PORCUPINE, S.D. – Growing up in a mission-minded church often means young members will be encouraged toward entering the mission field themselves. That’s exactly what happened for Matthew Hadden—except rather than serve outside the United States, his desire to become a missionary led him to South Dakota. “God closed a number of doors for me to go to different countries,” Hadden recalled. “My wife and I were willing to go anywhere in the world, but there we were, still in Newnan, Georgia.”

WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Speakers urged attendees at the Georgia Baptist Mission Board's Hispanic Evangelism Conference to not let anything stand in the way of sharing the gospel in their communities and around the world. The gathering, featuring messages from evangelists, church planters, and missionaries, took place Saturday at Iglesia Nuevo Horizonte de Woodstock.

CUMMING, Ga. – For Jenni Carter, talking to her eight grandchildren about Jesus comes as naturally as breathing. “I pray for them to have authentic relationships with Jesus,” said Carter, children’s ministry consultant with the Georgia Baptist Mission Board. “That is the foremost thing I want for them.”

TIFTON, Ga. — Northside Baptist Church in Tifton called Stacy Phillips as the successor to Pastor Fred Evers in October of 2021. Consider the fact that Phillips moved to a new church when the Centers for Disease Control considered the COVID-19 a public health emergency. Four different variants of the illness had been discovered by then. His father-in-law was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and before the Phillips had been in Tifton one year his wife, Melissa, was diagnosed with breast cancer and continues to undergo treatment to resolve her health issue.

LILBURN, Ga. – The Sons of Jubal sang to a packed house at First Baptist Church in Lilburn on Thursday. The Sons of Jubal are part of Jubal Ministries, which also includes the Jubalheirs women’s chorus, Jubal Symphony, and the Jubal Brass orchestra.

Annie Armstrong was a Southern Baptist mission-minded woman who was a true visionary and extraordinary leader. She was instrumental in creating the Woman's Missionary Union and shaping the nature of Southern Baptist support for missions.

As America’s schools confront dramatic learning setbacks caused by the pandemic, experts have held up intensive tutoring as the single best antidote. Yet even as schools wield billions of dollars …

NEW ORLEANS – Faithfulness in difficult places often looks like, as one writer has said, a long obedience in the same direction. That phrase best sums up missionary Kay Bennett’s ministry to the marginalized in one of America’s most challenging cities. “Baptist Friendship House is a ministry center to folks who are impoverished, to folks who are unhoused and to human trafficking survivors,” Bennett said.

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. — Brewton-Parker College Associate Professor of Physical Sciences, Dr. Sampyo Hong, was recently published in Nature Communications. Nature Communications is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes high-quality research from all areas of the natural sciences. Papers published in this journal are considered high-impact research by the science community

DACULA, Ga. – Congregations across Georgia are turning to The Big Invite, a step-by-step guide for packing out sanctuaries, to make sure they’re maximizing church attendance. Scott Smith, communications director for the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and architect of The Big Invite, said the initiative is a proven way of making sure people know they’re welcome and wanted at Easter services.

To the left of the congregation of Ukrainian refugees, freshly fallen snow weighs down the fir trees outside the window. To the right, the mirror plays a cruel trick — it gives the illusion of twice as many people as there are. It’s chilling because, in a way, it represents husbands, fathers and brothers who couldn’t leave Ukraine due to their age and the need for able-bodied men. Throughout the congregation, tears slide down cheeks as believers sing a worship song that has taken on new meaning in the past year, “A Prayer for Ukraine.”

WAKE FOREST, N.C.—Earlier this month, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary received the donation of an occasional letter written by Lottie Moon — the lifelong missionary to China in whose memory Southern Baptists receive their annual Christmas offering for international missions. Dated July 22, 1878, the letter is a remarkably preserved example of Moon’s correspondence and offers a glimpse into her early ministry.

