In light of COVID-19, many Baptist state conventions have canceled on-site women’s training events. But seven conventions, including South Carolina, have joined together to develop a virtual event this fall to provide encouragement and training for women in ministry. The result — a training event called “One Day, One Focus” — will be held Oct. […]
Georgia law protects churches from COVID-19 liability
To protect businesses, including churches, from claims and lawsuits related to COVID-19, Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed the Georgia COVID-19 Pandemic Business Safety Act, which became effective Aug. 5. In order for an entity, defined by the bill to include “religious and educational organizations,” to avoid liability, a sign must be posted “at the point […]
New study Bible takes readers on Holy Land journey
Millions of Christians read the Bible each day, but few have a full grasp of the historical, cultural and geographical context of what they read. The new Holy Land Illustrated Bible from LifeWay Christian Resources aims to change that. The latest study tool to feature the text of the Christian Standard Bible, the Holy Land […]
Greear announces 2021 SBC theme
Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear has announced that the theme for the 2021 annual meeting will be “We Are Great Commission Baptists.” Greear said the theme is designed to encourage Southern Baptists to show how we should treat each other and what we should be known for. The theme connects to a current movement […]
NAMB launches Next Step Leader
Pastoring a church has never been an easy job — preparing sermons, counseling church members through difficult circumstances, managing the day-to-day business of the church. Yet, 2020 brought a whole new set of challenges as pastors had to navigate through a global pandemic, racial tension and a widening divide in the culture. The North American […]
SCBC Pastors Conference to meet at West Columbia First
The 2020 South Carolina Baptist Pastors Conference is slated for Nov. 8-9 at First Baptist Church of West Columbia. Conference speakers will include Wayne Bray, Stuart Houston, Ron Lynch, Josh Reavis, Stephen Rummage and Mike Stone. Focusing on the theme “SOS: Sufficiency of Scripture,” drawn from Psalm 19:7, Sunday evening’s session will begin at 6 […]
Georgia Baptists face challenging financial situation
The Georgia Baptist Convention has moved to substantially decrease its budget following a meeting of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s Executive Committee Sept. 15. Budget reductions came following a 10-year study of annual audits. The audits reported a 31 percent decrease in revenue, including a $1.21 million drop in Cooperative Program giving to the state […]
Rebekah Naylor named first female distinguished professor at SWBTS
Rebekah Ann Naylor, a longtime medical missionary to India, has been appointed distinguished professor of missions in the Roy J. Fish School of Evangelism and Missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. She is the first woman ever to hold such a position at the seminary. In 1973, Naylor was appointed by the Foreign Mission Board […]
IMB issues statement regarding Aderholt investigation
The International Mission Board has issued a statement which it says clarifies and corrects previous statements made by the IMB that appeared in articles published in July 2018 by Baptist Press. The articles, published July 16, 2018, and July 18, 2018, concerned sexual crimes committed by former IMB missionary Mark Aderholt against a teenager in […]
Grant named director of African-American relations and mobilization
Charles Grant has been named executive director of African-American relations and mobilization at the SBC Executive Committee. In a partnership jointly funded by the SBC Executive Committee and the North American Mission Board, Grant will work to equip and mobilize African-American churches, as well as to engage potential new churches. Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO […]