2020 was rough! People lost loved ones. Individuals lost their jobs. And even the most distinguished among us felt like utter failures in the home if our children were unable to adapt to online education and wearing a mask, ad nauseam. I am in no way trying to trivialize the diverse trials that we have […]
New COVID vaccines raise hopes
With approximately 300,000 COVID-19 deaths in 2020, the news of vaccines that can protect people from the virus brings hope to millions of people across the nation and around the world. The largest and most comprehensive vaccination deployment in the history of the United States began Dec. 14. First to receive FDA approval was drug […]
Nevada restrictions ruling applauded
Religious freedom advocates applauded a federal appeals court decision in December that blocked enforcement of Nevada’s pandemic-related restrictions because they treat various secular events and businesses “significantly better” than worship gatherings. A three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals — generally considered the most liberal of the federal appellate courts — unanimously granted […]
NIH director: COVID-19 vaccines safe, effective and ethical
The unprecedented pace of developing vaccines for COVID-19 has not jeopardized their effectiveness or safety for Americans, the director of the National Institutes of Health said in a December webinar hosted by the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Francis Collins, NIH’s director since 2009, answered questions from ERLC President Russell Moore about vaccines […]
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 was the year of COVID-19, with virtually nothing in life left untouched — and much of […]
Few churches back to pre-COVID attendance, offering levels
The vast majority of U.S. Protestant churches say they are holding in-person services, but churchgoers have yet to attend in the numbers they did before the coronavirus pandemic struck, and many pastors say the 2020 economy is hurting their congregation. According to a recent survey from Nashville-based LifeWay Research, 87 percent of Protestant pastors in […]
A Different Thanksgiving Day in 2020
Typically, the Thanksgiving holiday features some of the busiest travel days of the year. With the pandemic still strong and no vaccine or cure available, travel plans are changing. In the past, it has been estimated that as many as 90 percent of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving Day. While that may not change, the […]
Thanksgiving: The 2020 Experience
The Bible has much to say about being thankful or giving thanks. For example, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” The Psalms contain many exhortations to be thankful. Yet, what happens when a pandemic intersects with protests, looting and basic civil unrest? Add […]
SCBC Executive Board approves one-day annual meeting
The Executive Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, meeting Oct. 6 at Riverland Hills Baptist Church in Columbia, has approved changing the upcoming annual meeting from two days to one, taking precautions precipitated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Executive Board, with Albert Allen presiding as chairman, adopted a motion to condense the 2020 […]
Glovers: Being Thankful, Even When It’s Difficult
The turkey, dressing and pumpkin pie will likely taste a little sweeter to Brent and Courtney Glover this Thanksgiving. In late March, Brent, an otherwise healthy 34-year-old with an active lifestyle, began having severe headaches and felt really fatigued. He also noticed some red spots on his arms and legs, as well as a couple […]