I love Christmas. It's probably my favorite time of the year. I love the decorations, the music, the lights, and buying gifts for others. I will always love Christmas, but the older I get I realize there is also a sadness to this time of year for many.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — As a pastor of 17 years and now Lifeway’s president and CEO, Ben Mandrell has seen increasing loneliness and a decreased sense of belonging among Christians. This growing trend is one of the main reasons why Mandrell wrote his first short-term adult Bible study, “Together,” to recapture God’s vision for biblical community within the local church.

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary held a 10th anniversary celebration for its Museum of the Bible and Archaeology on Tuesday, Dec. 3.  

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (KT) – Clint Pressley, president of the Southern Baptist Convention, doesn't want to be an activist president. He wants to highlight what Southern Baptists do well, including championing the Cooperative Program and celebrating the 100-year anniversary of the Baptist Faith and Message.

NEWPORT, Tenn. — Zan Taylor, a layman and director of maintenance at West End Baptist Church in Newport, simply obeyed when he felt the Lord calling him to raise funds for flood victims from Hurricane Helene. 

ACWORTH, Ga. — Marshall Reinhardt celebrated his 100th birthday on Dec. 1 the way you might expect a retired pastor to do so – he stood in the pulpit and boldly preached the Word of God. In a strong and unwavering voice, Marshall told members of Awtrey-Westville Baptist Church in Acworth, pastored by his son Tommy Reinhardt, about the goodness of Jesus.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — During chapel Thursday, Dec. 5, the Southeastern community was privileged to celebrate the installment of the Jim Shaddix Chair of Expository Preaching in honor of the faithful service and impact of Southeastern Senior Professor of Preaching Jim Shaddix.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — More than 300 graduates of Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College received their degrees on Friday, Dec. 6, during the 76th commencement exercises.

FORT WORTH, Texas — During the fall commencement of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Friday, Dec. 6, Jeff Iorg, president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention, challenged graduates to remain committed to God’s eternal mission of bringing the Gospel to the lost.

The Exodus of the Jews from bondage in Egypt has several connections to the death of Jesus. The death of the Passover lamb was a command of God that liberated the Hebrews from Egyptian bondage.

The average American spends $1,000 yearly on Christmas presents for family and friends. Close to half of Americans will go into debt to finance their holiday purchases. Some gifts will be memorable while others will be forgettable.

CLEVELAND, Ga.  — Truett McConnell University proudly announces its elevation from a Level III Institution to a Level V Institution with the launch of its Doctor of Business Administration program. This milestone signifies an accreditation level change with the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

ROME, Ga. — Hollywood star Kevin Sorbo told listeners at Shorter University that despite his success as an action hero, he finds greater satisfaction working in the faith-based film industry.

Greg Gibson had already planted one church in Washington, D.C., so he chuckled when his friend Clint Clifton called him three years ago and asked, “Do you think you have another church plant in you?” But the more Greg thought about Clint’s passing comment, the more he couldn’t get it off his mind.

In Armenia, life for children with special needs is often a difficult one. A lack of accessible education and rehabilitation services—in addition to prevalent cultural stigmas around people with disabilities—commonly results in isolation, limiting their opportunities to attend school and interact socially.

NEW ORLEANS — Because of recent fundraising success, NOBTS has established several new scholarship opportunities for various students in the last several years. For many of these students, scholarships are an answer to prayer and evidence of God’s call on their lives.  

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.