest Baptist Church here Feb. 23-25, featuring Michael Card and the Chris White band. In a career that spans 34 years, Card has recorded 37 albums, authored over 25 books, hosted a radio program, and written for a wide range of magazines. Penning such favorites as “El Shaddai,” “Love Crucified Arose,” and “Emmanuel,” he has sold more than 4 million albums. Card said he seeks to encourage his audience to join … [Read more...]
Spirit of giving displayed in Kimberling City
KIMBERLING CITY – Setting a goal proved to be inspiring and motivating for FBC Kimberling City in 2016. The congregation set a goal for 3,000 shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child (OCC) and they collected more shoeboxes than ever before with a final total of 3,231. Last year, the church collected 2,864. Senior pastor, Jeff Hardy, was overjoyed with the result. “It was exciting to see the church grab hold of the project and accept the challenge,” he said. “These shoeboxes are one … [Read more...]
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