BRENTWOOD — Almost all churches believe they are welcoming places for everyone. But many families that include individuals with special needs often feel otherwise. Experts say it doesn’t have to be this way. Churches who want to welcome everyone, including those with special needs, should begin by asking questions, said Sandra Peoples, the disability ministry consultant for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention and mother of a son with autism.

BRENTWOOD — The recent slide in total memberships among congregations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention slowed in 2023, while baptisms, worship service attendance and small group participation all grew. The Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by Lifeway Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions details the annual numerical changes for the Southern Baptist Convention. Membership declined for the 17th straight year, dropping below 13 million for the first

FARMERSVILLE, Texas —SBC president Bart Barber announced Friday, May 31, that William Maxwell, administrative director for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), will chair the Registration Committee for the 2024 SBC annual meeting in Indianapolis next month. Maxwell, a member of Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tenn., has served with the TBMB for more than 30 years. The registration committee is called “to supervise the registration of messengers, to oversee

Editor’s note: Tennessee Baptist messengers are invited to attend a dessert fellowship hosted by the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board on June 10 from 8:30-10 p.m. in Capitol 1 and Capitol II Rooms on Level 1 in the Indiana Convention Center. INDIANAPOLIS — If you’re a Southern Baptist who loves the business session of meetings, then buckle up for this year’s SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis, June 11–12. This year’s meeting

BRENTWOOD — Most people who walk into Freedom Church in Neosho, Mo., start with a worship service. It’s an on-ramp to the church’s discipleship pathway, a natural starting point on the journey from being a first-time visitor to a growing, serving follower of Christ. For kids and families, the first worship service is often in the context of Vacation Bible School (VBS), said pastor Jack Lucas. Children attend worship at