MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Brewton-Parker College proudly celebrated the academic accomplishments of its graduating class at a historical commencement ceremony last month on April 17, 2024.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Two hundred and sixty graduates from Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College received their degrees on Friday, May 3, during the 75th commencement exercises. President Jason Allen led the ceremony, presenting diplomas to graduates and awarding recognitions to two faculty members.

FRISCO, Texas — There is no secret sauce to reaching the next generation — whether they’re people we want to minister to in the church or lead as employees in our organization, said Shane Pruitt, next-gen director with the North American Mission Board.

ONTARIO, Calif. — During Gateway Seminary's  2024 spring commencement ceremony on Friday, May 3, President Jeff Iorg charged graduates to be flexible in their obedience to God’s calling in their lives. “You graduated from seminary … and God has given you a great opportunity in that,” Iorg said. “And now God expects you to be flexible as you follow him forward.”

HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Before starting Port City Church in 2023, church planting missionary Jeremy Dager and his core team worked hard to engage their community leading up to their launch. Most people they met — if they had any church background at all — understood church from more “high church” denominations like Anglicanism or Catholicism, but at Port City Church, residents were encouraged by the fact that they could better understand the message.

Robert Smith Jr. said his mother was protective of him when he was growing up. People would tell him that they thought he was going to be a preacher, and she didn’t want them telling him that. “She said, ‘If Little Robert is to preach, the Lord will call him,’” Smith said.

JONESBORO, Ga. — Georgia Baptist Women held their annual Women’s Spring Event at First Baptist Jonesboro on Friday and Saturday, April 26 and 27. More than 650 women were encouraged by inspirational messages, met with missionaries, participated in mission projects, and gathered and interacted with like-minded sisters in Christ to grow in their faith and relationships with each other.

DULUTH, Ga. – Six incoming college freshmen from across Georgia have received Student Achievement Award scholarships that go to the state’s top scholars.

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.