FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — Flat Creek Baptist Church plans to have the car show Saturday despite threats by a local official to slap the congregation with a $1,000 fine. “If they have a car show, they will be fined,” said Fayette County Administrator Steve Rapson. Rapson’s actions have exponentially heightened interest in the annual car and organizers are planning for what’s expected to the largest crowd ever.

DALLAS, Texas — In the Old Testament, we find these words: “They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, to declare, ‘The Lord is just’” Psalm 92:14-15a. On June 25, we have the opportunity to honor righteous, unsung heroes of the faith. Namely, retirement-aged Southern Baptist pastors, workers and their widows who served and abundantly blessed those in their care during their years of ministry. Many of these heroes still serve in whatever capacity they can — by volunteering at church, preaching, leading Bible studies (in-person and online!), lifting up intercessory prayers and in many other ways.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources celebrated the grand opening of its new teaming space last month. The event included remarks from Lifeway President and CEO Ben Mandrell, who said the move to Brentwood was about more than just a new building. “This space was designed to draw writers, designers, editors, artists and craftsmen together,” he said. “When you create a space that’s designed for relationships, communication and teamwork, everyone who enters the building benefits.”

For those with a passion for healthcare and a calling to missions, the International Mission Board has avenues of service ready to fill. The IMB is hosting MedAdvance, a conference for believers interested in using healthcare strategies to open doors to a hurting world and gain access to unreached peoples and places in unique ways. The conference will be at Brentwood Baptist Church in Brentwood, Tennessee, Aug. 3-5.

As the Hispanic population in the U.S. grows, new challenges are emerging. For example, more children and teenagers from Hispanic households are improving their English language skills but are not developing or even losing their native Spanish language skills. As a result, in many Hispanic households in the U.S., parents speak little English and their children speak little or no Spanish.

Steve is a genius.  Really.  He is a pharmacist, a deacon, a missionary, plus so much more.  I can’t think of anything he can’t do.  His wife, Alicia, is also very intelligent.  They both have hearts for Jesus, serve Him faithfully, and are dear friends. Steve and Alicia are leading our mission trip to Kenya this summer.  They encourage us, guide us, and lead us as we prepare for the trip.  In that prep is the e-visa for entrance into the country.

CLARKSTON, Ga. — Georgia Baptists are taking the gospel to the state’s rapidly growing refugee population one backpack at a time. In fact, backpacks have become crucial evangelistic tools in Georgia, a state that’s home to more than 1 million people who were born in other countries — often in places that are hostile to the gospel.

Are you a planner? I definitely am! I love to know the plan, make the plan, and see the plan come to fruition. There is a sense of accomplishment in this, at least for me there is. I also have a hard time when the plans change or fall apart. It can leave me with a sense of panic and disappointment. There is a feeling of defeat in this. I can take it as a personal failure.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The “CSB Explorer Bible for Kids” by Holman Bibles of Lifeway Christian Resources was named Bible of the Year at the recent Evangelical Christian Publishers Association’s Christian Book Awards. This marks the first time in 18 years the the association has named a children’s resource Bible of the Year. Only two children’s Bibles have won the award since the category was introduced in 1988.

Over the past year, tropical cyclones, flash floods and landslides have devastated islands along the Asia Rim. Islanders in more rural areas struggled to recover because government aid rarely reached their remote villages and uncovering their homes from the debris required inaccessible heavy equipment. Many of these island communities included people groups who had never heard the gospel or had any contact with a Christian.