By Tim Ellsworth RIO DE JANEIRO (BP) - Take a close look at Caeleb Dressel during some of his swimming competitions, and you'll notice a Scripture reference written across his face. The reference changes with each event, and he hasn't yet worn the references at the Olympics, but a favorite one for the 19-year-old is Isaiah 40:31: "but those who trust in the Lord will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles...." That verse served as the inspiration for the large eagle tattoo on Dressel's left shoulder, and the Scripture references he wears are not just for him. "It's the reason I'm in the sport, not just to go fast times, but to inspire people and show them where I find my happiness with what God's given me," Dressel said in an interview last year after U.S. Nationals. Dressel made his Olympic debut on Sunday (Aug. 7) in stunning fashion, winning a gold medal as part of the U.S. men's 4x100-meter freestyle relay team. Swimming the first leg ahead of teammate Michael Phelps, Dressel turned in a personal-best time of 48.10, just .02 seconds behind the leader to keep the U.S. team close. Phelps then pulled the U.S. team ahead for good. Dressel swims again on Tuesday (Aug. 9) in the qualifying heats … [Read more...]

By Timothy E. Head, GuideStone Financial Resources communications NEWPORT BEACH, California — Citing gratefulness to the Lord for the privilege to serve those who serve the Lord, GuideStone executive officers and staff provided updates on key lines of business during the summer trustee meeting. The board met together in regular session July 25–26 in Newport Beach, California, in order to facilitate a trustee visit to the world headquarters of PIMCO, a long-time sub-adviser in GuideStone’s investment work and one of the largest bond investment companies in the world. GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins addressed trustees about the ministry’s theme for 2016, calling it the Year of Influence, referencing 2 Corinthians 10:13, which says, “But we will not boast beyond limits, but will boast only with regard to the area of influence God assigned to us, to reach even to you.” People and organizations of influence, Hawkins said, have vision, integrity and purpose. Citing a Customer Satisfaction Survey GuideStone recently concluded, Hawkins said the overwhelming response was that GuideStone was “trustworthy.” “It takes integrity to maintain trust,” Hawkins said. “We are thankful for the trust our participants place in … [Read more...]

By Julie Waters. WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Sandra Wisdom-Martin, executive director of WMU of Texas, was unanimously elected executive director/treasurer of Woman’s Missionary Union, SBC, by the WMU executive board during a special called meeting, July 29-30, in Birmingham, Ala. Wisdom-Martin succeeds Wanda Lee, who has served as executive director of the 128-year-old missions organization for the past 16 years. Wisdom-Martin, who will begin her new role on Oct. 15, was presented to the board by a search committee appointed in February following Lee’s announcement of her intentions to retire. Prior to leading WMU of Texas since 2010, Wisdom-Martin served as women’s missions and ministries director for the Illinois Baptist State Association, 2001-2010; and as Cooperative Program Missionary with the Arkansas Baptist State Convention, 1991-2001. “Having served in three different Baptist state conventions, Sandy brings great experience as a leader to this role along with tremendous creativity,” said Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky and chair of the search committee. “The affirmations of her leadership received from people in each state where she has served speak volumes. She has earned love and respect … [Read more...]

By Leonardo Blair, Christian Post ANDERSON, S.C. (Christian Post) — After a week of whispers that he had been fired, NewSpring Church, a popular megachurch in South Carolina with a weekly attendance of 30,000, confirmed Sunday that Perry Noble, the church's founding and senior pastor, has been fired for alcohol abuse and other "unfortunate choices and decisions" and is currently under psychiatric care. "While this is the most difficult and painful decision we've had to make, unfortunately it was necessary. Perry has made some unfortunate choices and decisions that have caused us much concern," NewSpring Church Executive Pastor Shane Duffey said at the 9:15 a.m. service. He explained that the church tried for several months to help Perry after confronting him about his issues but he refused to take correction so they were forced to make the "painful" move.  "Over the course of several months our executive pastors met with and discussed at length with Perry these concerns regarding his personal behavior and his spiritual walk, Perry's posture towards marriage, increased reliance on alcohol and other behaviors were of continual concern. Due to this the executive pastors confronted Perry and went through the steps of dealing with … [Read more...]

