I was warned that it would be tricky to lead the Southern Baptist Convention. But I don’t think any of us saw this coming. We are saddened to announce that for the first time in 75 years, the annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention has been canceled. This decision was made unanimously by the […]
Church leaders and members are rightly giving much attention to dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. In-person church services are being canceled. Small groups are meeting digitally, if at all. Church leaders are urging members to support the church financially through digital giving. Churches are preparing ways to minister to their communities in the midst of […]
The latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance for groups during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak recommended no gatherings of more than 50 people (the CDC later changed this to 10 people or less) for eight weeks. As churches scramble to make decisions on how to move forward, new research finds many congregations are […]
In light of the continuing global expansion of the COVID-19 virus (coronavirus), the International Mission Board’s coronavirus task force and senior leadership recommend that mission volunteers from U.S. churches postpone international mission-trip travel through April 30. This date could be extended and will be reevaluated by April 15. IMB also recommends that people who have […]
When he was in the ninth grade, he shared his faith as “Christian #3” as part of a drama for the prison ministry of First Baptist Church, Spartanburg. His mother was music director for the Little Theater, and he had grown up around actors. His birth announcement even had been formatted to resemble a playbill. […]
Like most U.S. pastors, Robby Gallaty knows someone who has been affected by opioid abuse. But unlike most pastors, he has personally suffered with addiction. Twenty years ago, Gallaty endured a near-fatal car accident. When he left the hospital, the club-bouncer-turned-church-leader took with him several prescriptions for painkillers. “My descent into full-scale drug abuse was […]
A number of years ago, the Lord placed in David Dyer’s heart a desire to pursue a vocational ministry. As a student at Charleston Southern University, he began preparing for a life of ministry. He joined a growing number of young people who — having surrendered to a call to ministry — chose to participate […]
David Lyda is the new pastor of Little Stevens Creek Baptist Church in Edgefield. He previously served at Washington Baptist Church, Greer, as Sunday school director and teacher, AWANA leader, and children’s church teacher. Lyda is currently completing his master of divinity degree at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Beth, have one […]
Clarence Bert Ross, of Lexington, received the doctor of educational ministry degree Dec. 14 at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He is president of Leadernow Ministries.
Tommy Kelly, pastor of First Baptist Church, Varnville, was selected as parade marshal for the city’s Martin Luther King Day parade for the second time in 10 years.