SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas – The North American Mission Board on the behalf of the Southern Baptist Convention has confirmed it has offered to cover funeral expenses for all shooting victims in coordination with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC). Ministering in the wake of the deadliest church shooting in U.S. history, Southern Baptists say they've witnessed "God at work" despite the 26 dead and some 20 others wounded at First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas. Local pastors and field personnel with the SBTC began providing grief counseling within hours of the shooting at First Baptist's morning worship service Nov. 5. Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines and SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page plan to arrive in Sutherland Springs today (Nov. 7) to offer prayer and encouragement. SBTC executive director Jim Richards arrived yesterday (Nov. 6). Gaines, pastor of Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., told Baptist Press SBC leaders want to help First Baptist however they can. "Yesterday as we prayed at Bellevue for the families of those slain and also the others who were wounded at First Baptist Church, Sutherland Springs," Gaines said in written … [Read more...]

By Macie Malone, Family Research Council communications CAIRO, EGYPT - Family Research Council President Tony Perkins joined a delegation of U.S. evangelical leaders in Cairo Oct. 31 for a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss his administration's commitment to religious freedom for all Egyptians including Egypt's Christians and other religious minorities, some of whom have been the targets of waves of terrorist attacks. After his visit with President el Sisi, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement: "I appreciate the opportunity to meet with President el-Sisi to discuss the concerns we have, as American Evangelicals, for the plight of religious minorities in Egypt, especially those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ. "Egypt, under the leadership of President el-Sisi is making progress in protecting Egyptians from being targeted because of their religious identity. President el-Sisi is committed to working to ensure that every human being can exercise their God-given right to religious freedom. As part of this work, we encourage Egypt to increase public awareness of the cultural, economic, political and national … [Read more...]

By Mary Frances Satterwhite, Baptist Global Response communications NASHVILLE, TENN—Baptist Global Response (BGR) has set a #GivingTuesday goal to provide 500 water filters to people in need. #GivingTuesday is a global day of charity scheduled just after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. This year's event falls on Nov. 28. BGR will participate by urging Southern Baptists to give monetarily toward the goal. It suggests a donation of $25 per filter. If reached, the 500-filter goal will generate $12,500 to help bring fresh water to struggling families around the world. Each filter provides a family of five with a year's worth of drinkable water. In 2016, BGR partners distributed roughly 20,000 around the world. BGR Office Director Mary Frances Satterwhite says the #GivingTuesday goal offers Southern Baptists a chance to increase their impact in the future. "Think of the 500 families who are getting water filters and then multiply that by the number of people in each family and … the growth is exponential," she says. "So, the goal is really exciting because it will make a huge difference in so many people's lives." BGR water filters are currently listed in the organization's 2017 Christmas Gift Catalog and on its … [Read more...]