Messengers to the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas adopted a report from the Evangelism Task Force appointed by SBC president Steve Gaines in 2017. The report spoke to eight areas of ministry and encouraged leaders of those ministries to enlist workers, train Christians, and focus on evangelistic ministry. Chairman Adam Greenway, dean […]
Most churchgoers say God wants them to prosper financially
For some Americans, dropping a check into the offering plate at church is a bit like having a Discover Card. Both offer a cash-back bonus. About a third of Protestant churchgoers say their congregation teaches that God will bless them if they donate money. Two-thirds say God wants them to prosper. One in 4 say […]
IMB’s Platt initiates sexual abuse investigations
Two “thorough, outside, independent” investigations have been initiated by International Mission Board president David Platt into the IMB’s handling of any past sexual abuse allegations and into its policies of zero tolerance for such abuse. Platt also stated a public apology to Anne Marie Miller, who has alleged sexual abuse by an individual who subsequently […]
Volunteers needed as Ridgecrest attendance climbs
LifeWay’s Ridgecrest Conference Center celebrated record attendance last year as approximately 70,000 guests visited the Blue Ridge Mountain retreat site. “It was the most people we’ve seen in almost 30 years,” said Art Snead, executive director at Ridgecrest. “The fingerprints of God’s blessings are everywhere.” With the blessing of extra guests comes the need for […]
IMB data breach prompts ‘comprehensive response’
A data breach occurred at the International Mission Board that may have exposed personal information of current and former employees, volunteers and applicants. The Southern Baptist entity began a “comprehensive response” immediately upon discovering the cyber security incident and promptly notified law enforcement officials, according to a statement released to Baptist Press today (July 16), […]
Southern Baptists tackle gender, ethnicity issues at 2018 meeting
Southern Baptists elected a new convention president, turned back a motion to dismiss a portion of a seminary’s board of trustees, adopted resolutions affirming women and denouncing abuse, and heard a message from vice president Mike Pence at the 2018 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Dallas, Texas, June 12-13. North Carolina pastor J.D. Greear […]
Three seminary faculty members resign positions
Three Southern Baptist seminary faculty members have recently resigned their positions. The resignations of Alvin Reid at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Christian George at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and David Sills at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary were reported by Baptist Press and the North Carolina Biblical Recorder. Reid, 59, SEBTS senior professor of evangelism and […]
‘Through It All’ tells of grief followed by blessing
Donna McElveen of Lake City has published “Through It All: The Miracle Mural,” a heartfelt recollection of her husband and her son fighting for their lives and dying within three months of each other. Her son felt an urgency to paint a mural of the miracles of the Bible with his children a few months […]
Spartanburg youth director publishes Genesis study
Ashley Jones, youth director at Zion Hill Baptist Church in Spartanburg, has published a book, “A Glimpse at HisStory: An Investigative Look Into Ancient History and God’s Word.” The 141-page book, an in-depth look at Genesis 1-12, includes charts, maps and diagrams along with evidence from ancient history to point to the truth of God’s […]
Paige Patterson out at Southwestern
The firing of legendary Southern Baptist conservative icon Paige Patterson as president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on May 30 created a whirlwind of opinions, controversies and speculations leading up to this year’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention in Dallas. Charges asserting that Patterson failed to deal forthrightly with an alleged rape of […]