Monday, March 23, 2020

• Tools, strategies for online worship vary among churches

  by Tess Schoonhoven, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Transitioning to an online format for church services has brought challenges for many congregations, as they grapple with technology limits and handling a new era of needs in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

  For many congregations, Sunday (March 22) was the second service held fully online. Others held their services online for the first time. Read More

• Drive-in worship services lead to new opportunities

  by Tobin Perry, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  HARRISBURG, Ark. (BP) -- Facing the inability to gather for worship, Southern Baptist churches got creative yesterday (March 22). One young couple in Arkansas is heaven-bound thanks to that creativity.

  A mom helped lead her son and his girlfriend to faith in Christ as they sat in her car, listening to Jason Goad, the pastor of Cornerstone Baptist Church in Harrisburg, Ark., share the Gospel during a "drive-in" worship service. Read More

• ERLC urges Congress to encourage charitable giving in coronavirus relief bill

  by Tom Strode, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  iStock

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is urging Congress to encourage charitable giving in its immense coronavirus relief bill.

  The Senate failed Monday (March 23) for the second time to approve a procedural vote to bring an economic package that will reportedly cost between $1.6 trillion and nearly $2 trillion to the floor for debate and a vote. The procedure, known as invoking cloture, requires 60 votes, and the latest roll call in favor was 49-46. A cloture vote Sunday (March 22) failed 47-47. Read More

• NAMB church planting missionaries adjust to COVID-19 crisis

  by Brandon Elrod, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Photo from Gregg Gober's Facebook page

  ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- Eight months ago, Gregg Gober and his family arrived in New York City, ready to begin the process of launching a new church. Hope Community in Brooklyn had just started gaining momentum when the COVID-19 virus brought life in the city -- and the world -- to a halt.

  "We had just moved the church out of our apartment," Gober said. "We started renting space in an old synagogue. Last Wednesday (March 11), we had more people than we've ever had, and this was a momentum killer for us." Read More

• Small Madrid church stays vibrant during lockdown

  by Jan Johnsonius, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  Photo by Adrienne Marlin

  MADRID (BP) -- The streets are eerily silent. It's as if the life has been sucked out of this vibrant capital of Spain that is home to nearly 4 million people. The coronavirus quarantine has been in effect for several days, and everyone is sheltering in place. But behind all the closed doors and windows in the towering apartment buildings, God is at work.

  Less than one-half of 1 percent of the population follows Christ. And yet, a four-month-old fledgling church plant of just 25 attendees is not only alive but vitally connected in the midst of an unprecedented lockdown. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Thank God for the telephone

  by Hance Dilbeck, posted Monday, March 23, 2020 (2 years ago)

  

  "The phone is a gift from God -- the perfect tool for the pastor" during the pandemic crisis, says Hance Dilbeck. He offers step-by-step suggestions for pastors calling their members. Read More