Monday, February 17, 2020

• SBC DIGEST: IACE holds inaugural meeting; Greear speaks at Gateway Seminary in Ontario, Calf.

  by By Mark Kahler, Gateway Seminary and BP staffs, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  SBC graphic

  International Alliance for Christian Education holds inaugural meeting this month in Orlando; Greear tells Gateway Seminary students all are called to the task of missions Read More

• Black, white Nashville churches remember shared history

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Photo submitted by Kelly Smith

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Nashville First Baptist Church was willed an enslaved 16-year-old Nelson G. Merry in 1840, and by 1853 had baptized, discipled, freed and ordained him to pastor the First Colored Baptist Mission, a First Baptist church plant.

  That church plant became First Baptist Church Capitol Hill, a majority black Nashville congregation led by senior pastor Kelly Miller Smith Jr. He participated Sunday (Feb. 16) in Nashville First Baptist's yearlong bicentennial celebration, preaching the morning sermon and answering questions on race relations and civil rights during a luncheon afterward. Read More

• First Baptist Orlando to pay all pastors' conference costs

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) -- First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla., has paid the full cost of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference, leaders said Monday (Feb. 17) in response to disagreement about speakers and performers slated for the June 7-8 event.

  "We will not receive any financial support of any kind from any SBC entity or auxiliary," pastors' conference leaders said in a statement released by Matthew Robinson, First Orlando pastor of administration. "Our hope is that this will ease conflicts or tensions that exist over the slated program for the conference. The 2020 SBC Pastors' Conference is in no way being sponsored, controlled or paid for by the SBC, even though its purpose is still to bless and encourage SBC pastors and wives." Read More

• Floyd issues Vision 2025 call to reach every person with the Gospel

  by Jonathan Howe and Amy Whitfield, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Photo by Eric Brown

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd announced a new five-year initiative in conjunction with multiple entities to reach every person with the Gospel in every town, every city, every state and every nation.

  In his address Monday night (Feb. 17), Floyd presented this Convention-wide initiative to members of the EC and a packed crowd in attendance for the group's February 2020 meeting. Read More

• Greear urges unity, not uniformity

  by Tess Schoonhoven, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Photo by Eric Brown

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- In his plenary address during the SBC Executive Committee meeting Feb. 17, Southern Baptist Convention president J.D. Greear called EC members to unity in order to continue to focus on "Gospel Above All," his choice of theme for the 2020 SBC Annual Meeting in June -- just as it was for the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting.

  Saying his goal has been to see the Gospel mission become the defining reality of the SBC, Greear challenged them on matters of sex abuse prevention, racial reconciliation, Gospel focus, Cooperative Program efforts and missional resurgence. Read More

• Kentucky disaster relief responds to in-state flooding

  by Mark Maynard/Kentucky Today, posted Monday, February 17, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Screen capture from WYMT

  MIDDLESBORO, Ky. (BP) -- Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief workers are poised and prepared to begin working in flood-ravaged southeastern Kentucky.

  Following a week of rain, DR assessors on Saturday were able to look over the damage and begin assembling teams. Read More