LifeWay News Office NASHVILLE — The 2019 Discipleship Pathway Assessment study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research found few Protestant churchgoers say they strongly agree they are personally taking actions that indicate a life of service to God and others. Fifteen percent of Protestant churchgoers strongly agree they intentionally give up certain purchases so they can use that money for others. Including those who somewhat agree, 41 percent say they practice that

By Grace Thornton Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — “In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty” — that was Ken Whitten’s closing statement and the overall theme of the Gospel Above All panel Wednesday morning (June 12) at the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. The panel was one of three during the meeting in Birmingham, Ala., “designed to spotlight some conversations already taking place,” SBC President J.D. Greear said. Other panels

By Julie Walters Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WMU Executive Director Sandy Wisdom-Martin welcomed the Southern Baptist Convention June 12 to Birmingham, Ala., where the national missions organization is headquartered. “This has been our home for the past 98 years, but for the entire history of our organization, we’ve stayed focused on our assigned task,” Wisdom-Martin said. “Our mandate is making disciples of Jesus who live on mission. This is

By Julie McGowan Public relations director, International Mission Board BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Massive cyclones in sub-Saharan Africa. Political and humanitarian crises in the Americas. Gangs among the Deaf. Police arrests in Southeast Asia. Slander in Central Asia. Even amid such difficulties, International Mission Board personnel are seeing God create opportunities for people to hear a clear Gospel witness, IMB President Paul Chitwood reported June 11 during the Southern Baptist Convention’s

By Tom Strode Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Messengers to the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention advocated for the vulnerable against abortion, sexual abuse and religious persecution in approving 13 resolutions Wednesday (June 12). The resolutions also addressed a variety of other noteworthy issues in the convention and the world, including local church autonomy, same-sex attraction, justice, women in the military draft and gene editing.

By Myriah Snyder Baptist Press BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Eighteen of the 23 motions by messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala., were referred to SBC committees or entities; five were ruled out of order. The Committee on Order of Business made the recommendations to messengers during the SBC’s June 11-12 meeting.