Participants in GuideStone’s U.S.-based Highmark BCBS health plans will be able to receive physician-ordered, in-network, inpatient hospital care for COVID-19 treatment at no cost for claims incurred through May 31, 2020. This coverage is also available to health plan participants in HSA-qualified High Deductible Health Plans and Secure Health™ 3000. GuideStone’s health plans were among […]
Baptist church hosting national virtual Easter egg hunt
Simply by playing video games with his own children, Curtis James came up with a ministry idea that has gone nationwide. The virtual Easter egg hunt, to be hosted on a Minecraft server Easter Sunday, April 12, stemmed from the desire of Tate Springs Baptist Church to engage entire families, both adults and children, even […]
Greear, Ausberry, Chitwood, Ezell, others to join Floyd for Good Friday prayer gathering
Ronnie Floyd, president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee, has announced an SBC Good Friday Online Prayer Gathering. SBC president J.D. Greear, former SBC president Steve Gaines, IMB president Paul Chitwood and NAMB president Kevin Ezell are on a slate of guests joining Floyd for the online event. The call to prayer — hosted […]
Churches eligible for federal payroll protection funding through SBA
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 […]
Most churches have stopped gathering, few plan to meet on Easter
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 […]
Religious liberty concerns seem to be resolved for churches to file for CARES Act funds
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 […]
WMU Missions Celebration canceled, Blume postponed
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 […]
New Bible translation released
The Literal Standard Version (LSV) of the Bible was launched in February. Claiming to be the most literal translation in the English language, the new Bible is a major revision of Young’s Literal Translation, which was first published in 1862. Robert Young also wrote the Young’s Analytical Concordance of the Bible. The LSV is published […]
Q&A: How Churches, Pastors Are Eligible for Relief in Stimulus Package
The COVID-19 Pandemic Phase III Stimulus Package signed into law March 27 by President Trump will provide potential relief for churches and pastors, thanks to efforts by the Church Alliance, a national coalition of large and historic church benefit boards, including GuideStone, and Southern Baptist partners to ensure churches and pastors have the same options […]
Pickens couple: On Mission in Cuba
“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 […]