KENTUCKY PASTORS IN FLOODED AREAS CLEANING UP, REACHING OUT, AWAITING HELP

By Mark Maynard Kentucky Today HAZARD, Ky. — Tim Reynolds, the pastor of First Baptist Church in Hazard, said the flood waters barely lapped up onto his parking lot. “It didn’t get in here,” he said. “I can’t explain that our town didn’t get hit like Whitesburg and some of the other areas. We have […]

STATE OF THE BIBLE: YOUNGER ADULTS LOVE PRISONERS, IMMIGRANTS AS NEIGHBORS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press PHILADELPHIA — Younger Christians who engage with Scripture are more apt to care for prisoners and immigrants as neighbors than are older Christians, the latest release from the 2022 State of the Bible reveals. While older Scripture-engaged Christians, those age 77 and above, more often say it’s important to be […]

ERLC URGES SENATE TO DEFEAT SAME-SEX MARRIAGE PROPOSAL

By Tom Strode Baptist Press WASHINGTON — The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity called on July 26 for the U.S. Senate to oppose legislation that threatens to gain enough Republican support to codify same-sex marriage into law. In a letter to all senators, Brent Leatherwood, acting president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), […]

NEW LOOKS INTO DEEP SPACE BRING NEW ASSURANCES OF GOD’S PRESENCE, ASTRONOMERS SAY

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — Within images released by the James Webb telescope, Christians can not only get previously unseen views of the cosmos, but resounding confirmation of God’s creative design and man’s perspective in it. David Block, emeritus professor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Danny Faulkner, who […]

CHURCHES ADJUST AS TALK OF RECESSION, INFLATION IMPACTS MINISTRY COSTS

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — The weekday preschool ministry at Englewood Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, N.C., feeds approximately 60 children a day, a number that doubles in the fall. Food costs have always been a part of such ministries, but it’s just one of several areas where inflation has commanded more attention. […]

SEBTS LAUNCHES MANDATORY SEXUAL ABUSE PREVENTION AND RESPONSE COURSE

By Chad Burchett Baptist Press WAKE FOREST, N.C. — In an effort to ensure that students are equipped to prevent and respond to abuse in their ministry contexts, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary has announced the launch of a mandatory sexual abuse prevention and response course starting August 2022. “Sexual abuse in any form should not […]

PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS VIEWING SCRIPTURE AS LITERAL WORD OF GOD REACHES NEW LOW

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A survey of Americans and their view of Scripture reflects a trend of disassociation from religion. One’s exposure to Scripture, however, can also factor in those results. The number of Americans accepting the Bible as the literal Word of God has reached its lowest point since Gallup began […]

ERLC AGAIN OPPOSES BIDEN’S ACTION TO PROTECT ABORTION

By Tom Strode Baptist Press WASHINGTON — President Biden took further action Friday in his administration’s ongoing effort to offset the U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision, and Southern Baptist and other pro-life advocates again declared their opposition. Biden signed an executive order on July 8 intended to protect access to […]

PATRIOTIC DISPLAYS COMMON IN JULY 4TH CHURCH SERVICES

By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Protestant pastors say they will worship God and honor America at church services this weekend, and they’re not too worried churchgoers will confuse the two. Most pastors (56 percent) say it’s important to incorporate patriotic elements into worship services the week of July 4th to celebrate […]