MCRANEY SUIT AGAINST NAMB DISMISSED BY U.S. DISTRICT COURT

Editor’s Note: The Baptist Paper broke this story and published it on their website. The (Will) McRaney v. North American Mission Board lawsuit, initially filed in 2017, was dismissed Aug. 15 by the U.S. District Court Northern District of Mississippi Aberdeen Division. “Adjudication of the Plaintiff’s claims in this lawsuit will clearly require the Court […]

MORE THAN 30 DEAD FROM HAWAII WILDFIRES, SOUTHERN BAPTISTS PREPARING RESPONSE

MAUI COUNTY, Hawaii — More than 30 people have been declared dead as the result of wildfires on the Hawaiian island of Maui which took place Aug. 9. According to media reports, the wildfires killed at least 36 people and injured dozens more. Thousands of people have evacuated the island, and the National Guard has […]

FEAR PREVALENT IN PEWS, ACCORDING TO PROTESTANT PASTORS

BRENTWOOD —“Fear not” is a frequent command in the Bible, but most pastors feel churchgoers aren’t getting the message. A Lifeway Research study finds almost 7 in 10 U.S. Protestant pastors (69 percent) believe there is a growing sense of fear within their congregations about the future of the nation and world. Additionally, more than […]

IMB’S GROWING OPTIONS FOR DONOR GIFTS DRAWS QUESTIONS

EDITOR’S NOTE FROM THE BAPTIST PAPER — Stories like the one you are about to read are always diffi­cult to develop, not because the information is hard to explain but because the tone and presentation will be interpreted based on the reader and his or her involvement, prior understanding and sympathies toward the topic and/or […]

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL PAVES THE WAY FOR CHURCH REVITALIZATION

NASHVILLE — The past several summers have been quiet at Tusculum Hills Baptist Church. This year has been different, as more than 60 kids and youth filled the brightly decorated sanctuary on a Friday morning, June 30, shouting at the top of their lungs to worship songs they learned that week in Vacation Bible School. […]

FOR MCLAURIN, SOUTHERN BAPTIST COOPERATION IS ‘MUCH MORE THAN THE DOLLARS’

NASHVILLE —Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee Interim president and CEO Willie McLaurin doesn’t believe any pastor, ministry leader or church member should have to go it alone. McLaurin, appearing on “Baptist Press This Week” with Brandon Porter, the SBC EC associate vice president for convention news, discussed ways churches can work together and ways local, […]

PASTORS REPORT FEELING MORE LONELINESS, LESS SUPPORT, BARNA FINDS

NASHVILLE — A growing percentage of Protestant pastors report experiencing increased feelings of loneliness and isolation, while simultaneously feeling a decreased sense of support from people close to them, according to research by Barna. According to the 2022 survey of more than 500 pastors done by the Barna Group, 47 percent of pastors reported they […]

LIFEWAY HEARS MINISTRY LEADERS AND POSTPONES DECISION TO DISCONTINUE LIFEWAYWORSHIP.COM

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — In response to expressed concern from ministry leaders, Lifeway Christian Resources is postponing the implementation of the decision made earlier this week to discontinue lifewayworship.com. “We are delaying the implementation of this decision until we have time to listen, allow for dialogue, and find out how we can best support churches’ digital […]

EC SEARCH TEAM RESUMES CANDIDACY TALKS WITH MCLAURIN

NASHVILLE (BP) – The SBC Executive Committee search team says they have resumed conversations with EC Interim President and CEO Willie McLaurin about his candidacy for the permanent position. The information was emailed to EC members Monday morning and shared with Baptist Press. “Considering the many endorsements from pastors, state convention leaders, and national entity […]