SBC

FLOYD URGES ‘RETURN TO GREAT COMMISSION COOPERATION’ IN VISION 2025 RELAUNCH

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd urged Southern Baptists to return to unified Great Commission cooperation as he lamented “a sound of war in the camp” of Southern Baptists and issued an updated Vision 2025 tonight (Feb. 22) at the EC meeting in Nashville. Before laying out the details of Vision 2025, Floyd urged EC members to put aside pride,

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NAMB APPEALS TO SUPREME COURT IN MCRANEY CASE, CLAIMS FIRST AMENDMENT PROTECTIONS

By Jonathan Howe Baptist Press  WASHINGTON — The North American Mission board has filed a petition with the Supreme Court of the United States in its ongoing case involving a lawsuit against the board filed by a former Southern Baptist state executive director. The lawsuit, which was originally filed in 2017 by Will McRaney, former executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (BCMD), alleges NAMB had intentionally defamed him

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LONG DAYS FOR LEADERS

Pastors express ‘decision fatigue’ and ‘ministerial frustration’ as COVID-19 pandemic lingers By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LEXINGTON — For the second time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Rock Hill Baptist Church in rural west Tennessee was resuming onsite worship. Then, Pastor Richard Bray was exposed to the virus and the church had to transition once again to remote worship while Bray waited weeks for his test results. Bray became a

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TRUSTEES: NAMB TRUSTEES SEE HEARTACHE AND HEALING FIRST-HAND IN NEW ORLEANS

By Mike Ebert Baptist Press NEW ORLEANS — Trustees with the North American Mission Board (NAMB) met Feb. 1-2 in New Orleans and visited with missionaries who are planting churches and meeting the needs of people in desperate situations. At Connect Church in Algiers, trustees heard from church planting missionary and pastor Ryan Rice who came to the church as a re-plant pastor after its membership had dwindled to just

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PANDEMIC DIVISION CAUSING PASTORS TO LEAVE MINISTRY, PASTORAL MENTOR SAYS

By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Brian Croft jokes that masks are the new “color of the carpet argument” in churches, with similarly poor outcomes. Pastors are resigning from the stress “kind of in a way I’ve never really seen.” The founder of Practical Shepherding transitioned from fulltime pastoring to lead the shepherding outreach fulltime in January, pulled by a need for coaching and counseling that has steadily

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IMB APPOINTS 30 MISSIONARIES

RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 30 full-time, fully funded missionary personnel during their Feb. 3-4 meeting, and trustees applauded a report that cumulative international mission offerings have nearly reached a historic $5 billion. The new missionaries will be sent to eight of IMB’s nine global affinities. A recent Sending Celebration recognized the 30 new appointees, plus two missionaries previously appointed, and one sent in

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AFRICAN AMERICAN MISSIONARIES HONORED BY IMB

IMB staff RICHMOND — The International Mission Board is celebrating the ongoing and indelible legacy of African Americans who have served and are serving on the mission field.  IMB President Paul Chitwood says as the organization reflects on its history, Southern Baptists must be quick to confess the organization began with roots in slavery. “Only God’s redeeming love and the reconciling power of the Gospel could result not only in

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ERLC-FOCUSED TASK FORCE RELEASES REPORT

By George Schroeder & Scott Barkley Baptist Press NASHVILLE — A task force studying the effectiveness of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission issued its report today (Feb. 1), acknowledging both support within the Southern Baptist Convention for the entity and that some see it as “a source of significant distraction from the Great Commission work of Southern Baptists.” Commissioned in February 2020 by the SBC Executive Committee, the task

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LIFEWAY BUILDING UNDER CONTRACT, TRANSITIONS TO NEW WORK ENVIRONMENT

By Carol Pipes Director of Corporate Communications, Lifeway NASHVILLE — Lifeway Christian Resources has entered into a contract for the sale of their building in downtown Nashville. Contract terms, including the sale price, have not been disclosed. Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell said he is excited about Lifeway’s future workplace and the prospects of settling into a new work environment. “Lifeway is moving forward, building fresh vision, and getting

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RANDY ADAMS ANNOUNCED AS NOMINEE FOR SBC PRESIDENT

By Scott Barkley Baptist Press VANCOUVER, Wash. – Citing a desire for Southern Baptists’ focus to “be on the mission, with the Bible as our sole and final authority on all matters,” Northwest Baptist Convention Executive Director/Treasurer Randy Adams announced today (Jan. 20) that he would be nominated in June for president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Adams, who has served in his current role since 2013, intended to be

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LONG DAYS FOR LEADERS

Pastors express ‘decision fatigue’ and ‘ministerial frustration’ as COVID-19 pandemic lingers By Diana Chandler Baptist Press LEXINGTON — For the second time since the COVID-19

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IMB APPOINTS 30 MISSIONARIES

RICHMOND — International Mission Board trustees unanimously approved the appointment of 30 full-time, fully funded missionary personnel during their Feb. 3-4 meeting, and trustees applauded

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