By Julie Walters, SBC WMU communications BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (SBC WMU) – April 30, 2020 – Iron Stream Media, WMU, and the WMU Foundation are offering curated boxes of books to send to those isolated in senior care facilities, hospice centers, hospitals and seniors sheltering in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The joint initiative, Honor 6:2, is based on Eph. 6:2: “Honor your father and mother.” According the John Herring, CEO of Iron Stream Media, the seed was planted when one of Iron Stream’s subcontractors asked if she could order a couple of boxes of books to send to local elder care facilities. “I thought it was a great idea,” Herring reflected, “and the thought came into my heart early the next morning that we could expand on her idea. As I was praying, I was thinking of what it must be like to have read everything on the shelf and longing for a new book to read. “We have a warehouse full of books that need to be read,” he continued. “Many of our parents and grandparents have more time on their hands than ever. Visitations may not be possible, but we can gift inspiring books to them to help them grow in their spiritual walk with the Lord. Gifting a box of books is a way of showing deserved honor to our parents … [Read more...]

By Margaret Colson USED BY PERMISSION OF THE ALABAMA BAPTIST Numerous Southern Baptist entities, including state conventions, seminaries and national entities and auxiliaries, are implementing budget and staff reductions in response to the economic downturn resulting from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. State conventions were among the first entities to take significant budgetary action during the pandemic. While approaches have been varied, the focus of reducing expenses has been the common factor among state conventions, including the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions and other contiguous state conventions. GEORGIA BAPTIST MISSION BOARD Thomas Hammond Jr., executive director of the Georgia Baptist Mission Board, chose what he labeled a “proactive” approach to decision-making when he announced a 43% reduction in mission board expenses, effective April 9. Hammond, in an exclusive interview with The Alabama Baptist, said that, just as the pandemic was beginning to ramp up in Georgia, he called approximately 50 Georgia Baptist pastors to discuss anticipated church-giving patterns. The pastors represented churches of all sizes in varied settings. While some pastors reported giving had increased, many other … [Read more...]