Des Moines, Topping Lists and Drawing Church Planters
By Matthew O'Mealey It's more than coincidence that a city like Des Moines is topping lists, which are praising it's current status as well as it's projected rise to prominence, while God is also calling church planters here as well as sparking growth in many other...
Man finds redemption 40 years after theft
by Grace Thornton/The Alabama Baptist ALABASTER, Ala. (BP) -- About 40 years ago a young boy managed to get into the coin box of the vending machine on a Wednesday night at Siluria Baptist Church in Alabaster, Ala. He and two buddies each grabbed a heavy handful of...
Why Baptist?
By Chris McRae, BCI Discipleship Team Leader Who’d a Thunk It? I wasn’t born this way. That’s not my excuse. Neither am I naturally inclined towards such a disposition. That doesn’t explain it. You might say that I was even raised to know better. None of that really...
TrueLife.org gives churches evangelistic aid
by Norm Miller LYNCHBURG, Va., (BP) -- Katherine* handed Sean* a Watchtower magazine. Sean handed Katherine a card with information about his church and TrueLife.org, an online evangelistic resource. A few weeks later, Katherine emailed Sean to say thanks for the card...
Jesus is not colorblind: Celebrating racial and ethnic diversity in the local church
By David E. Prince NOTE: The 2015 ERLC Leadership Summit will address "The Gospel and Racial Reconciliation" to equip Christians to apply the gospel on these issues with convictional kindness in their communities, their families, and their churches. This event will be...
Nine Concerns about Church Members Who Withhold Their Financial Gifts
By Thom S. Rainer The story is too common, but I hear such stories repeatedly. My most recent conversation was with a church leader where an affluent church member offered to make a large contribution to the renovation of the worship center. He had one stipulation:...
Prayer leads IMB workers to unreached people group living next door
By Paige Turner and Leah Zamora Supply bags in hand, the ministry team walked down the dirt path leading to the tin shacks set off from the main road. They spread two tarps across the ground like they do every week. The air offered its usual mixture of smoke and...
Pastor finds ‘strength in numbers’ through CP
by Karen L. Willoughby KENOSHA, Wisc. (BP) –- It was all there in the church constitution, Lenard Tavernelli realized when he became pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Kenosha, Wisc., in October, 2013. He didn't have to start something new, but just lead the...
Younger Southern Baptist involvement rising
by Tom Strode NASHVILLE (BP) -- Southern Baptists appear to be defying the prevalent notion that young adults are abandoning the American church -- at least by one measurement. Attendance by younger generations reached a 10-year high at the Southern Baptist...
Village Voices “Retired” pastor continues in ministry through singing at senior community
By Pastor Lewis Markwood I was asked to create a “mixed” (women and men) choral group in The Village in Indianola, in September 2013. The Village is a community of about 225 older adults, ages 55-103. We live on a 50 acre campus in town homes, independent living...
