Ask pastors about pastoral ministry, and many will say “it is one of the most stressful occupations in existence.” They frequently deal with implementing change, leadership issues, physical and emotional crises, loneliness in ministry, congregational conflict, and demanding expectations, just to name a few of the stressors. Bill Westafer, pastor of First Baptist Church of […]
International Mission Board senior leaders are urging Southern Baptists to use extreme caution if they are considering overseas missions travel for the remainder of 2020. As many countries continue to require quarantines or have not yet opened their borders, travelers could face unexpected circumstances, including quarantines upon reentering the U.S. The future threat and spread […]
Churches should partner with government officials to fight the spread of the coronavirus while receiving First Amendment protections as they cooperate, the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission said in a July 10 statement. The ERLC has issued a document that provides guidance to church and civic leaders regarding the effort to protect public […]
Rob Dewey and his wife, Kathy, recently announced their intention to provide funding to create a center for chaplaincy at Charleston Southern University. The more than $2 million commitment will establish the Dewey Center for Chaplaincy, which represents one of the largest philanthropic commitments in the history of CSU. The Deweys have begun providing annual […]
Beginning this fall, graduates of Fruitland Baptist Bible College in Hendersonville, N.C., can also earn 46 hours toward a Bachelor of Arts degree in pastoral ministry from The College at Southeastern, the undergraduate arm of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Select courses for the B.A. in pastoral ministry will be offered on FBBC’s campus, and all […]
George Tate has completed 40 years as the pastor of Slabtown Baptist Church in Liberty. He was the founding pastor of the congregation, which was planted by Piedmont Baptist Church in 1980.
Calvary Baptist Church voted June 28 to reinvest its resources in a partnership with another Lancaster congregation to add a Spanish service to its existing worship. The remaining 17 members of Calvary Baptist approved a proposal by Brian Saxon, pastor of Second Baptist Church, to relaunch Calvary as “one church, worshipping in two languages” with […]
Emily Katherine Johnson, a member of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg, received the Master of Divinity degree May 16 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary in a virtual graduation celebration. Johnson, daughter of Kathy Dalton of Spartanburg, is married to Jonathan Emery Johnson II.
The South Carolina Baptist Convention has announce several staff retirements and position eliminations in preparation for an anticipated decreased budget projection for 2021. Ron Barker, pastoral care specialist, Pam Cashatt, team assistant, and Jerry Sosebee, director of church strategies, will retire, effective Dec. 31, from the Church Strengthening/Discipleship Team. In addition, SCBC receptionist Barbara Hussman […]
Trent Henson is the new associate pastor of Washington Baptist Church in Greer. A graduate of USC-Upstate and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Henson, a former school teacher, was ordained to the ministry July 5 at Washington Baptist. He and his wife, Scotti, have one daughter, Kerith. Henson succeeds Joe Price, who had served as associate […]