By BROOKLYN LOWERY NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – The National Bureau of Economic Research declared in September that the recession that began in December 2007 ended in June 2009. According to a new LifeWay Research study, pastors of Protestant churches might disagree: Data gathered Oct. 7-14 shows that 2010 is on course to be the third straight year with an increased number of churches receiving lower offerings than the prior year. Thirty-four percent of churches report receiving less offering this year than the previous year, compared to 23 percent in 2009 and 19 percent in 2008. Additionally, LifeWay Research reported that 79 percent of pastors say the economy is impacting their church negatively, reflecting media reports that overall offering dollars reportedly have declined for the first time. “It’s hard to explain in financial terms how churches have done as well as they have the last three years,” said Scott McConnell, director of LifeWay Research. “Churches actually saw average offerings rise 3 percent in 2009, but the recession -- though officially over mid last year -- has finally taken its toll on churches in 2010.” In the October telephone survey, churches reported average 2010 offerings of 3 percent less than their … [Read more...]
‘Little ol’ country church has BIG CP role
By KAREN L. WILLOUGHBY DES ARC, Ark. (BP) – "Because of the Cooperative Program, we get to be a part of everything," Melvin York, pastor of First Baptist Church in Des Arc, Ark., for 17 years, said. "With the Cooperative Program, you get to support missions at every level in every area." The Cooperative Program is Southern Baptists’ method for financially supporting state, national and international missions and ministries. "We practice missions," York said. "I don’t have to preach it. My folks practice it.... Last year we marked $1.5 million to missions since I’ve been here, this little ol’ country church, and $1.1 million of that has been through the Cooperative Program." … [Read more...]
Leaders sense God’s movement among Native Americans
By KAREN WILLOUGBY NORTH AMERICA – Two major events for Native Peoples in Spring 2011 attest to a groundswell of Southern Baptist interest in ministry among and with Native Americans and First Nations Canadians. The Gathering, set for March 2-4 at Southern Hills Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., is to be a national conference of Native American Christian leaders discussing more effective ways than ever before of reaching Native Americans with the Gospel. The North American Native Peoples Summit April 28-29 at one of the Cross Church campuses in Springdale, Ark., -- invited by Pastor Ronnie Floyd – is to bring together Native Christians from the United States and Canada with those interested in ministering with Native Christians. 0 … [Read more...]
Churches kick off Bible drill thrust
STAFF, Baptist Message STATEWIDE – "What’s Next?" That was the theme of this year’s Bible Drill retreat Jan. 21-22 at Tall Timbers Baptist Conference Center. More than 230 students and their leaders participated, down a bit from last year’s record 240-plus, though the number of churches increased, said Louisiana’s Bible Drill Coordinator Linda Aguillard of Greenwell Springs Baptist Church in the Baton Rouge area. The theme referred to life, not just Bible Drill, though Bible Drill prepares students for life, Aguillard said. "They study for a full year on that year’s scriptures, and years later they can still say the verse; it’s embedded," Aguillard said with a hearty laugh. "We’re seeing so many of our students going into Christian service. ... This is a leadership-development program, beyond a doubt." Peter Baehr, previously a Bible Driller in New Orleans, went on to become a screenwriter. Harrison Fredericks, a current Bible Driller at First Slidell, is the star of Baehr’s The Little Red Plane, shown at the Friday night session. The evening also included Joshua Spinks, youth minister at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, leading in teaching self-defense using tae kwon do, and tying the self-defense to scripture verses the … [Read more...]
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