Baptist Press Archive

Thursday, March 01, 2018

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  • Thousands pay respect to Billy Graham in U.S. Capitol
    by Shannon Baker/Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware , posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Photo by Shannon Baker
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- On an uncharacteristically beautiful spring day, the calm before a Nor'easter storm, thousands of people waited patiently to pay respects to Billy Graham, "America's pastor," whose remains were brought to lie in honor in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda Feb. 28 and March 1.

    The international evangelist, 99, died at his home in North Carolina on Feb. 21.

    Though the public viewing would start at 1 p.m., the earliest guests arrived around 5:30 a.m., U.S. Park Police reported, and began assembling between the Supreme Court building and the Capitol. Read More

  • Billy Graham's pastor reflects on 'dear friend, mentor'
    by Butch Blume/Baptist Courier, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Photo by Russ Busby/BGEA
    SPARTANBURG, S.C. (BP) -- As he prepares to speak Friday (March 2) at the interment service for the preeminent preacher of the 20th century, South Carolina pastor Don Wilton admitted earlier this week he doesn't yet know what he'll say.

    "I've prepared many messages in my life, and I've had numerous conversations with Dr. Graham about this moment, but I would be less than honest if I did not say that the privilege to stand over the casket of Dr. Billy Graham and share what I believe would be, in that sense, his last message, is a very humbling thing," said Wilton, who has served as Graham's pastor since 2008 and has been a close friend going back 25 years.

    "I can only ask the Lord, by his Holy Spirit, to take hold of me and completely and totally hide me behind the cross," said Wilton, pastor of First Baptist Spartanburg. "Nobody taught me that better than the living example of Dr. Billy Graham." Read More

  • IMB appoints 20 new missionaries to the nations
    by Julie McGowan, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    IMB Photo
    RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Omar Loza accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior in his home country of Peru, and then he shared the Gospel with his friends and family. A few years after reading that God wants believers to take the Gospel to the ends of the earth, he visited an Andean town.

    "I saw Aymara people worshipping God in their own language and culture," he said. "God put in my heart a desire to see many different people groups worshiping Him."

    Omar's wife Tia said she also has known she wanted to make Christ known to others since she surrendered her own life to the Lord's leadership. The Lozas of La Respuesta-Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., plan to serve God in the Americas. They are among 20 new full-time, fully funded missionaries appointed by International Mission Board trustees Feb. 28 and recognized during a Sending Celebration near Richmond, Va. Read More

  • IMB trustees name presidential search committee
    by Julie McGowan, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    IMB Photo
    RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- The International Mission Board began the search for a successor to David Platt to lead the SBC entity during their Feb. 28-March 1 meeting in the Richmond, Va., area.

    Platt, the mission board's president, reiterated his desire that the 173-year-old Southern Baptist entity stay on course for taking the Gospel to the world's darkest, hardest-to-reach places. To that end, IMB trustees approved the appointment of 20 new fulltime, fully funded missionaries.

    Trustee chairman Rick Dunbar named a 16-person committee to find Platt's replacement. Read More

  • 'I Can Only Imagine' reveals truth of MercyMe ballad
    by Diana Chandler, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    LOS ANGELES (BP) -- Everyone needs a Mrs. Fincher in their lives, says Priscilla Shirer of her character who stirs up the gift in MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard in the upcoming movie "I Can Only Imagine."

    "She's like a Moses who calls out Joshua and says 'This is what you are capable of doing. You don't know it, and you don't see it, but there's a gift there, and I'm going to make you use it whether you like it or not,'" Shirer told Baptist Press.

    Shirer portrays a light in Millard's childhood hardened by a mother's desertion and a father's abuse that inspired Christian band MercyMe's crossover megahit "I Can Only Imagine," the subject of the movie opening in theaters March 16.

