By Roy Hayhurst, GuideStone Financial Resources DALLAS — Referring to 2 Corinthians 10:13, GuideStone President O.S. Hawkins told trustees that each person is assigned an area of influence by God. To be a person of influence, one must possess vision, integrity and purpose. With that in mind, Hawkins declared 2016 the “year of influence” at GuideStone. In addition to the annual theme, trustees heard reports from ministry areas and celebrated the retirement of Jeff Billinger, who leaves GuideStone after 22 years of service, primarily as chief financial officer. Trustees met February 29–March 1 in Dallas. “Every one of us has been assigned an area of influence,” Hawkins told trustees. “To be people of influence, we must possess a clear, God-sized vision, be people of integrity in all that we do and have a God-ordained purpose.” The verse and the theme are two-fold in importance, marking the annual theme that guides GuideStone’s work in 2016, as well as the subject of a new book, VIP: How to Influence with Vision, Integrity and Purpose, released March 8, whose proceeds benefit Mission:Dignity. In his report to trustees, Chief Operating Officer John R. Jones described 2015 as a challenging year. “Even so, … [Read more...]

By WMU communications The WMU search committee met March 2-4 to begin the process of seeking a new executive director-treasurer for national WMU following Wanda Lee’s announcement of her intentions to retire. According to Joy Bolton, executive director of Kentucky WMU and committee chairperson, the committee gathered at national WMU in Birmingham and spent time in prayer and Bible study about seeking leaders. “The search committee is following a very prayerful, very deliberate process in seeking the next executive director-treasurer for national WMU,” Bolton said. “As a committee we have come to understand that there is great value in the process itself, and the amount of time spent in prayer by this committee was a deeply spiritual experience and one we would have missed without the process.” In addition to much prayer and preparation, the committee developed a profile questionnaire of the types of characteristics, skills, and experience the next executive director should possess in order to best lead WMU into the future and is seeking input from various audiences. “We ask for your continued prayer for the committee, for the candidate that God has for us, and for Wanda and the national WMU staff during these days,” … [Read more...]

By Alliance Defending Freedom staff OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington Supreme Court agreed Wednesday to hear the case of floral artist Barronelle Stutzman, whom the state attorney general and the American Civil Liberties Union sued for acting consistently with her faith. Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys representing Stutzman filed a brief with the high court last month to challenge the state’s and the ACLU’s arguments in favor of government discrimination against her. A lower court ruled that Stutzman, owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland, must pay penalties and attorneys’ fees for declining to use her artistic abilities to design custom floral arrangements for a long-time customer’s same-sex ceremony. Rather than participate in the ceremony, Stutzman referred Rob Ingersoll, whom she considers a friend and had served for nearly 10 years, to several other florists in the area who would provide high-quality arrangements and wedding support. “Barronelle and many others like her around the country have been willing to serve any and all customers, but they are understandably not willing to promote any and all messages,” said ADF Senior Counsel Kristen Waggoner. “We hope the Washington Supreme Court will affirm the broad … [Read more...]

By WMU Communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — WorldCrafts has partnered with impoverished artisans all over the world, from Myanmar to Kenya to New York, to offer 25 new products this spring. These new products are among more than 200 items featured in the spring/summer catalog that was released Mar. 1. “We are thrilled to introduce 25 new products, a new artisan partner, and a beautiful new catalog,” said Emily Swader, WorldCrafts representative. “Adding new WorldCrafts products and artisans is not only exciting but life-changing when you know each one represents individuals who have, maybe for the first time, the opportunity to earn an income with dignity and hear the offer of everlasting life. It is exciting to see WorldCrafts’ impact grow and expand around the world.” WorldCrafts is honored to welcome Sak Saum in Cambodia as a new artisan group this spring. Sak Saum helps equip former victims of sex trafficking and exploitation in their care with skills, employment and a fair wage in a safe, loving environment. They also seek to pre-empt exploitation by equipping and hiring the most vulnerable in the local community before they fall prey to traffickers. Every Sak Saum product is made by someone who now has skills and works … [Read more...]

By Will Hall, Baptist Message Editor ALEXANDRIA (Baptist Message) – Southern Baptists’ overseas mission forces will be reduced to levels not seen since 1993 with the departure of about 22 percent of its personnel, including 983 missionaries leaving the field and 149 severing ties from various stateside assignments. International Mission Board President David Platt announced the 1,132 terminations Feb. 24, stressing the “voluntary” nature of most of the departures. However, 30 communicators with approximately 500 years of IMB service among them, which included bringing IMB communications into the Internet age, were fired in January. Platt said in a Baptist Press report the team was “way behind in developing the digital mindset” and “struggled to form new methods for reaching a changing audience.” Yet the group included award-winning writers and photographers who are featured speakers at national conferences for their expertise. UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES Platt declared in September 2015 his goal of 600-800 terminations, including personnel “here and overseas,” saying such were needed in order to balance IMB’s books after the agency had spent $210 million more than it received from 2010-2014. He rejected the notion … [Read more...]

By Joni B Hannigan, Christian Examiner RICHMOND, Va. (Christian Examiner) – A former high ranking administrator at the International Mission Board cried "foul" in an online posting last week following a statement by IMB President David Platt that 30 communications missionaries let go last month were downsized as the result of their failure to keep current in the digital age. Calling Platt's statement about the team "patently inaccurate," Ken Winter said the team's "stellar efforts have been grossly undervalued and maligned." Winter, who a year ago stepped down as vice president of church and partner services, in a Feb. 19 blog entry in which he spoke fondly of about 200 "gifted and godly" men and women who accepted a "voluntary retirement incentive" offered by the IMB, but had choice words about the suggested deficiencies attributed to the 30 others who were involuntarily "removed." To read the rest of the article, click here. … [Read more...]

By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- The death of Associate Justice Antonin Scalia not only brings about a battle over replacing him and elevates the Supreme Court as an issue in the presidential election, but it likely will affect important cases about life and liberty in this term. Scalia, 79, was found dead in his room the morning of Feb. 13 while on a quail hunting trip at a west Texas resort. He reportedly died in his sleep. While President Obama and the Republican majority quarrel over whether the Senate will act to confirm whomever he nominates, the eight remaining justices will be considering cases left in this term. The even number of court members offers the possibility, even probability, of tie votes. One of the highly significant cases that potentially could result in a tie vote involves abortion, and another impacts religious freedom. The high court will hear oral arguments March 2 regarding a Texas law regulating abortion doctors and clinics. Oral arguments are scheduled March 23 in a challenge to the Obama administration's abortion/contraception mandate to religious nonprofit organizations under the Affordable Care Act. A 4-4 tie in either case -- or any other case -- would result in the … [Read more...]