By Helen Hummel For Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — Minutes after the lights dimmed in the sanctuary of Nashville’s Mount Zion Baptist Church on the evening of Aug. 27, the room erupted in praise.  Led by worship leader Jordan Welch, 1,200 women stood from rows of wooden pews and raised their hands. Their voices rang out and filled the room as they sang, “We will praise the name of Jesus,

By Aaron Earls Writer, Lifeway Christian Resources NASHVILLE — In the first in-person trustee meeting since February 2020, Lifeway Christian Resources president and CEO Ben Mandrell shared the three-pronged strategy for the next phase of Lifeway’s ministry. “God is calling us to embrace a new season,” Mandrell said. “I believe Lifeway has great days ahead as we push forward into the future with confidence.” Mandrell said the first two years of his presidency were about narrowing the focus of the organization. “Lifeway must

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press ANAHEIM — In terms of national influence and Gospel impact, the importance of Southern Baptist work in California cannot be overstated, agreed SBC leaders and pastors from the state gathered at the Anaheim Convention Center on Aug. 17. “Southern Baptists are made up of a lot of different people and this room personifies that,” said SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Ronnie Floyd to approximately

By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press ASHEVILLE — Members of a seven-member task force named to oversee an independent, third-party review of the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse claims have released an update calling for proposals from firms interested in conducting the review. Bruce Frank, chairman of the task force appointed by SBC President Ed Litton, provided the update to Baptist Press and other media outlets Friday (Aug. 6).

IMB news office  Many Southern Baptists across the 50 states planned to travel to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics to serve alongside International Mission Board missionaries and Japanese Christians.  The hope to travel may have lingered this summer; however, borders remain closed.  But while many prospective travelers are not in Tokyo, IMB missionaries are. They’ve been in Japan since 1888. During this Olympic season, they are actively sharing the gospel

By Aaron Earls Lifeway News Office NASHVILLE — The vast majority of pastors say they feel support from other ministers in their communities, but that encouragement is less prevalent in some places. According to a study from Nashville-based Lifeway Research, 82 percent of U.S. Protestant pastors say they feel supported by other local pastors in their area, with 44 percent strongly agreeing. Few (14 percent) disagree, while 4 percent aren’t