Ministers’ wives luncheon slated June 23-24
The Southern Baptist Convention Ministers’ Wives will give away 200 complimentary luncheon tickets to wives of seminary students when the group meets in conjunction with the annual gathering of the Southern Baptist Convention June 23-24 in Louisville, Ky. The group will also offer reduced prices to ministers’ wives. The SBC Ministers’ Wives Luncheon will center around the them of “Quiet Influence: The Romans 12:1 Woman,” highlighting the living sacrifice of six women of history and their impact on succeeding generations. Presenters include Jeana Floyd, Diane Strack, Donna Gaines, Lisa Young, Susie Hawkins and Debbie Brunson. Tickets and information are available at dianestrack.com.
Study shows 20-somethings more linked to faith
Beliefs of many younger unchurched people are more connected to historic Christian beliefs than some have suspected. More 20-somethings than people 30 and older believe in the God of the Bible, the resurrection of Christ and the uniqueness of the Christian God, according to research of unchurched individuals released by LifeWay Research. Unchurched 20-somethings are more open than their older counterparts to hear more about Christianity, though they do tend to hold negative views of the church, according to the research. Church attendance among young adults hasn’t dropped off as much as previously thought. According to surveys conducted between 1972 and 2006 by the General Social Survey, a biennial research project, church attendance among young people is higher than it was in the 1990s and no more than 10 percent below its peak in the early 1970s.
‘Purpose Driven’ magazine debuts
Rick Warren has joined with Reader’s Digest Association to produce a quarterly magazine called “Purpose Driven Connection,” which is intended to reach people who aren’t connected to churches. “PDC magazine is all about transformation, not merely information. That’s what sets this magazine apart from many others. It is the purpose behind every word,” said Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., and author of “The Purpose Driven Life.”
Crossover ’09 aims for lasting impact
Even storied 135-year-old Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, will be among the ministry venues as Southern Baptists engage in Crossover Louisville ’09. Now in its 21st year, Crossover is an evangelistic thrust to share the gospel of Jesus Christ the week before the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting in each year’s host city. Crossover Louisville ’09 will kick off with Intentional Community Evangelism (ICE) on Sunday, June 14, and will culminate the June 19-20 weekend prior to the June 23-24 SBC annual meeting at the Kentucky Exposition Center. For additional information about Crossover Louisville ’09, to register as a volunteer or to participate in ICE, go to www.crossoverlouisville.com.
Miss. River Ministry surpasses 20,000 professions
The Southern Baptist Mississippi River Ministry has reached a new milestone: More than 20,000 people have made professions of faith in Christ since the outreach began in 1992 after the U.S. government-sponsored Delta Commission conducted a study of poverty along the lower Mississippi River. Using data from the study, Southern Baptists began meeting together to explore ways to address some of the many needs. The eight-state, 165-county/parish region has been referred to as the “third world along the Mississippi,” according to the MRM Web site, www.riverministry.com. Low-income families in the region suffer from inadequate health care, reflected in the highest infant mortality rate in the United States. In some counties, newborns stand less chance of survival than in Chile, Cuba or Malaysia. Many people in the region live in substandard or deteriorated housing or they face homelessness.