Get ready to engage all your senses at the Southern Baptist Convention in Indianapolis, June 9-12. The International Mission Board and Woman’s Missionary Union invite convention attendees to see, smell, touch and hear their way through the life of Lottie Moon, a Baptist missionary to China who served from 1873-1912. 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn — God is beyond our complete understanding, yet we can know Him and have a personal relationship with Him. He keeps the world turning yet is never too busy for us. He created massive galaxies, yet still gave even the tiniest creature incredible detail. How can all these things be true?

ATLANTA, Ga.  — Nonprofit health care clinics in Atlanta are experiencing the weight of demand triggered in part by the late 2022 closure of Atlanta Medical Center. Several clinics inside the city limits are using Georgia Baptist Health Care Ministry Foundation grants to provide hands-on health care to those in need.

TEMPLE, Texas — The sky grew dark with threatening clouds shortly before 6 p.m. on May 22, but the eight people gathered for the midweek service at Dyess Grove Baptist Church, southeast of Temple, decided to go ahead as planned. “All of a sudden those warnings on our phones went off” at about 6:20, said Pastor Steve Goode.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Southern Baptists have invested significant resources in their capacity to respond with physical help and spiritual hope in the aftermath of natural disasters and other crises. Whether the fallout impacts hundreds of homes or a few dozen, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers quickly engage those dealing with often catastrophic loss.

“That’s the first time anybody allowed me to ask a question,” Fredrik remarked, surprised. Asa and Vanessa Watson’s transparency and willingness to answer tough questions about God and faith led to a deepening friendship with this German man.  

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Lifeway Christian Resources has teamed up with filmmakers Alex and Stephen Kendrick to provide a suite of new resources to accompany their latest project, “The Forge,” which is scheduled to hit theaters August 23.

Although we are still technically in the spring season, I was reminded recently that the first day of June is the beginning of hurricane season. While hurricanes are most prevalent in August and September, the conditions become more favorable in these warmer months. Depending on someone’s age, names such as Camille, Katrina and Hugo can cause many memories and emotions.

In last week’s lesson, we focused on the commission that the risen Jesus gave to His followers. In this lesson, we learn that Jesus not only commissions believers, but He empowers and equips believers for the task of serving in the Kingdom of Jesus.

BARNESVILLE, Ga. — Greg Burrell retired Sunday, June 2, after serving for 40 years as music minister then worship minister at First Baptist Church of Barnesville. He will be honored at services Sunday for his years of dedication to the church and members of his choirs from over the years will perform in his honor.

PALMER, Alaska — Georgia native Bruce Rowell said in 1999, after he had been pastoring in Palmer, Alaska, for two years, that, "When I’m old and gray I’m sure I will sit my grandchildren on my lap and say, ‘Let me tell you about the stupidest thing I ever did in my life’ or ‘Let me tell you about the greatest adventure of my life.’” 

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. -- After meeting with church music leaders, Lifeway Christian Resources announced its commitment to continue operating lifewayworship.com.

AMERICUS, Ga. — Advancing in Ministry’s summer discipleship program began last week with an unusual twist. The missionaries arrived at Friendship Camp and almost immediately went to work on a concrete project. The Friendship Camp Development completed work on the new gravel parking lot beside the dining hall last fall, but planned to add a sidewalk.

HOUSTON — As spring storms pummeled Southeast Texas, including the greater Houston area, Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief volunteers, with help from Baptist DR teams from other states, launched and maintained a steady monthlong response to the emergency.

LINCOLNTON, N.C. — Throughout his life, Marcus Redding didn’t have many hobbies. “He didn’t golf, he didn’t hunt, he didn’t do whatever,” according to Redding’s wife, Chrissie. “He just wanted to be with family and talk about Jesus to anybody. He was a very happy soul.”

As Southern Baptist messengers gather in Indianapolis for their annual meeting next week, they will have one more opportunity the night before to hear from the six candidates who are seeking to be elected as SBC president.

Senior Adult Homecoming Retreat is returning to the Golden Isles coast of Georgia in October.  The retreat, geared for people age 55 and up, is a wonderful time of worship, Bible study/preaching, fun, and fellowship with other seniors from around the southeastern United States.

MARTINEZ, Ga. — Georgia Baptist pastor Dr. Brad Whitt will be nominated for president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Pastors’ Conference at the annual meeting June 9-10 in Indianapolis.  Dean Inserra, pastor of City Church in Tallahassee, will nominate Whitt, who he said is not only his fellow pastor but also his friend.

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The resolutions to be presented at the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting are available in a preliminary form. This marks the earliest release date in recent history.

CLARKSTON, Ga. – Eleven Arkansas Baptist women traveled last week, May 20-24, to Clarkston, Georgia, an Atlanta suburb that has become home to refugees from around the world.  Approximately 1.8 square miles in size, Clarkston represents more than 60 countries and more than 120 different people groups.  

INDIANAPOLIS — The original First Southern Baptist Church of Indianapolis moved northeast in the early 1970s from its landlocked downtown location to just outside the loop that rings the city.  Planted in 1953, Fall Creek Baptist Church has been a solid, healthy church from its earliest days, except for a temporary plateau when the neighborhood around the church transitioned from an older to younger, more urban demographic.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary is grateful to have received a grant of $1.25 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. in support for the Great Commission Preaching Initiative of Southeastern’s Center for Preaching and Pastoral Leadership.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary is pleased to announce the appointment of Colin McCulloch as Assistant Professor of Biblical Counseling and Practical Theology. The biblical counseling program has continued to grow because students see it as a vital tool for applying Scripture to the complex problems people face.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Boyce College proudly announces the appointment of Clint Armani to the faculty, a distinguished former Air Force engineer and instructor at the Air Force Academy. Armani will serve as Associate Professor of Mathematical Sciences, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the institution.

DACULA, Ga. — Richard Wernick and Vicki Parker presented a check to Georgia Baptist Children's Homes and Family Ministries on behalf of the estate of John and Frances Smith on Tuesday. The Smiths, longtime members of First Baptist Alpharetta,  bequeathed the organization $40,000 to support its mission of providing caring homes for children and families across Georgia who come from difficult and traumatic circumstances.