Why Baptism is required for membership
By Bobby Jamieson Why must someone be baptized as a believer in order to join a local church? Because church membership is a public affirmation of someone’s public profession of faith in Christ, and Jesus has appointed baptism as the means by which his followers...
Pastor: Small church can make big impact
by Susie Rain SOUTH ASIA (BP) -- The Missouri pastor scooted to the edge of his seat in anticipation. He appeared to hardly be able to contain his excitement as the International Mission Board missionary described the unengaged, unreached people group his mission team...
Partnering with churches to empower limitless missionary teams
By David Platt IMB exists to partner with churches to empower limitless missionary teams who are making disciples and multiplying churches among unreached peoples and places for the glory of God. In order to see “limitless” missionaries working among the unreached,...
Mission:Dignity Sunday reminds retired pastors, widows they’re not alone
By Roy Hayhurst DALLAS — Virginia Pangle summed up what Mission:Dignity means to a pastor’s widow like herself. “I don’t have to worry about being cold, hungry or going without my medicine,” she said. Mission:Dignity, a ministry of GuideStone Financial Resources of...
Nominals to Nones: 3 key takeaways from Pew’s Religious Landscape Survey
How are Christians to understand the data from the newest Pew study on Christianity in America? By Ed Stetzer As I've said before, Christianity is not dying; nominal Christianity is. Today, Pew Research Center released a report drawing a variety of...
Iowa church planting update
By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer The most popular time to start churches in Iowa has been around Labor Day. That means that the final decisions for starting in the fall are often made around this time in the spring. There may be other churches starting...
Nepal hit with second major quake
By Susie Rain NEPAL (BP) – A powerful new earthquake rattled Nepal on Tuesday, May 12, killing at least 36 people and sending thousands more rushing to the streets. The 7.3-magnitude quake came just 17 days after a massive earthquake killed 8,046 people and destroyed...
Pew Research: Christians decline while ‘nones’ increase
by David Roach NASHVILLE (BP) -- The number of Christians in America has dropped nearly 8 percentage points since 2007 while the number of religiously unaffiliated adults has increased by nearly 7 percentage points during the same period. That's the finding of the Pew...
The 10 Commandments of Christian leadership development
By Eric Geiger When it comes to developing as a leader…specifically as a Christian leader, here are ten imperatives for development. Though not an exhaustive or infallible list, these challenges will help develop you as a leader. Follow first. Follow Jesus above all....
How the Church can reach Nominals and Seculars
Regardless of the groups we are trying to reach, we need evangelism strategies. By Ed Stetzer Evangelism requires a strategy. Whether you’re reaching out to Muslims, bikers, students, business people, previously unreached people—it doesn’t matter—there’s a unique way...
