Genesis describes the progressive involvement of Lot with the city of Sodom. First, Lot pitched his tents near Sodom. Lot surely knew of the reputation of the inhabitants of Sodom “sinning immensely against the Lord” (13:13). Notice the progression in the description of Lot. He moved near Sodom and then moved into Sodom.

Shorter University President Donald Dowless captured the beauty of a late-winter sunrise  on Tuesday.  Shorter University, founded in 1873, is a Southern Baptist school in Rome, Ga.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. —  The search team for the next president of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has announced that a candidate appears to have “emerged.” The committee shared an update on the process during a meeting in Nashville on Monday.

NASHVILLE, Tenn.  —  A decision regarding two requests from Southern Baptist messengers that would require SBC entities to release financial information similar to what is found on the IRS Form 990 has been postponed until June. During Monday's meeting in Nashville, the Committee on Convention Finances and Stewardship Development of the SBC Executive Committee voted to delay addressing the two motions that came from the floor of the 2023 SBC Annual Meeting.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Southern Baptist Convention’s Abuse Reform Task Force has announced the creation of a new nonprofit organization that will oversee reforms. Incorporation papers for the Abuse Response Commission are prepped and ready to be submitted in South Carolina.

BOGART, Ga., — When Josh Smith became pastor of Prince Avenue Baptist Church in Bogart six years ago after 11 years at MacArthur Boulevard Baptist Church in Irving, Texas, he succeeded Pastor Bill Ricketts, who had served the church for 43 years. Ricketts had relocated the church from downtown Athens to Bogart, a growing community approximately seven miles west of Athens. The church was poised for growth, but it would take the right kind of pastor to lead the church to its greatest destiny.

When International Mission Board missionary Moses knew that God was calling him to go make disciples on islands near Senegal, his knee-jerk response was no. His hesitance had nothing to do with disobedience or uncertainty about the islanders. It wasn’t about the persecution believers faced in these areas. The issue was that Moses couldn’t swim. Island ministry had to be off the table, for his own safety.

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — Over the past week, Southeastern Seminary and The College at Southeastern hosted their annual Go Conference for college students followed by a variety of on-campus events for Global Missions Week. Encouraging students to pray for the nations and for missionaries on the field, these events also challenged students to consider how they might join in God’s global mission.

NEW ORLEANS — Rhonda Kelley, wife of New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary president emeritus Chuck Kelley and a pioneer in women’s ministry, passed away Saturday, Feb. 17, after a long battle with cancer. She was 72. Author, speaker and a mentor to many, Kelley was known for her vibrant spirit and dedication in serving women in the local church, in the seminary classroom, and at the state and denominational level.  

We must be intentional in our missiology, and we often must make intentional turns in our methodology. The Missions department of GBMB’s Church Strengthening team has made some significant shifts for 2024 going forward. Both moves are based on biblical and practical theology. One involves church planting, and the others speak to facilitation in missions partnerships.

COLUMBUS, Ga. – In January, Jimmy Blanton announced his retirement as the missionary of the Columbus Baptist Association by saying, “I realize that the association does not need a new mission, but it does need a new voice, a new vision, and a new missionary.”

ROME, Ga. — The Shorter University Chorus is hosting a Night of Worship on Feb. 20 and would love to see you there. This choir specializes in music for worship and the church. This concert will include pieces written by a variety of composers from Haydn to Shorter University alumnus Cliff Duren.

PHOENIX, Ariz. — International Mission Board trustees approved the appointment of 62 new full-time, fully funded missionaries during their Wednesday and Thursday meeting in Phoenix, Arizona. Trustees met in conjunction with a Sending Celebration for new appointees hosted by North Phoenix Baptist Church.  

PHOENIX, Arix. — In a meeting with Southern Baptist leaders in Phoenix, International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood and North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell underscored their strengthened commitment to jointly meeting needs and changing lives through Send Relief. The leaders also unveiled a new logo for Send Relief that incorporates the brand marks for the two Southern Baptist missions organizations.

Without a chair, much less a building, to call their own, Church 8025 got its start in the Denver area with a loan of 30 chairs from a nearby church plant, Journey Point – part of a collection of many stories of God’s provision. “That’s how we started – with nothing,” says church planter Michael Talley, who moved with his wife, Dale, and several other families from Warner Robins to Denver. “But God blessed it, and we grew.”

PHOENIX, Ariz. — On Valentine’s evening, many Southern Baptists gathered in Phoenix, Arizona, to celebrate the latest group of missionaries heading to the nations with the gospel of Jesus Christ.  In total, 62 missionaries were approved unanimously for appointment earlier that day by IMB’s board of trustees who were also in Phoenix for meetings and to recognize new missionaries.

CHARLESTON, S.C. — An aspiring young preacher and baseball player who baptized most of his teammates at a Georgia junior college last fall has committed to play for The Citadel beginning next season. Robbie Lane, the starting shortstop at East Georgia State College in Swainsboro, Ga., described being recruited to play for the Division I school in Charleston as a dream come true.

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Nearly 800 people gathered in Augusta last weekend for hands-on ministry that including renovating schools and churches, building a playgrounds, providing free dental care, throwing block parties, and so much more. In the process, at least 24 people made salvation decisions.

“The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field." (Matthew 13:44-50, CSB)

RAMSEY, Ill. — In many parts of Illinois, there are pastors who have stayed in their churches for 15, maybe 20 years. And some longer than that, like maybe 25. But few have stayed 60 years. Edmund Hill, age 88, has been the pastor of Bayle City Baptist Church since 1963, more than 60 years now. He was recognized at the annual meeting of the Illinois Baptist State Association last fall.

Not everyone knows about Jesus.  It still surprises me to find that to be true.  While I grew up going to Sunday and Wednesday church services, Sunday School, and Vacation Bible School, countless others did not.  While I know Him personally and He walks with me daily, to some He is an unknown person, a stranger they have heard little about.

My very first date with my husband was on Valentine’s Day in 1974. We were both in the 10th grade at the same high school. He was a basketball player and I was a cheerleader. I won’t say I fell in love with him on the first date, which by the way was at the circus, but I did enjoy his company and considered that there might be potential for a relationship there. He, on the other hand, told me he was going to marry me on our first date!

ROME, Ga. — On Monday, leaders joined together on the campus of Shorter University for the College of Business Leadership Summit. This is an opportunity for students and community members to learn more about leadership from the experts.

SUWANEE, Ga. — Nearly half of Christians say they struggle to find time to spend with fellow believers in discipleship activities because they’re too busy, according to a pair of surveys by the Barna Group, an organization that monitors cultural and religious trends in the U.S. Barna, writing about the surveys in an article last week, said they found bright spots in that 58 percent of Christians spend uninterrupted time with God and that 57 percent find time to regularly read their Bibles. But, when it comes to discipleship activities, 39 percent of Christians are not involved in helping others grow in their faith.

ST. JOHNS, Fla. — With its recent mission trip to Australia, Fruit Cove Baptist Church in North Florida has reached its goal of extending its missions footprint to all seven continents. While it’s something the church has celebrated, Jonathan Wilson, the church’s families and missions pastor, will tell you the church still has more to do.