Left behind in America
Following Christ after culture wars. By Russell D. Moore As a child growing up in a Southern Baptist church, I learned my place in American culture through rapture movies. These films—based on a pop-dispensationalist reading of prophecy—pictured a time when the church...
#TestifyTuesday, Malik: An Unfolding Story – The Salt Company Ames
By Jordan Adams, TSC Ministry Leader Malik grew up in an unchurched and difficult home. His parents divorced when he was still very young and he experienced several horrible events in his life that left him feeling distant from God. In his twenty odd years of life,...
Worship 101
By Chris McRae, BCI Discipleship Team Leader Worship! Humanity was created in an act of worship as the Triune God gloried in wonder at the splendor, goodness, majesty and wow! of his own existence, especially the essence of His being: the Father – Son – Spirit...
Working Together for the Gospel
The Cooperative Program -- Funding the Advance of the Gospel Cooperation helps fuel the fire of Southern Baptist missions and ministries. Close to home, Southern Baptists advance the Gospel locally by working together in a local association of churches. The Gospel is...
Tweaking our Executive Board Meeting Structure
By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer The Executive Board made a small structural change at their last meeting that I think will improve its ability to lead and impact the Baptist Convention of Iowa (BCI). The change will not sacrifice any of our ideals for...
Insights from the Annual Church Profile
By Tim Lubinus and staffChurches affiliated with the Baptist Convention of Iowa had a strong year in 2014. We gather information in the Annual Church Profile (ACP) and we would like to share some key information in four areas: baptisms, worship attendance, small...
Boost Up Follow-Up
by Diana Davis When a first-time guest completes a guest registration card at your church, what happens next? The most common answer to that question: absolutely nothing. No, it’s not an intentional oversight, but without an ongoing, immediate follow-up plan, your...
Giving that makes a difference every day
by Kevin Ezell ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- We are grateful for every dollar Southern Baptists give to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions. Sometimes you might feel far-removed from the results of the offering so let me remind you of a few. What...
National CP shows signs of rebounding
by Sing Oldham NASHVILLE (BP) -- Despite a five-year decline in church membership and a corresponding decrease in per capita giving, the national portion of the Cooperative Program shows signs of rebounding through the first five months of fiscal 2014–2015....
Progress report: 10 burdens about the Southern Baptist Convention
By Ronnie Floyd When I began serving as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, I also began working daily on listening to people and their concerns about our convention. Some of the ways I’ve accomplished this is through meetings with pastors and leaders as...
