In Israel and Gaza, believers pray for peace
By Nicole Lee ISRAEL — Several days after the death of three schoolboys in Gaza, Stephen Johnson* still weeps. He isn’t the only one. And he isn’t the only one praying the heartbreak of war casualties among Palestinians and Israelis ends soon. More than 50 Jewish and...
Gospel Conversations and SBDR Connection Help Lead To Baptism
By Joe Conway BOULDER, Colo. – Travis Kunckel had no idea his selection of a temporary base of operation for his consulting business would lead to the proprietor’s spiritual transformation. The same is true Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers who played...
Simple as ‘ABC’
Beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ is easy: The Bible says, “Whoever calls on the Name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13). It’s as simple as “ABC.” Admit you are a sinner. Each of us has a problem the Bible calls sin, a refusal to acknowledge God’s...
BCI Vision?
I’ve been executive director for nearly four months now. From time to time I’m asked to speak on my vision for the BCI in Iowa. The reality is that I don’t think we need a new vision. For decades the mission of the BCI has been to start and support churches in Iowa....
Fifty Baptized at Cornerstone Church in Ames
On Sunday July 13 fifty people were baptized at a special outdoor baptism service. Those baptized ranged in ages from 7 to 65. Three of the baptisms were individuals who came forward spontaneously during the service. Eighteen baptizers participated, including pastors,...
Village-based training meets whole-life needs
By Tess Rivers ASIA—Ma Mima* was once so shy that she cried when people tried to talk with her. Today the young woman is one of the most outgoing and vibrant leaders in her Southeast Asian village, says Riley Sharps,* project coordinator for IMB village-based...
What is the Cooperative Program?
Since its inception in 1845, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has always had one mission—the Great Commission (Matt. 28:19-20). To fulfill its assigned part of this divine mandate, each SBC entity made special offering appeals to the churches. This method was...
Outdoor Church pastor leads by example in reaching sportsmen
by Caleb Yarbrough/Arkansas Baptist News CONWAY, Ark. (BP) -- An Arkansas Baptist church plant, led by a pastor who could pass for a cast member on the hit reality show "Duck Dynasty," is seeking to reach people for Jesus Christ by appealing to their love of hunting...
MILLENNIALS: Reversing the departure of a generation
By Mark Lindsay EDITOR'S NOTE: This is the first of a three-part series on the kind of leadership needed to engage, equip and empower millennials to join in the church’s mission to reach the world for Jesus Christ. SUWANEE, Ga. (BP) -- As a blessed father of two...
Gallup Survey on Americans’ Belief in Bible Brings Good, Bad News
Results Underscore Need for Christians to Understand and Defend their Faith CHARLOTTE, N.C.—A recent Gallup survey shows a growing decline in the percentage of Americans who believe the Bible is the authoritative, inerrant, infallible word of God. The annual Gallup...
