The financial depression of 1893 inspired the story of the Wizard of Oz, and its severe impact on mission giving drove the Southern Baptist Convention to introduce major changes in the understanding and promotion of Biblical stewardship.

NATIONWIDE (BP) – How does giving to missions bless a local church? Pastors say their churches benefit from giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering in many ways.

DAWSON SPRINGS, Ky. (KT) – Bluegrass on (Lake) Beshear is an October bluegrass bash with a purpose: raising funds for nearby pregnancy resource centers. This year, four of those ministries are splitting a record donation.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — In January, around 4,000 ministry leaders and volunteers will gather in Nashville, Tenn., Houston and Fort Worth, Texas, and Ridgecrest, N.C., for Lifeway’s annual Vacation Bible School Preview events.

Jesus tells us in Mark 11:24, "Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.” Theologian Dr. Wayne Grudem (Systematic Theology) said, “Jesus is apparently saying that when we ask for something, the kind of faith that will bring results is a settled assurance that when we prayed for something, God agreed to grant our specific prayer.”

FRANKLIN, Tenn. — Tennessee Baptist Convention churches provided a record 7,540 Christmas Backpacks this year, surpassing the ministry’s goal of 7,000 backpacks. With a lot of people still recovering from the impact of Hurricane Helene in northeast Tennessee, the extra backpacks are needed, affirmed Beth Moore, compassion ministry specialist for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.

An overnight fire at First Baptist Church Abbeville consumed most of the church’s facilities, according to Pastor Ricky Sowell. Church members gathering Wednesday morning, Dec. 4, to share memories and “trust God with what’s next,” he said.

CASPER, Wyo. – Susan Foery simply asked, “How can we help?” That’s how things get done at Boyd Avenue Baptist Church, where Ed Tharp has been pastor for five years, after 22 years as youth pastor.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (BP) — In his fifth year as a minister, Greg Perkins hit what he calls his “leadership lid.” “I began facing problems and challenges I wasn’t equipped for,” said Perkins.

ATLANTA — Each year, groups of Georgia Baptists are invited to join Mike Griffin, the public affairs representative for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, for tours of the state Capitol building to pray for government leaders and enjoy the festive holiday decorations. Those who went on the Christmas Prayer tour Wednesday, Dec. 4, got a special treat as Gov. Brian Kemp and his wife Marty met with them.

In January 1995, I made New Year’s resolutions. There was my usual “lose weight,” along with “read my Bible through.” Those were annual topliners, but that year, I went out on a limb adding, “get an article published in the Williamson Daily News.” The WDN was our local newspaper in Williamson, WV.

Lottie Moon served Southern Baptists as a missionary in P’ingtu and Tengchow, China. She established a new church, saw thousands come to faith in Christ, and persevered through much deprivation and suffering to advance the cause of Christ.

Danilo Miranda moved hurriedly through the Rio de Janeiro airport. He was on his way across the world to attend a Global Senders Forum. The conference highlighted the IMB’s and other sending organizations’ commitment to globalization. It was a fitting conference for the IMB missionary who is originally from Brazil. Danilo’s ministry in Brazil has been focused on mobilizing the church in Brazil to fulfill the Revelation 7:9 vision.  

I will be honest and admit I am somewhat of a “hold on person.” Ok, maybe a little more than somewhat. I have the tendency to hold on to things to the point that it makes me second guess my decisions, feel uncertain about relationships, and sometimes make myself quite anxious.

U.S. Bible sales appear to be soaring over last year by 22%,  according to a report by Circana BookScan, The Wall Street Journal reported Dec. 1. In a year with ongoing overseas conflict, economic challenges, natural disasters, and a volatile presidential election, the surge may be due to an increase in anxiety, uncertainty about the future and a search for hope.

Two years ago, there was no evangelical, Deaf church in Slovenia. The Bible didn’t even exist in Slovenian Sign Language. But International Mission Board missionaries Mark and Vesta Sauter, who lead the IMB’s church planting efforts among the Deaf, understood that there’s a direct correlation between church planting and Bible translation.

PLANO, Texas (BP) – An associate pastor at Prestonwood Baptist Church is poised to return to the White House as part of the Trump administration with the nomination of Scott Turner for secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

SUWANEE, Ga. — W. Thomas Hammond, Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, told messengers at the annual meeting of the Georgia Baptist Convention last month that the population of Georgia grew last year by 230,000 people and said, “We have the privilege of introducing Jesus to all of them.”

Twenty-five Senegalese islanders crowded into a classroom. Sitting in front of a projector their eyes were glued to the screen. As they watched the JESUS Film, International Mission Board missionaries Moses and Beth saw clear emotion in the faces of the islanders.  

ALTON, Mo. — It doesn’t take more than five minutes of talking to David Case to learn three things: he loves Jesus; he and his wife, Rosemary, are an inseparable team; and he is passionate about passing the leadership baton to young people in the church.

SARASOTA, FLA. — It’s just several hours past midnight when volunteers gather to begin preparing about 9,000 meals for the day as part of one Florida Baptist Disaster Relief feeding team. On this day, the team, consisting of 10 to 20 volunteers in Sarasota, will prepare about 5,000 hamburgers and 4,000 barbecue pulled pork sandwiches, along with 9,000 servings of baked beans.

I confess that I often make promises that I forget. My failure hurts other people. But God is a promise-keeping God. In our study, we will discover several future promises that God made to His people.

Each of us possesses a unique skill that cannot be easily taught. It is the ability to navigate through your home in the dark. While you have probably learned where each piece of furniture and light is located in your house, it would prove difficult for anyone unfamiliar with the layout. It isn’t that there is less darkness for you than for other people; you just know what is not visible to them.

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Hillcrest Ministry Resource Center is an integral part of the Columbus Baptist Association and exemplifies knowing how to put faith into action. God wants us to be lifelong learners, but once we learn a new truth, we also become responsible for what we have learned. We must not only be hearers but doers of the Word.

NEW ORLEANS — Another result of the record-setting fundraising success NOBTS has recently experienced is the establishment of the seminary’s online Spanish program. NOBTS officially launched the program in the fall of 2021 as a shift from offering Spanish education at a campus extension center.