NASHVILLE (BP) – LifeWay Christian Resources appeared to leave little doubt of its aggressive timetable Wednesday (April 6) for construction of its new building, breaking ground for new headquarters just hours after closing the purchase of the property. Within two years, LifeWay expects to move 1,100 employees into a new office building on 2.5 acres in Capitol View, a mixed-use urban development in Nashville’s central business district. On Wednesday, the future site of the nine-story, … [Read more...]
IMB addresses baptism numbers
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, according to the IMB’s 2016 Ministry Report to the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
CP 6.5% ahead of projection
NASHVILLE (BP) – Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 6.5 percent above the year-to-date SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget projection, and are 3.09 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. “This report marks the second successive year … [Read more...]
Mississippi adopts religious freedom bill
JACKSON, Miss. (BP) – Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant has signed into law a bill safeguarding the religious liberty of individuals and organizations who refuse to participate in same-sex weddings or gender identity transitions. Bryant, a Republican, announced April 5 via Twitter that he signed House Bill 1523 – the Protecting Freedom of Conscience from Government Discrimination Act. “I am signing HB 1523 into law to protect sincerely held religious beliefs and moral convictions of … [Read more...]
GuideStone declares 2016 ‘year of influence’
DALLAS (BP) – Referring to 2 Corinthians 10:13, GuideStone Financial Resources' President O.S. Hawkins declared 2016 the "year of influence" at GuideStone during the entity's Feb. 29-March 1 trustee meeting in Dallas. In addition to the annual theme, trustees heard reports from ministry areas and celebrated the retirement of Jeff Billinger, who leaves GuideStone after 22 years of service, primarily as chief financial officer. The verse and the theme are two-fold in importance, marking the … [Read more...]
SBC St. Louis online registration opens
ST. LOUIS (BP) – Registration for the SBC’s “Awaken America: Reach the World” annual meeting, June 14-15 in St. Louis, has opened. Online registration for messengers and local hotels can be accessed at www.SBCAnnualMeeting.net. Through online messenger registration at the www.SBCAnnualMeeting.net tab, each messenger will receive an eight-digit registration code to present at the annual meeting’s Express Registration lane in St. Louis, preferably as a printout for the church’s credential. … [Read more...]
EC considers small-state representation in SBC
NASHVILLE (BP) – After nearly an hour of discussion, the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s officers withdrew a recommendation to propose granting representation on three key SBC committees to Baptists in pioneer regions. EC leadership promised, however, to make an alternate proposal with the same goal but addressing logistical concerns raised by EC members. In other business during the EC’s Feb. 22-23 meeting in Nashville, the committee recommended a change in the method … [Read more...]
IMB: 1,132 missionaries, staff accept VRI, HRO
NASHVILLE (BP) -- The International Mission Board announced today (Feb. 24) that 983 missionaries and 149 stateside staff have transitioned outside the mission entity during the past six months as a result of its voluntary retirement and resignation programs. IMB President David Platt told trustees the organization now expects to operate a balanced budget for 2017 due to its 2015-16 organizational "reset" processes and the generosity of Southern Baptists who have given … [Read more...]
New churches draw new people
NASHVILLE (BP) – America is launching new Protestant churches faster than it loses old ones, attracting many people who previously didn’t attend anywhere, new LifeWay Research studies show. More than 4,000 new churches opened their doors in 2014, outpacing the 3,700 that closed, according to estimates from the Nashville-based research organization based on input from 34 denominational statisticians. And on average 42 percent of those worshipping at churches launched since 2008 … [Read more...]
Persecution fails to thwart gospel inroads
CENTRAL ASIA (BP) – Christian aid worker Gary Warrior* was sitting on the floor in a Central Asian village with a congregation of about 20 people several years ago, getting ready to share about “the cost of discipleship.” Someone made the suggestion to go around the room and share their testimonies. One woman simply said, “Oh, I’m just very blessed and I’m so thankful to be here.” Her friend elbowed her: “Explain to him your testimony, tell him what’s happening in your life with God.” But … [Read more...]
23 states increase CP for SBC missions, ministry
NASHVILLE (BP) – Twenty-three state conventions voted to increase the portion of Cooperative Program receipts being forwarded to Southern Baptist Convention missions and ministries in the coming year, continuing a trend inspired by passage of the Great Commission Task Force recommendations five years ago. This year, Florida Baptists made the largest shift, moving from 41 to 51 percent allocated to SBC causes. “This epic, pacesetting decision will set a precedent in the Southern Baptist … [Read more...]
CP starts fiscal year 3.26% over budget projection
NASHVILLE (BP) – Contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee in October were 0.18 percent above last year’s opening month of the convention’s fiscal year and 3.26 percent above the projected budget for the first month, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank Page. As of Oct. 31, gifts received by the Executive Committee for distribution through the … [Read more...]
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