New student leaders and mission teams – The Salt Company Iowa City
As the semester came to an end, the Salt Company interviewed students for leadership positions and finalized the mission trip teams. Jenny Calsyn, Salt Company coordinator says, "It has been exciting to see students apply for leadership and have a desire to be...
Survey: Cooperative Program draws pastors’ confidence
by Roger S. Oldham NASHVILLE (BP) -- Southern Baptist pastors are strongly supportive of the Cooperative Program, according to a study commissioned by the SBC Executive Committee and published in its Winter 2014/2015 edition of SBC LIFE. The survey shows a continuing...
Fifteen Trends for Churches in 2015
By Thom S. Rainer Trend prediction is both an art and a science. It is a science in the sense that I utilize the good objective research of credible research organizations like LifeWay Research and others. It is an art in that I depend on observations, anecdotal...
Small, rural church gives 30% through CP
by Karen L. Willoughby ALMYRA, Ark. (BP) -- Some might say trusting God comes easily for the farming families who make up the majority of the members of Almyra First Baptist Church. They watch rice emerge from flooded fields, soybeans grow in carefully weeded rows,...
Four considerations for every Southern Baptist church in 2015
By Ronnie Floyd, SBC President As we near the coming of the Lord, we should be more focused than ever before. As our 50,000 plus churches and congregations partner together in gospel causes, the time is now for us to rise up like never before. I want to ask you to...
MISSIONS: Why we go
by Kennedy Mathis SOUTH ASIA (BP) -- Six years ago, I ventured to India. This fall I returned. Nearly four years had passed. A lot had changed. A lot had stayed the same. The city where I served two years had grown. New malls replaced old abandoned ones. The streets...
Celebrate, then look ahead
by Kevin Ezell, President of the North American Mission Board ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- As each year transitions into the next, we see a lot of "list" stories looking back on the best and worst of the preceding 12 months. Some of these stories can be useless and...
Metro Association annual pastor and wives Christmas Fellowship
The Metro Association hosted its 15th annual pastor and wives Christmas Fellowship on Saturday, December 6. Originally, 20 couples had registered but due to illness and family needs only 23 people participated. Jill Olsen prepared a delicious meal and the "white...
Seven Myths about a Pastor’s Workweek
By Thom S. Rainer It is an old joke, one that is still told too often. You go up to your pastor and say, “I wish I had your job; you only have to work one hour each week.” It is likely your pastor will laugh or smile at your comment. In reality your pastor is likely...
Sexuality, religious liberty draw ERLC’s focus in 2014
by Tom Strode NASHVILLE (BP) -- Addressing human sexuality and defending freedom of conscience gained high profiles in the work of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission in 2014. The Gospel and human sexuality constituted the subject of both...
