BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Baptisms, worship service attendance and small group participation all grew among congregations affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention in 2023, while the recent slide in total memberships slowed.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) — Derby weekend presented a prime opportunity for evangelizing thousands of people — and the combination of distributing gospel tracts, having gospel conversations, street preaching and displaying evangelistic signs resulted in many being made aware of the gospel.

Rwanda? Kenya? No trip sounded right. So, Katie kept searching for the perfect short-term mission trip on the International Mission Board’s Go Experience website. Her women-only team from First Baptist Church, Honea Path, South Carolina, wanted a place where they could use their gifts and maybe look into a partnership. 

FORT WORTH, Texas — Joshua Williams wants his teaching to be real. “Something that’s significant, that’s going to change the way people either read their Bible, approach Christian ministry, look at the world, right? That’s what I’m going for,” said Williams.

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The much-anticipated Southern Baptist annual family gathering is inching closer, and Hispanic Baptists are excited and ready to celebrate all God is doing through Hispanic churches at home and abroad. Already 30 Hispanic missionaries have signed up for Crossover, an evangelistic event that takes place each year in the host city of the SBC annual meeting.

One talent I will never be able to employ personally is the ability to sing or play a musical instrument. The irony is that I love many types of music and appreciate those who are gifted in songwriting and instrumentalism. It should be noted that just because I do not have a great singing voice does not mean I will not sing.

Joseph’s life progressed from a prison to a palace. God truly blessed Joseph. God orchestrated the events that led to Joseph’s change of status. Pharaoh had a foreboding dream, and Joseph had a dream. The chief cupbearer informed Pharaoh of Joseph’s ability to interpret dreams.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Southeastern Seminary and The College at Southeastern remembers the late Adrianne Miles, associate professor of English and linguistics, who went home to be with Jesus on Sunday, May 5, after a difficult yet faith-filled battle with cancer.

ELBERTON, Ga. — For Kevin Vaughn, pastor of the growing Rock Branch Baptist Church, the path to effective ministry has not been without formidable struggles. Vaughn remembers being “a normal kid growing up,” whose family did not attend church regularly. It was Vaughn’s grandparents who took him to church and the children’s programs offered.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — At Southeastern Seminary, the final chapel of the semester celebrates and awards students in The College and the seminary who have demonstrated excellence in their academics and ministry. Thursday’s awards chapel was uniquely memorable and encouraging. In a profoundly special moment and an answer to many prayers, beloved faculty member Dr. Jim Shaddix joined President Danny Akin on the chapel stage for a conversation about his ongoing battle with cancer.

FORT WORTH, Texas — Get to work in the harvest, Bart Barber, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, challenged the 301 graduates of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College during spring commencement held Friday, May 3, on the Fort Worth campus.

CINCINNATI, Ohio — Growing up, Austin MathisGrowing up, Austin Mathis didn’t know many pastors who held jobs outside their pastoral roles. So, naturally, when he felt God’s call to plant a church in 2014, Austin didn’t picture himself pastoring while also starting a business and coaching at the local high school. didn’t know many pastors who held jobs outside their pastoral roles. So, naturally, when he felt God’s call to plant a church in 2014, Austin didn’t …

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – Southern Baptist Convention entities will be hosting a wide selection of gatherings for fellowship, equipping and celebration surrounding the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting to be held June 10-13.

Ask David Lee and Zoey Kim about the one thing that can push their ministry in Madagascar to the next level. The International Mission Board missionary couple will answer in unison, “More workers.” 

WATKINSVILLE, Ga. — “We were just laymen helping to start a church in Franklin, Tenn., when Gabe Norris and I realized just how hard it is for the church in America to meet new people,” said Ken “KT” Thomas, president and co-founder of Connect Ministries. After having this realization, Thomas and Norris soon quit their jobs at Lifeway Christian Resources and started Connect Ministries, a nonprofit organization based in Watkinsville that helps church members meet new people in their surrounding communities and share the gospel with them.  

Looking to keep the doctor away? A weekly church visit may do more than an apple a day. A Harvard Public Health article highlights numerous studies demonstrating the overall health benefits of regular church attendance.

Shu Huang said when he moved to Alabama in 1978, he heard the gospel — and immediately rejected it. “Christians would talk to me, and I would say, ‘I don’t want this,’” he said. He and his wife, Lilly, were from Taiwan, and he hadn’t grown up thinking of himself as a sinner. He couldn’t get his head around the concept of being bound for hell because of his actions.

The Rev. Robert Langston Thompson, 92, of Tifton passed away Wednesday, May 1, 2024, at Maple Court in Tifton. His funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 11, 2024, in the Memorial Chapel of Tifton’s First Baptist Church with the Dr. Harris Malcom officiating.

ARLINGTON, Texas (BP) – To be on a Zoom call with Jared Wellman is to observe his love for professional basketball. In addition to family pictures, his workspaces are filled with photos, jerseys, basketballs and other collectibles connected to NBA legends.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) — The Biden Administration has finalized new rules that could threaten the ability of Sunrise Children’s Services and other faith-based agencies to place Kentucky children in foster care.

LITHONIA, Ga. — Over the last 61 years, Luther Rice College & Seminary has been faithfully providing graduates who go on to serve Georgia Baptist churches. On Friday, Luther Rice has expanded its impact by launching its newest degree program - an Associate of Arts in General Studies. The 60-credit hour program is open for applications and will begin offering classes this fall.  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) – Racetrack workers on the backside of Churchill Downs number around 1,000. Pavel Urruchi, who has been the track chaplain since last November, sees it as his mission field. He wants to make sure each one of them has an opportunity to hear the gospel.

In the final months of 2023 and the beginning of 2024, the region of Brazil faced an unprecedented crisis—the worst drought in recorded history. This catastrophe struck hardest in the river communities, where livelihoods depend on abundant water.

W. Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, and his wife Kerri led Georgia Baptists in a time of corporate prayer via livestream Wednesday morning on the National Day of Prayer.

Seminary training has always been more than taking classes. Formation for ministry has always been as important as the content of the curriculum. But the global pandemic in 2020 forged a new era in virtual education. Could the intangible qualities of seminary translate into an increasingly digital education space?