MOSCOW (BP) -- A new Russian law that prohibits evangelism and preaching outside state-sanctioned sites reminds New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary professor Jake Roudkovski of his days as a youth in the Soviet Union. "Baptist churches in Russia will survive" the law signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin July 6 and set to take effect July 20, Roudkovski, associate professor of evangelism and pastoral leadership, told Baptist Press. Such oppression "is nothing new to them.... They will stay faithful to the Gospel." Still, the law "will significantly undercut all of the missionary activities," though it "will not stop [missions and evangelism] altogether," said Roudkovski, who left the Soviet Union at age 17 but has returned on mission trips. The law, part of a package of anti-terrorism measures, will amend a 1997 Russian religion law to ban preaching, praying, proselytizing and disseminating religious materials outside state-sanctioned religious sites, according to a news release from the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Russians who share their faith or distribute certain types of religious messages through mass print, broadcast or online media may face fines up to $15,000. Under … [Read more...]

DALLAS (BP) -- Holding interracial prayer gatherings, ministering to grieving police officers in the emergency room and hosting a question-and-answer session with police are among the ways Dallas-area Southern Baptists have responded to the violent killings of five police officers last week. The July 7 assassinations, apparently committed by a suspect who reportedly told police he wanted to kill white people, occurred within days of police killing two black civilians under questionable circumstances -- Alton Sterling of Baton Rouge, La., and Philando Castile of the Minneapolis area. President Obama and former President George W. Bush spoke at a memorial service for the slain officers in Dallas July 12. 'All lives matter' Heightened racial tension precipitated by the string of violence prompted Mesquite (Texas) Friendship Baptist Church to host a community "All Lives Matter Prayer Gathering" July 11, at which approximately 700 black, white and Hispanic believers prayed for the families of Sterling and Castile, the families of the murdered police officers and the family of Dallas shooting suspect Micah Johnson, who was killed by police. "Black lives matter because black lives are being traumatized in America today," Mesquite … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Message Editor ALEXANDRIA – A controversy has erupted about two Southern Baptist Convention entities – the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and the International Mission Board – that signed a friend of the court brief indicating support for the right of a Muslim group to construct a mosque in New Jersey, raising questions about misuse of Cooperative Program dollars and concerns about proper prioritizing in representing the interests of Southern Baptists by these national ministries. Both SBC entities have said it was important for them to participate to show support for the religious liberty of all people, including Muslims. Additionally, the IMB issued a brief statement clarifying that it has not contributed money or personnel to build the mosque. BACKGROUND The court case involves a lawsuit by the Islamic Society of Basking Ridge against the Township of Bernards, a community with a population of about 27,000 located about 36 miles outside of New York City. According to a legal brief filed on behalf of the Muslim group, the ISBR has sought permission since September 2012 to build a mosque in Basking Ridge, a community within the municipality of Bernards. During December 2015, the city voted down the ISBR … [Read more...]

NASHVILLE (BP) - The struggles of a Christian high school girls' cross country track team are used to discourage self-centeredness in "Remember the Goal," the latest release of brothers Dave and Rich Christiano and Five & Two Pictures. The limited release film highlights 1 Corinthians 10:31, exhorting "whatever you do, do all to the glory of God," and drawing from the personal cross country competition and coaching experiences of Dave Christiano, the movie's writer, director and producer. "That one verse alone takes your eyes off self and puts it on the Lord," Christiano said in a press release. "We hope to start a movement among teens called 10:31. "I look around and most teenagers are driven by the ungodly movies and music of the day," Christiano said. "They are plugged into the liberal voices of the media and listening to that wrong voice. The focus needs to change." Substance abuse, jealousy, envy, feelings of inferiority, and parent-daughter relationships are spotlighted in the feature about a young woman facing persecution in her first coaching job out of college and in her attempts to garner the school a state title. "The coach has great wisdom for her young age and she imparts this to the girls covering many … [Read more...]