When I was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June of 2014 in Baltimore, little did I know God would take me through the open doors of addressing racial challenges in America. While racial unrest already existed in our nation, it was not until Aug. 9, 2014, and the tragic death of a […]
Unity demands we accept one another in love. Unity requires work — hard work. Unity is an act of humility. In a convention of over 51,000 churches and congregations, eleven national entities and our Executive Committee, forty-two state conventions, and more than 1,000 associations, unity does not happen without intentionality. A brief look back As […]
The present generation of Southern Baptists will have to answer many difficult, unavoidable questions in regard to the future. Being proactive in dealing with difficult questions such as these is wise. One of these difficult questions is: Do state conventions and associations have a future in Southern Baptist life? Boots on the ground Does this […]
During this pivotal year of electing the next president of the United States, we need to be wise with our words and actions. These are serious times. Much passion is rising in America during this season. It is in the air. We sense it, feel it and know it in our heart. Much is at […]
I feel I should address the financial situation of the International Mission Board, released last week to the Southern Baptist Convention. I know there are many questions and concerns that Southern Baptists have about these matters. When I first became aware, I had several questions myself. A reminder I want to remind all of us of two things. First, […]
There are years when we come together as Southern Baptists annually, having little to no expectation of what God may want to do among us. For the sake of a very lost America and an ever-growing lost and dangerous world, let’s come together in Columbus believing God to work in us, among us and through […]
Two weeks ago, I had the privilege to speak at two wonderful gatherings in Washington, D.C. While I was there, each morning after my time with God and moments of study, I ran through our National Mall. There is nothing like running through this impactful city. Everywhere you go are reminders of our history and […]
As we near the coming of the Lord, we should be more focused than ever before. As our 50,000 plus churches and congregations partner together in Gospel causes, the time is now for us to rise up like never before. I want to ask you to consider these four things with me in 2015. 1. […]
From 1978-1983, 30.5 percent of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention were seeing at least a 10 percent increase in total membership over a five-year period of time. During this same time, 51.9 percent of our SBC churches were plateaued and 17.6 percent were in decline. Declining churches, as defined in this denominational study, are […]
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is adapted from SBC president Ronnie Floyd’s message to the Executive Committee, “What time is it in the Southern Baptist Convention?” on Sept. 22 in Nashville. Floyd is pastor of the multi-campus Cross Church in northwest Arkansas. NASHVILLE (BP) — When you compare today’s church to the church of Acts, one […]