Baptist Press Archive

Friday, March 20, 2020

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  • COVID-19 brings isolation to many senior adults
    by Tess Schoonhoven, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    iStock
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- At 92, Kenny Knox's social circle revolves almost exclusively around activities at church.

    "Other than attending [church], I don't have a lot of contact with others," he said.

    But like many others, Knox's church (West End Baptist Church in Columbia, Tenn.) has suspended its meetings to comply with government recommendations on social-distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic. West End's worship services have temporarily moved to an online streaming format. Read More

  • Court delays arguments; religious liberty, abortion rulings await
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    iStock
    WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Supreme Court has paused part of its work in response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) with decisions in important cases regarding religious liberty, sexuality and abortion still to be announced.

    The high court announced March 16 it has postponed oral arguments scheduled for March 23-25 and March 30-April 1 to abide by recommendations offered in response to the continuing spread of the coronavirus. The court said it would study the alternatives for rescheduling arguments based on developments with the virus. Read More

  • LifeWay offers churches free digital giving plan, curriculum, low-cost books, discussion guides
    by Aaron Earls and Joy Allmond, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    NASHVILLE -- As the COVID-19 pandemic causes churches across the country to suspend in-person meeting, Generosity by LifeWay is opening its digital giving platform to congregations immediately for free, while B&H Publishing is offering low-cost books with free discussion guides.

    "Giving is one of the most significant faith experiences we have as believers," said Todd McMichen, director of Generosity by LifeWay. "God is a generous God in so many ways to us, and our giving in response to His generosity has been part of our worship since the very first family." Read More

  • Texas church switches to 'drive-in movie style' service
    by Shawn Hendricks/Southern Baptist TEXAN, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    iStock
    MONTGOMERY, Texas (BP) -- As pastors across the country wrestle with how to handle services during the COVID-19 crisis, Texas pastor Chris Gober wanted to strike the balance between keeping his congregation safe and bringing them together as a unified family.

    For First Montgomery Baptist Church, this meant switching the regular March 22 Sunday service plans to an outdoor "drive-in movie style" approach. The church, which draws about 300 people each week, is inviting members to pull their cars onto the church's property for their 10:45 a.m. service and listen to the sermon on their radio with the help of an FM transmitter. The idea is similar to the service held March 15 by David Fork Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., reported by WKYT. Read More

  • ERLC providing resources during coronavirus crisis
    by Tom Strode, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    NASHVILLE (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is providing ongoing content addressing issues related to church ministry, life in isolation and the intersection of church and state during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

    The ERLC -- which offers new resources nearly daily at erlc.com/covid19 -- is doing so "to help pastors navigate new and challenging dynamics and equip Christians for this ever-evolving situation," said Daniel Darling, the ERLC's vice president for communications. "We believe Southern Baptists are ready to serve our most vulnerable neighbors in a variety of ways. Read More

  • Texas pastor Glynn Stone Jr. dies in one-car crash
    by Diana Chandler, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    LONGVIEW, Texas (BP) -- Senior pastor Glynn Stone Jr. of Mobberly Baptist Church in Longview, Texas, died in a one-car crash Thursday (March 19) in Longview.

    "We know this news is shocking and hard to understand. Processing this information is likely confusing and painful, and we would be remiss to ignore the fact that there is a plethora of emotions among you," the church said in a statement posted at mobberly.org. "In times like these, we believe trusting the Lord and turning to Him in prayer is the best response." Read More

  • Carta para los Bautistas del Sur
    Por Ronnie Floyd, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    SBC gráfico
    Queridos bautistas del sur:

    Nuestro trabajo como bautistas del sur está sano y salvo alrededor del mundo. Aunque la pandemia mundial del coronavirus (COVID-19) está afectando nuestras vidas e iglesias, el Señor está usando esta fuerza amenazadora para abrirnos puertas para compartir las Buenas Nuevas de Jesucristo con todo el mundo. Mientras las comunidades, las ciudades e inclusive los países están desacelerando hasta la paralización, el Señor todavía reina con todo su poder y gloria. Read More

  • ENDEL: Nada nuevo bajo el sol
    Por Leo Endel, posted Friday, March 20, 2020 (3 years ago)

    ROCHESTER, Minn. (BP) -- El mercado de valores se ha estancado; nos estamos escondiendo de un virus en nuestros hogares; la gente está asustada; personas están muriendo. Las escuelas y restaurantes han sido cerrados y los eventos cancelados. Estamos pegados a las pantallas para conocer las últimas estadísticas o los nuevos lineamientos. No podemos saludarnos de mano, y debemos mantener dos metros de distancia entre nosotros.

    El miedo y la incertidumbre de hoy me llevan a la mañana en la que los terroristas mataron a 2,977 estadounidenses e hirieron a más de 6,000. Hay miles de historias dolorosas dentro de estos números que continúan trayendo dolor a las vidas de los amigos y familiares de las ... Read More