The U.S. Small Business Administration has issued a FAQ document for faith-based organizations reiterating that they are eligible to receive SBA loans through the Payroll Protection Program. The document says “no otherwise eligible organization will be disqualified from receiving a loan because of the religious nature, religious identity, or religious speech of the organization.” The […]
The coronavirus outbreak has had ripple effects across the country, including in U.S. churches, according to a new study of pastors. Nashville-based LifeWay Research asked Protestant pastors how the pandemic has impacted their congregations and what their plans are for the near future. While nearly all pastors say their church held in-person worship services at […]
An Interim Final Rule published by the U.S. Small Business Administration provides assurance that churches and other ministries are in fact eligible to receive loans as part of a massive financial stimulus bill passed last week by Congress, and that those faith-based nonprofits will not face potential conflict with religious liberty protections. The Paycheck Protection […]
The COVID-19 Pandemic Phase III Stimulus Package signed into law March 27 by President Trump will provide potential relief for churches and pastors. The package provides churches with the same options as small businesses and self-employed individuals attempting to financially weather the economic turmoil wrought by COVID-19. Churches that are exempt from tax under Section […]
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the WMU Executive Board has voted to cancel the WMU Missions Celebration and Annual Meeting scheduled for June 7-8, 2020, in Orlando, and to postpone Blume, a missions event for girls scheduled July 8-11, 2020, at Germantown Baptist Church in Tennessee until the summer of 2021. “I am saddened […]
First Baptist Church of Gowensville anticipates celebrating its bicentennial year on May 3 with carriage rides between its two morning services and dinner on the grounds afterward. Local historian and church member Dean Campbell, who has written “The Bicentennial History of First Baptist Church Gowensville, 1820-2020,” describes how the “little white church on the hill” […]
How do you breathe new life into an historic, declining congregation? For First Baptist Church of Cayce, the answer was merging with a recent church start that was growing and needed more space. Formed in 1912, First Cayce grew to a peak of about 500 attending Sunday school near the mid-century mark. In recent years, […]
“The beautiful people of Cuba are looking for hope,” said Gary Frazor as he prepared for his upcoming mission trip to the island. “They find it in Jesus.” Frazor and his wife, Kim, have been on several mission trips to Cuba. He says he got hooked on mission work through his family. “My wife and […]
God was at work the day the church burned. The Bethlehem Missionary Church building in Salters ended up a complete loss, but its African-American congregation immediately rallied under the leadership of Pastor O’Tis Prioleau. He recalls receiving the tragic news around 4 a.m. on a Tuesday night. “From the moment I got the call, my […]
As the coronavirus spreads in the U.S., congregations are facing a situation many have never considered. In response, the LifeWay Leadership team has developed pandemic response resources that are being made available for free to assist pastors and church leaders at MinistryGrid.com/coronavirus. “Pastors are asking questions about how their churches should react to the coronavirus,” […]