In spring 2021, I was visited by an unwelcome guest — the coronavirus. The first two or three days after the diagnosis felt like mild flu. Then, for a few days, I felt fine. However, when days nine through 12 arrived, my situation took a nosedive. I became dehydrated, ran a high fever, hallucinated, went to the hospital and had terrible fatigue. I pretty much lived in my recliner for four days. There was one person who kept me company and was safe from my contagious condition. His name was Peter Falk, better known as Lt. Columbo.

One of the foundational missions verses in the Old Testament is Genesis 12:1–3. God tells Abraham that all the peoples of the earth will be blessed through him. In the first century, the Jews, for the most part, neglected to be missional. In this passage, Jesus not only provides food for a poor woman. By His example and teaching, He communicates important missional concepts.

NEW ORLEANS — The “Abre Mis Ojos” conference, Spanish for “open my eyes,” yielded salvations as more than 800 guests from the Hispanic community gathered at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary for the second annual event earlier this month. The conference was developed as an intentional way for NOBTS to engage the Hispanic community.

ATHENS, Greece — Ever-rising numbers of refugees and migrants, a smaller than 1% evangelical population and recent fires and floodings make Athens, Greece a city ripe for gospel outreach through compassion ministry. Earlier this month, more than 65 Serve Tour Volunteers from 13 churches joined Greek local churches to bring physical help and gospel hope to a diverse city. 

A group of Asian American church leaders are expressing their “profound concern, dismay and disappointment” following staff cuts by the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee that included two associate vice president positions responsible for overseeing ethnic relations.

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Members of the community came together earlier this month for the annual Brewton-Parker College President’s Gala. This year’s special guest was former head coach for Clemson University’s football team, Tommy Bowden. The funds raised during this event will help fund the construction of a new nursing building on the BPC campus.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — If you’re looking for a Southern Baptist church, you’re most likely to find one in the South. If you want to find a growing Southern Baptist church, however, you might want to try the Northeast. Analysis of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Church Profile by Lifeway Research revealed the convention is made up of mostly smaller churches dotting the southern United States. Still, more than 1 in 5 churches are outside of the South.

BAXLEY, Ga. — Hundreds of people streamed out of the bleachers at Jimmy Swain Stadium on Wednesday, responding to a call from evangelist Rick Gage to get right with God. In a scene that harkened back to  evangelistic crusades of yesteryear, they crowded around the platform where the man dubbed the “small-town Billy Graham” had just wrapped up  a fiery gospel sermon that warned of judgment for unrepentant sinners and promised eternal life for those willing to turn from their sins and commit their lives to Christ.

PASADENA, Calif. — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary student Lachune Boyd performed live before the nation on America’s Got Talent during the fifth qualifying round of the hit show on Tuesday. Boyd, a Master of Music student with a concentration in voice, previously made it past the audition stage with a unanimous decision by the panel of judges.

DALLAS — Julio Guarneri, lead pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in McAllen, was elected to serve as the next executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas on Tuesday during a regularly scheduled meeting of the convention's executive board. The election follows the Executive Director Search Committee’s announcement of his candidacy earlier this month.