It was a delicious meal, shared with good friends.  We had found a retro Italian place an hour away that was new for all of us.  The appetizers were yummy.  I had never had cheese fonduta.  Now it’s a favorite.   A take on cheese fondue, we dipped chunks of sourdough bread, pepperoncini, and salami in a delicious goo made of several cheeses.  There was also fresh bread to dredge through olive oil and spices. 

Camden, our 6-year-old grandson, spent the night and was telling the girls all about some new cartoon people he had seen on a video game.  They looked them up on the computer and spent most of a Saturday afternoon drawing all the cartoon people, who, by the way, have colorful names like Red and Blue.

BRANDON, Miss. — In what some would describe as “an extraordinary movement of the Holy Spirit,” Crossgates Baptist Church Brandon, Mississippi, recently baptized 104 believers during a worship service that lasted five hours. David Jett, senior pastor, began a sermon series in February from the Gospel of Luke about people needing Jesus.

ANCHORAGE, Alaska  — Winter in Anchorage is cold. The average January temperature doesn’t break double digits. At times, it drops to negative 30 degrees. But with as much as 20 hours without sunlight during some winter nights, it’s the darkness that really catches newcomers to the city by surprise. “Just like life is hard for the people here, it’s hard for churches to survive and thrive here,” said NAMB missionary Philip Coleman.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - As churches continue ministry in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, many are finding it increasingly difficult to grow their small groups. However, churches continue to report new commitments to Christ and changed lives. According to a Lifeway Research study, the authority of Scripture is foundational to churches’ groups and discipleship strategies.

KANSAS CITY, Mo.—The Center for Biblical Counseling at Midwestern Seminary has announced a new online opportunity for biblical counseling training through its For the Church Institute platform. Beginning in May of 2023, students can gain access to 30 hours of lessons, quizzes, readings, and other training at a reduced price. This opportunity allows students to complete Phase 1 of certification with the Association of Certified Biblical Counselors and earn continuing education units at Spurgeon College.

CUMMING, Ga. – The Georgia Baptist Mission Board’s next round of evangelism conferences are set for Sunday and Monday at First Baptist Church in Cumming where Southern Baptist leaders will share insights into spreading the gospel. Registration remains open.

SYLVANIA, Ga. — A van belonging to Memorial Baptist Church in Sylvania has been damaged by thieves who cut its fuel line to steal gasoline. Pastor Bill Kent said other church vans in Sylvania and the surrounding area have also been targeted.

Easter is one of the most important times of the year for your church. But you already know that. So, how does your church plan for the additional guests and people who do not yet know Jesus Christ over the holiday that celebrates His life, death, and resurrection? Here are 10 practical tips to help your church plan and prepare for Easter.

Christian refugees from Ukraine did a gospel outreach for children who had fled with their families to Poland.  The result was a Christian day camp that allowed for sharing the gospel while providing children a time to just be children. 

WAKE FOREST, N.C. — For Benjamin Quinn, professor of theology and history of ideas at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, seminary is a strategic place of holistic spiritual formation. The seminary curriculum, classroom, and community provide students with daily rhythms and a familiar space to learn and mature. When stewarded well, seminary helps students habituate theologically robust practices of holiness, worship, and mission for service in the local church. That is why Quinn is committed to teaching and mentoring his students not only as a professor but also as a local church pastor.

PLANO, Texas — GuideStone Financial Resources trustees affirmed a new strategic plan for the Southern Baptist Convention entity during their meeting in Plano, Texas. Trustees also recognized Hawkins, president emeritus of GuideStone, by renaming a special fund, the O.S. and Susie Hawkins Emergency Grant Fund for Mission:Dignity recipients. Meanwhile, trustees reelected John Hoychick Jr. chairman and David Cox vice chairman.

MARIETTA, Ga. – “If there’s something weird, and it don’t look good, who you gonna call?” are words from Ray Parker Jr.’s popular song “Ghostbusters” and the theme song of the 1984 American supernatural comedy film by the same name. The question from the Ghostbuster box office hit almost 40 years ago is still being asked to promote law firms and other commercial enterprises.