Diana Chandler

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Opioid overdose deaths reach record high during pandemic

Drug overdose deaths reached an all-time high in the United States in 2020, rising nearly 30 percent to more than 93,000, according to the latest provisional numbers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among factors impacting... Continue Reading »

Messengers call for ‘abolishing abortion immediately’

A day after overruling the Resolutions Committee, messengers to the 2021 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting adopted a resolution June 16 calling for “abolishing abortion immediately, without exception or compromise.” The Resolutions Committee had declined the resolution, reasoning that... Continue Reading »

EC to elect new vice chair after failed attempt to retain Tucker

South Carolina pastor Tom Tucker’s reelection June 14 as vice chairman of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee became moot June 16, when messengers to the 2021 SBC annual meeting rejected a motion to nominate him to a second... Continue Reading »

Gospel hymn DVD outreach takes church to dementia patients

Gospel singer Gerald Wolfe was visiting his father, who was suffering from Parkinson’s disease dementia at a care facility, when a guitarist playing “In the Sweet By and By” struck a chord of memory among patients there. “Within just... Continue Reading »

Pastors express ‘decision fatigue’, ‘ministerial frustration’ as COVID-19 pandemic lingers

For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Rock Hill Baptist Church in rural west Tennessee was resuming onsite worship. Then, Pastor Richard Bray was exposed to the virus and the church had to transition once again to... Continue Reading »

Alabama DR helping homeowners after Fultondale tornado

“Shock” and “resilience” came to Walker’s Chapel Baptist Church Pastor Ricky Thacker’s mind after a late-night tornado killed at least one person, injured 30 and destroyed homes and businesses in Fultondale, Ala., Jan. 25. First Baptist Church of Fultondale... Continue Reading »

Florida Baptist catalyst addresses growing hunger crisis

Rising food insecurity in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic is no surprise to Jeffery Singletary. On his latest Feeding the Five Thousand Crusade to the Caribbean, the Florida Baptist leader sensed that the hunger he’s fought there... Continue Reading »

Abortion providers buckling under COVID-19 economic strains

Independent abortion clinics that combine to provide nearly 60 percent of abortions in the U.S. are struggling to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a new report from an abortion advocacy group. The development should be celebrated,... Continue Reading »

Boy Scouts bankruptcy could leave churches liable in future sex abuse claims

Churches who chartered or have ever hosted a Boy Scouts of America (BSA) troop should seek legal counsel now in case they are named in future sex abuse claims against the BSA, a Southern Baptist legal representative told Baptist... Continue Reading »

Now debt free, church doubles CP giving to 10 percent

Pastor Scott Linginfelter had just preached the opening night of a tent revival on a farm field in rural Greenback, Tenn., when he told Baptist Press of his commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program. “Somebody found treasure... Continue Reading »

Most state conventions redesign or cancel annual meetings

Most Southern Baptist state conventions are either redesigning or canceling their 2020 annual meeting to prevent spread of COVID-19. As of Sept. 10, only 12 — including the South Carolina Baptist Convention — intended to proceed with in-person gatherings.... Continue Reading »

Most state conventions redesign or cancel annual meetings during COVID-19

Most Southern Baptist state conventions are either redesigning or canceling their 2020 annual meeting to prevent spread of COVID-19. As of Sept. 1, only 13 — including the South Carolina Baptist Convention — intend to proceed with in-person gatherings.... Continue Reading »