SBC

GRAHAM PRAYER RALLY DRAWS 8,600 TO NASHVILLE

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — Christians cannot restore America by rallying behind political parties, but must pray, vote, and engage in politics to uphold biblical principles, evangelist Franklin Graham told a crowd of about 8,600 gathered at noon on May 3 in front of the Tennessee State Capitol building in Nashville. It was the largest crowd to date in his Decision American Tour 2016 with Franklin Graham

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MOHLER, THOMAS DEBATE THE ROLE OF FAITH IN AMERICAN POLITICS AT “GOD AND POLITICS”

Andrew J.W. Smith Southern Baptist Theological Seminary Christians should be involved in the political process but remember their ultimate hope lies beyond any office or vote, said evangelical thinkers R. Albert Mohler Jr. and Cal Thomas at the April 25 “God and Politics” event at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Mohler, president of Southern Seminary, and Thomas, a political pundit and syndicated columnist, discussed their views regarding the religious beliefs

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PASTORS: THE END OF THE WORLD IS COMPLICATED

By Bob Smietana LifeWay News NASHVILLE, Tennessee – Most Protestant pastors believe Jesus will return in the future. But few agree about the details of the apocalypse. A third of America’s Protestant pastors expect Christians to be raptured—or taken up in the sky to meet Jesus—as the end times begin. About half think a false messiah known as the Antichrist will appear sometime in the future. A surprising number think

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STATES, CITIES ISSUE TRAVEL BANS TO N.C., MISSISSIPPI

Baptist Press JACKSON — At least nine U.S. cities and five states have banned non-essential travel by government employees to North Carolina, Mississippi, or both, claiming religious liberty bills adopted there discriminate against homosexual and transgendered persons. A Mississippi pastor told Baptist Press he’s proud of his state legislature’s courage and confused by the seeming hypocrisy of some critics. Pastors in Vermont and Washington — two states to enact bans

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SBC ENTITY HEADS APPEAR IN VIDEO FOR J.D. GREEAR

SBC Editors’ Network YouTube Video BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A YouTube video promoting J.D. Greear for president of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has raised concern. The question is the participation of three SBC entity presidents who appear to be endorsing Greear’s election. The “It’s Tricky” video is a parody of the late 80s rap song with the same name by Run-DMC. The concern emerged when Greear — pastor of The

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CHRISTIANS FACE INTOLERANCE; COMPLAIN

By Bob Smietana Lifeway News Office NASHVILLE — A growing number of Americans believe religious liberty is on the decline and that the nation’s Christians face growing intolerance. They also say American Christians complain too much. Those are among the findings of a new study of views about religious liberty from LifeWay Research. Researchers surveyed 1,000 Americans in September 2013 and September 2015 and then compared the results. Two-thirds (63

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LIFEWAY HOLDS 125TH ANNIV. & GROUNDBREAKING

By Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — LifeWay Christian Resources celebrated its 125th anniversary, then held a groundbreaking ceremony and prayer service today (April 6) on property in downtown Nashville where it intends to build its new headquarters. LifeWay announced plans in February to build a nine-story 250,000-square-foot office building in a mixed use development located just blocks from the campus LifeWay sold last November.

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IMB ADDRESSES BAPTISM NUMBERS

By David Roach Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) — Decreases in the number of baptisms and new churches reported by International Mission Board missionaries during the past decade reflect changes in data-reporting methods and missions strategy, not a lack of evangelistic ministry. That’s the conclusion of a March 21 IMB news release issued in response to observations that overseas baptisms for 2015 are at their lowest level since 1969 — 54,762,

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CHURCHES CONTINUE TO FACE BUDGET SHORTFALLS

By Bob Smietana LifeWay Research NASHVILLE, Tenn. — When it comes to finances, the new normal for American churches seems to be “just getting by.” A third of Protestant senior pastors say their church’s giving was under budget in 2015, according to LifeWay Research. One in five saw their finances decline. Overall, about half of pastors say the economy negatively affected their churches this year. Scott McConnell, associate director of

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NEARLY 1,000 MISSIONARIES RETURN HOME

IMB ‘reset’ will allow missions agency to have balanced budget for 2016-17 By Lonnie Wilkey Editor, Baptist and Reflector RICHMOND — Trustees of the Southern Baptist International Mission Board were told Feb. 24 that 988 missionaries are leaving the missions field along with 149 stateside staff members. Last August IMB President David Platt announced that for financial reasons, the IMB needed to cut 600-800 missionary/staff positions. Over recent years the

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