STATESBORO, Ga. — More than 300 students gathered Tuesday night, Aug. 18, at Georgia Southern University to worship for the first time in a newly built Baptist Collegiate Ministries facility that houses both the ministry’s worship center and BCM offices. The building also includes shops and living space for students.

RINGGOLD, Ga. – Dolly Parton’s weekday wedding at First Baptist Church Ringgold 60 years ago sparked two connections, both of which lasted the rest of her life.

FORT WORTH, Texas — President David S. Dockery encouraged faculty, staff, students, and friends of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College during Fall Convocation on Tuesday to pursue unity and truth, as Jesus prayed for believers throughout the centuries in His prayer recorded in John 17.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — The size and location of a church may reveal more than we realize about the discipleship of its churchgoers. The latest Lifeway Research analysis of State of Discipleship study data finds churchgoers in the smallest and largest congregations, along with those at churches in the South, tend to have higher discipleship scores. Meanwhile, discipleship evaluations look similar from churches in rural areas to those in large cities.

CARTERSVILLE, Ga. — The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s 2026 SPARK conference season continued Sunday night with the second-largest gathering in the event’s history, as 853 people from 98 churches attended at Tabernacle Baptist Church in Cartersville.

BOGART, Ga. — Prince Avenue Baptist Church dedicated its new 1,800-seat worship center on Aug. 2, celebrating a project church leaders described as the fulfillment of a decades-long vision and the next step in the church’s growing ministry in Oconee County.

KANSAS CITY – You may remember reading about Davy and Natalie Lloyd. Missionaries to Haiti who were murdered by gangs in the neighborhood where they served the Lord, their story of faithfulness and sacrifice goes far beyond the headlines.

TRENTON, N.J. (BP) – Critics of shield laws like the one recently signed by New Jersey’s governor continue to maintain that such legislation allows a workaround for states that allow abortions and gender transitions for minors to violate the rights of conservative-leaning states that ban or greatly limit those procedures. Ambiguous wording also raises concern for those who may want to protest, if even silently, outside an abortion clinic. 

WALESKA, Ga. — First Baptist Church in Waleska hosted Vacation Bible School for the first time since the COVID pandemic this summer, and two children made professions of faith during the week.

TEHRAN (BP) – Dozens of Christians are among those killed and imprisoned amid rising persecution in Iran, Texas-based Iran Alive Ministries told Baptist Press, citing cases from among its underground church network in Iran.

ANDERSON, Ind. – Cookie Baker says she always prays for divine appointments when she goes out on an Alabama Baptist Disaster Relief trip. And in Indiana, she’s seeing those divine appointments, even though her team had only been there two days.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Surrounded by close friends, family and leaders from across the Southern Baptist Convention, Ryan Blackwell expressed feelings of both gratefulness and humility — and also being a little overwhelmed in the moment — as he was installed as the 11th president and CEO of Lifeway Christian Resources on Monday evening.

ROME, Ga. — Ten members of the Shorter University football team were baptized Sunday at Ben Brady Field, marking a significant moment of faith for the student-athletes and the Shorter community gathered to witness it.

NEW ORLEANS — Jamie Dew, president of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College, challenged students to examine themselves and their calling during his Convocation address on Aug. 18.  The Convocation service, held in Leavell Chapel, marked the official start of the 2026-27 academic year. Dew began the service by welcoming students and noting the significance of the moment.   

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Brewton-Parker Christian University has approved a new policy allowing students to transfer up to 30 semester hours of Technical, Applied, and Workforce Credits toward elective requirements in eligible degree programs. The initiative reflects BPCU's commitment to expanding educational opportunities while maintaining the academic integrity of its biblically centered programs.

If someone asked you to define love, what would you say? The word itself may be the most used, and overly used, word in the English language. Ponder for a moment the various things a person may associate with love.

As we continue in the Book of Ruth, it is clear to see that Ruth’s quest to find favor has been answered. Boaz, a relative of Naomi’s deceased husband, has taken notice of Ruth and has lavished his favor upon her. He instructed his reapers to treat her well and to leave plenty of barley grain for her to glean. He was an honorable man.

ROME, Ga. — Shorter University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Stephen W. Plate as Vice President for Advancement. With more than 44 years in higher education and 35 in Christian higher education, Dr. Plate brings to Shorter a wealth of experience from a career spanning leadership, teaching, music education and conducting, administration, and institutional advancement.

ROME, Ga. — Shorter University welcomed its newest class of freshmen as students arrived on campus Friday to begin their college journey. The atmosphere was filled with joy and anticipation as families pulled into campus and were greeted by an outpouring of support from across the Shorter community.

SHELBYVILLE, Tenn. — Southside Baptist Church started the year staring down a hot summer with no air conditioning and an $80,000 repair bill it couldn’t afford. “The church has never had the funds, honestly, to be able to accomplish that goal,” said pastor Joshua Johnson, who has led Southside for two years. The four sanctuary units, installed in 1998, had failed. So, in January, Johnson launched a giving plan to raise the money.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Lifeline Children’s Services, a Christian adoption agency, held its 2026 Indian family reunion at North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham on July 25 for families to immerse themselves in their adopted child or children’s culture — as well as connect with others who have similar adoption stories. 

CHIPLEY, Fla. — When Pastor Mike Orr returned from Cuba and stood before First Baptist Church Chipley to share what he had witnessed, he presented his congregation with a need.

CHIPLEY, Fla. — Cuando el pastor Mike Orr regresó de Cuba y se paró ante First Baptist Church Chipley para compartir lo que había visto, presentó a su congregación una necesidad.

STURGIS, S.D. – At the F.A.I.T.H. Rider’s ministry tent during the 86th annual Sturgis motorcycle rally last week, “I met a quiet man with tattoos all over his arms wearing a T-shirt with cutoff sleeves who said he wanted to hear my testimony and enter our bike giveaway,” a F.A.I.T.H. Rider said.

LAS VEGAS (BP) – The Executive Board of the Nevada Baptist Convention (NBC) announced its approval of Adam Mallette, lead teaching pastor of King’s Church in Las Vegas, to serve as the next NBC executive director/treasurer following a unanimous vote on Aug. 11 at a special called business meeting.