By KRISTEN NICOLE SAYRES, NAMB Communications MEMPHIS, Tenn. – She didn’t go anywhere without her house shoes. Sheri Shockey’s wide feet fit in nothing but her blue men’s slippers. She walked out of the front door of the Brinkley Heights food pantry in Memphis, carrying a brown paper sack full of food. A man greeted her as he passed, “You ought to come and join us for church one day.” [img_assist|nid=6768|title=Sheri Shockey visits with her husband, Ron, in a nursing home.|desc=|link=none|align=left|width=100|height=66] “Oh, I can’t do that -- I don’t go anywhere without my house shoes.” She looked down. “Well, then, you can come in your house shoes.” That was the beginning of what Sheri refers to as “a new chapter of life,” which began three years ago. Less than a decade previously, Sheri was living the American dream: good family, nice house in the suburbs, membership at a local church, successful job as a nurse in one of the leading pediatric hospitals in the west Tennessee area. She even took the occasional cruise vacation. At the height of Sheri’s success, a man named James Erwin and nine other families at Brinkley Heights Baptist Church were holding a prayer meeting on the other side of town. The … [Read more...]

By Staff, LifeWay Communications NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  Black Church leaders from across the country will gather in Nashville Oct. 22-23 to participate in training sessions specially designed to help strengthen Sunday Schools and address issues within the context of traditions and culture of the Black Church. LifeWay’s National Black Sunday School Conference, held at LifeWay Christian Resources, offers training for every level of church leader including pastors, ministers of education, Sunday School directors and age group Sunday School leaders. The two-day conference combines uplifting worship, dynamic general sessions, and elective seminars. Leaders will learn how to unlock the potential of their Sunday School, the importance of small-group outreach, five key principles for church growth, proven strategies for sharing a vision and motivating others, and practical, step-by-step plans for implementation. The National Black Sunday School Conference provides skills in building strong Sunday Schools in predominately African American churches, and address issues within the context of traditions and culture of the African American church. “We know that an effective Sunday School is measured not just by what happens once … [Read more...]

By MARK KELLY, Baptist Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) – God has blessed Baptist work in Cambodia – with 304 churches started since 1993 – but partnership is needed for the work to move forward, the president of Cambodia’s Baptist Union said. Nivath Nhem, who was re-elected in 2010 for a second five-year term as president of the Cambodia Baptist Union, traveled to the United States in August to explore prospects for church-to-church partnerships that would help advance a visionary plan to start 1,621 new congregations in next five years. He was hosted by Albert W. Wardin Jr., emeritus professor of history at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. “We want to see every person in Cambodia accept Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord,” Nhem told Baptist Press in a mid-August interview. “The goal of the Cambodia Baptist Union is to reach Cambodia with the Gospel of Jesus Christ by planting churches throughout Cambodia.” Nhem led Cambodia’s congregations to set a goal of reaching all 13,871 villages in the country and has challenged each church to reach that goal by starting a new church each year. He also has led them to establish goals of expanding the union’s program of pastor training and starting general education schools for … [Read more...]

NATIONWIDE – Christian youth have the opportunity to be an international missionary without leaving home. The Universal Pen Pal Project of the Fellowship of Baptist Educators is an organization sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board. This group is recruiting junior and senior high school students in the United States to be pen pals with same-age students in other countries, especially nations where missionary activity is restricted. “It’s exciting to hear from students here how much they have learned from being a pen pal,” said Kellie Ziesemer, program coordinator. “And of course the students in other nations are always fascinated to learn all they can about America, and to work on their English language skills.” The pen pals communicate via the internet, social networking or through traditional postal service. Through this program, which started in 1991 as Christian Corresponders, many thousands of young people have been a Christian influence in the lives of their international pen pals, Ziesemer said. “Our hope is that we have many Christian youth who would like to have the opportunity to be a ‘missionary’ to that new friend they’ve made in another country from the keyboard of … [Read more...]

COLFAX – Scripture gives clear confirmation that people are called and chosen to accomplish specific tasks, says Kevin Hathorn, pastor of Colfax Baptist Church. “People are gifted with talents that are coupled with their spiritual gifts in order to bring glory to the Father in Heaven as their service is rendered to others,” the pastor said. “Colfax Baptist Church is truly blessed to have one whose spiritual gift of service, coupled with her talents, is bringing warmth to the hearts of those she meets.” Marilyn Shipman’s talents for being creative shows her love of service to others. Out of her calling to the Lord’s service she is sharing her talent of quilting through the making and giving away of lap quilts – a ministry she started earlier this year – which grows with every gift. Through the assistance of other church members, the pictures on the quilt made for Irene Youngbloood, 90, were obtained, the fabric was printed, and Marilyn put her talents to work. “This gift will not only be useful as a lap warmer, but the heart of Ms. Irene will be warmed,” Hathorn said. “The stories that go with each picture will bring fond memories of the life that LeRoy and Irene shared as she fondly reminisces.” Shipman’s lap quilt … [Read more...]