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Fred Wolfe’s impact for the gospel remembered

Longtime pastor, mentor and Southern Baptist Convention leader Fred Wolfe died Jan. 3 due to complications caused by COVID-19. He was 83. At 70 years old in 2007, Wolfe heard God’s call for him to do something new. So... Continue Reading »

Top Southern Baptist news stories of 2020

As days stretched into weeks stretched into months, COVID-19 seemed to spread everywhere — and into almost everything. Here’s a look at the top SBC stories of 2020 as selected by Baptist Press: COVID-19: A global pandemic arrives 2020... Continue Reading »

Lori Spikes, Baptist Nursing Fellowship leader, dies from COVID

Lori Spikes, executive director of Baptist Nursing Fellowship, a ministry of national Woman’s Missionary Union, died Nov. 21 after being hospitalized with COVID-19. A graduate of Samford University, Spikes was a registered nurse for more than 40 years. She... Continue Reading »

Cooperative Program giving in 2019-20 testament to Baptists’ faithfulness

The 2020 fiscal year for the Southern Baptist Convention ended Sept. 30, 2020, and despite challenges related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, giving by Southern Baptist churches through the Cooperative Program for national and international missions and ministries totaled... Continue Reading »

Now debt free, church doubles CP giving to 10 percent

Pastor Scott Linginfelter had just preached the opening night of a tent revival on a farm field in rural Greenback, Tenn., when he told Baptist Press of his commitment to the Southern Baptist Convention’s Cooperative Program. “Somebody found treasure... Continue Reading »

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... Continue Reading »

How Many Churches Will Close?

Speculation runs rampant these days as prognosticators and researchers attempt to predict how many churches will be closing within the next 12 to 24 months. Recently, Barna president David Kinnaman indicated that as many as 20 percent of churches... Continue Reading »

Stanley transitions to pastor emeritus at Atlanta First

In a video announcement following the online service at First Baptist Church in Atlanta Sept. 13, longtime pastor Charles Stanley announced his transition to pastor emeritus. Stanley, who came to First Baptist as an associate pastor in 1969 before... Continue Reading »

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... Continue Reading »

LifeWay, Rainer settle contract dispute

LifeWay Christian Resources and Thom Rainer have agreed to settlement terms in a breach of contract lawsuit between the Southern Baptist Convention entity and its former CEO. The statement indicates the agreement was reached Monday (Oct. 5), a day... Continue Reading »

Most state conventions redesign or cancel annual meetings

Most Southern Baptist state conventions are either redesigning or canceling their 2020 annual meeting to prevent spread of COVID-19. As of Sept. 10, only 12 — including the South Carolina Baptist Convention — intended to proceed with in-person gatherings.... Continue Reading »

SBC entities move to online meetings due to COVID-19 restrictions

The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee meeting scheduled to be held in Nashville Sept. 21-22 has been canceled and replaced with a special called meeting, to be held online Sept. 22. EC Chairman Rolland Slade said given the COVID-19... Continue Reading »