Is independence a sign of maturity for a state convention?
By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer You may have heard of the three self’s church indicator to show when a church has been fully established. The self’s are self-governing (not led by outside entities), self-supporting (not funded by outside entities),...
GuideStone rooted in Cooperative Program
EDITOR'S NOTE: O.S. Hawkins, president of GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, writes about the significance of the Cooperative Program to the viability of the SBC's financial services entity. October is Cooperative Program Emphasis Month...
Friendship Center Offers Ministry Coaching
Jon and Mindy Jamison of the Baptist Friendship Center are working toward developing an intentional coaching program to aid churches in developing or re-configuring their Community Ministries. The specifics are still in the works, but the skeleton will look something...
Budget values? Follow the money…
By Tim Lubinus, BCI Executive Director/Treasurer In our culture money is highly valued and often fall is budget time for churches and other organizations. In some cases rhetoric replaces reality in budget discussions. The advice to” follow the money” is helpful when...
Despite ISIS, BGR Serving in Tough Places
by Mark Kelly KURDISTAN (BP) -- When ISIS began shelling this family's northern Iraq neighborhood, they had to flee into the night like everyone else. But with four children with disabilities, their escape was more difficult than most. A daughter who is blind, another...
One Question
One question can change your life. By Kevin Marsico, Northeast Region Coordinator for Send North America. “Will you marry me?” Now that’s a question that has the potential for vast implications. Most questions seem more innocent. “What’s up?” “How you doing?” “What...
The Local Church Empowered and Entrusted
By Kevin Ezell Recently I wrote about NAMB’s church-centric approach to church planting, evangelism and raising up the next generation of missionaries and leaders. In short—NAMB exists to serve churches, not the other way around. That’s why Jesus established the...
Philippines: ‘Long-haul’ healing in Tacloban
By Caroline Anderson A crushing wall of water from Typhoon Haiyan hit the city of Tacloban on Nov. 8, 2013. Thousands of people perished. Homes and businesses were destroyed. The water beached cargo ships weighing several hundred tons. Water devastated Tacloban. But...
1% CP Challenge: Learn, pray, give
by Staff/SBC LIFE NASHVILLE (BP) -- During October's Cooperative Program Emphasis Month on the Southern Baptist Convention's calendar, churches are encouraged to use the "1% Challenge" video as an educational and motivational tool. The 1% CP Challenge "is a succinct...
Ezell Issues Call For “Sending” Churches
By Mike Ebert BOSTON—Kevin Ezell issued a call to Southern Baptist churches to come alongside church planters in North America in a way that will encourage, strengthen and provide accountability as they seek to take the gospel to under-reached areas. “Every church...
