By Carol Pipes, LifeWay Communications NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Southern Baptists experienced growth in the number of churches affiliated with the convention in 2013, while other key measures declined, according to the Annual Church Profile (ACP) compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources in cooperation with Baptist state conventions. The number of churches in the Southern Baptist Convention grew by 91 to 46,125, a 0.2 percent increase over 2012. SBC churches also reported 4,789 church-type missions last year, a decline of 203 from 2012. However, some state conventions no longer use the designation of church-type mission, which may have impacted the total. While the number of SBC churches increased, reported membership of those churches declined by 136,764, down 0.9 percent to 15.7 million members. Primary worship attendance declined 2.21 percent to an average of 5.8 million Sunday worshippers. For the second year in a row, Southern Baptists experienced a decline in baptisms, down 1.46 percent to 310,368. Reported baptisms have declined seven of the last nine years. However, the decline in 2013 is not as sharp as the previous year’s decline. In 2012 baptisms declined 5.5 percent. "I am grieved we are clearly losing our evangelistic … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 08:47 By Tom Strode, Baptist Press WASHINGTON (BP) -- Three Southern Baptist entities have called on a federal appeals court to protect the religious liberty of the convention's health and financial benefits organization. In a friend-of-the-court brief filed May 27, GuideStone Financial Resources received support from sister entities in its challenge to the Obama administration's abortion/contraception mandate. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC), International Mission Board (IMB), Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and SBTS President R. Albert Mohler Jr. called in the brief for the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals in Denver to uphold a lower court's preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of the requirement for the time being. GuideStone and two of the organizations that participate in its health plans filed a class-action suit against a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that requires employers to provide for their workers drugs and devices that potentially can cause abortions. In their brief, the ERLC, IMB, SBTS and Mohler say the Bible and Southern Baptist doctrine teach it is a sin to support directly or indirectly the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Mon, 06/02/2014 - 08:54 By Staff, Baptist Press MAYFIELD, Ky. (BP) -- A Kentucky college with strong Southern Baptist ties will close its doors by June 30, citing a "myriad of circumstances" as the cause of its closure. Trustees of Mid-Continent University near Paducah, Ky., met for more than three hours April 15 before announcing their decision to close the school, which was organized by western Kentucky pastors in 1949 with the endorsement of the West Kentucky Baptist Association. Mid-Continent moved to Mayfield, its current location, in 1957. The university is not affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention but has long enjoyed close ties to Kentucky Baptist churches. "The Board regrets the myriad of circumstances that brought forth this unfortunate situation," acting president Tom Walden said in a notice to students posted on Mid-Continent's website. "We are working diligently to develop plans for the continuation of your educational programs with as little [disturbance] in your programs as possible. Please complete all courses in which you are enrolled. "We want to offer you multiple options with the goal of continuing quality Christ-centered educational programs for current … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Thu, 06/05/2014 - 14:27 Phil Robertson and his oldest son Alan will highlight an Outdoor Extravaganza on Sept. 6 sponsored by First Bossier and Cypress Baptist of Benton. By Brian Blackwell Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY -Phil Robertson, better known as the Duck Commander, is coming to the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City and the goal is to see many lost people come to Christ Sept. 6. Phil and son Alan Robertson, recently introduced on the hit A&E show as "the beardless brother," will highlight an Outdoor Extravaganza featuring giveaways and exhibits by the nation’s top outdoor vendors. “Phil and Alan Robertson will entertain, inspire and without apology, share the reason for all they do in life—the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Jerry Pipes, executive pastor at First Baptist Bossier City. “Our prayer is that families will be strengthened and that scores of hurting people will find hope through beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ.” Tickets go on sale at 12:01 am on June 25 but churches can reserve group delete tickets prior to that by calling Jake Wood at 318.747.2501. Any group tickets not paid for by the end of the day on June 24 will be available for general admission … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/13/2014 - 11:42 Newly elected 2014 officers of the Southern Baptist Convention are: (left to right) Jim Wells, registration secretary; John L. Yeats, recording secretary; Ronnie Floyd, president; Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., first vice president; and Hance Dilbeck, pastor of Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, Okla., second vice president. BALTIMORE (BP) – Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention elected Arkansas pastor Ronnie Floyd as president and heard repeated calls for prayer and revival – highlighted by outgoing President Fred Luter’s presidential sermon. Messengers also gave the first of two required approvals to an amendment of the SBC constitution, requested information about a Muslim student who was admitted to Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and heard Executive Committee President Frank S. Page call for a “Great Commission Advance” in SBC missions. The June 10-11 convention’s 5,294 messengers marked an increase from 5,103 in Houston last year. It is a three percent bump from last year’s meeting. Virginia had more messengers than any other state at the Baltimore convention with 497. Maryland was second … [Read more...]

RICHMOND, Va. – Southern Baptists gave an unprecedented $154 million to the 2013 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering for International Missions, breaking the record for the largest total in the offering’s 125-year history. The 2013 offering, finalized June 5, reached $154,057,852.36. The total represents an increase of nearly $4.8 million over 2012, or 3.2 percent. It tops the previous record, $150.4 million in 2007, by more than $3.6 million, and marks the fourth increase since 2008. “This gives us an opportunity to reflect on the incredible generosity of Southern Baptists over many years,” said IMB President Tom Elliff on behalf of the missionaries. “The Lottie Moon Christmas Offering represents well over half of our budget each year, so those who give sacrificially and out of concern for the lost can be assured that an enormous portion of all that happens overseas can be directly tied to their support. “It’s estimated that close to 1 billion people living now are very likely to go through life without ever hearing the Gospel in such a fashion that they can understand it and respond to it in faith,” Elliff said. “Our missionaries are ‘chasers after darkness.’ We’re looking for those dark corners of the world where the light of the … [Read more...]

Submitted by philip on Fri, 06/13/2014 - 11:47 Cypress Baptist Church in Benton and First Baptist Bossier City are sponsoring an Outdoor Extravaganza that will feature Phil Robertson, better known as the Duck Commander, at that CenturyLink Center in Bossier City on Sept. 6. Area pastors met at First Bossier for the event announcement. Pictured are (left to right) John Fream, pastor of Cypress Baptist; Brad Jurkovich, pastor of First Bossier; Larry Lott, a member of Cypress Baptist and one of the event organizers; and Jerry Pipes, executive pastor of First Bossier. By Brian Blackwell, Message Staff Writer BOSSIER CITY – Phil Robertson, better known as the Duck Commander, is coming to the CenturyLink Center in Bossier City and the goal is to see many lost people come to Christ Sept. 6.   Phil and son Alan Robertson, recently introduced on the hit A&E show as “the beardless brother,” will highlight an Outdoor Extravaganza featuring giveaways and exhibits by the nation’s top outdoor vendors. “Phil and Alan Robertson will entertain, inspire and without apology, share the reason for all they do in life—the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” said Jerry Pipes, executive pastor at First Baptist Bossier City. “Our prayer is that … [Read more...]