    "Everybody needs someone who sees in them what they do not see in themselves," Shirer said, "and gives them an opportunity to operate in that gifting, even when they would prefer to sulk in their devastated dreams." Read More

  • Baptist editors affirm state execs
    by Baptist and Reflector staff, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    GALVESTON, Texas (BP) -- During the annual meeting of the Association of State Baptist Publications held in Galveston, Texas, Baptist editors affirmed the work of Baptist state convention executive directors.

    Editors unanimously adopted "A Resolution of Appreciation for State Executive Directors."

    The resolution was presented by Gerald Harris, editor of The Christian Index in Georgia, who noted he enjoys a good relationship with his state executive director, J. Robert White. Read More

  • Bible Study: March 4, 2018
    by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: The umbrella of grace
    by Laura Hurd, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    On a rainy day, Laura Hurd observes how church members with umbrellas in hand harken back to the servanthood of Jesus when He washed His disciples' feet. Read More

  • El impacto indeleble de Graham en las misiones globales
    Por el personal de la JMI, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Foto de IMB.
    RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Aparte del impacto sin precedente de Billy Graham como evangelista en los Estados Unidos, también influenció profundamente las misiones internacionales de una manera que muchos cristianos aún no se han dado cuenta, dijeron los líderes de las misiones internaciones bautistas del sur.

    Graham, quien murió el miércoles (21 febrero), no sólo predicó en persona ante grandes multitudes en más de 180 países, si no que por 40 años dirigió conferencias internaciones sobre misiones y evangelismo, las cuales acuñaron el concepto de los "pueblos no alcanzados" que yace en el centro de la estrategia ... Read More

  • La orden de la Corte Suprema sobre DACA incentiva a la oración 
    Por David Roach , posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Imagen: iStock/Se requiere permiso de licencia.
    WASHINGTON (BP) – El rechazo de la Corte Suprema de agilizar una apelación de la administración Trump relacionada con inmigración le ha dado al Congreso más tiempo para resolver el destino de los inmigrantes indocumentados traídos a Estados Unidos cuando eran niños.

    En respuesta a la acción de la corte alta, los bautistas del sur con vistas al proceso legislativo han instado a orar para que el Congreso actúe justamente y ofrezca una variedad de propuestas legislativas. Read More

  • Tiroteos encienden discusiones sobre control de armas de fuego entre los bautistas 
    Por David Roach, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Imagen: iStock/Se requiere permiso de licencia.
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- En medio de una corriente trágica de tiroteos masivos -- incluyendo los incidentes en Las Vegas; Sutherland Springs, Texas; el condado Marshall, Ky.; y ahora Parkland, Fla. -- los bautistas del sur han ofrecido una gama de propuestas sobre el control de armas de fuego.

    Mientras los detalles de las propuestas difieren, sus defensores están de acuerdo en que el motivo principal detrás de la violencia con armas de fuego es espiritual y que los creyentes no deben permitir que las diferencias en la política de armas de fuego los dividan. Read More

  • Tormentas mortíferas en el centro de los Estados Unidos movilizan AD en 5 estados

    Por Diana Chandler , posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    Fotograma de video WSMV-TV
    CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Voluntarios de Alivio en Desastres de la Convención Bautista del Sur (SBDR) están en el lugar, y otros están en espera después de que los tornados y las inundaciones del fin de semana mataran a cinco personas y dañaran hogares en cinco estados.

    Dos equipos de alivio en desastres han sido desplazados en Tennessee; Illinois está evaluando una respuesta a las inundaciones allí; y equipos están en espera en Kentucky, Missouri y Ohio, de acuerdo con reportes de representantes de AD del estado y de la Junta Norteamericana de Misiones (NAMB). Read More

  • EDITORIAL: La Oración Ferviente

    Michael A. Gonzales, posted Thursday, March 01, 2018 (4 years ago)

    La oración ferviente en la vida de un seguidor de Cristo es de suma importancia. La oración para un cristiano es el fundamento, el punto de partida, y la plataforma de lanzamiento para tener una vida dinámica en el Señor.

    Las oraciones ... Read More