FORT WORTH  — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary is “not in a crisis” but financial challenges “could quickly escalate to a crisis if we do not aggressively move to address them,” interim President David S. Dockery told the seminary’s board of trustees today during its first regularly scheduled meeting since the resignation of former president Adam W. Greenway. 

This year marks the bicentennial of the Georgia Baptist Convention (1822-2022), and it is a time to reflect on these 200 years of Georgia Baptist life and ministry. It is generally known that Baptists in Georgia enslaved people. In fact, the Georgia Baptist Convention has acknowledged and repented of racism and slavery with resolutions in 1963, 1970, 1977, 1994, and 2020.

Wake Forest, N.C. –  More than 500 women gathered for the Lifeway Women Symposium at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest because they wanted to know God more deeply through His Word. Lifeway Women hosted the Lifeway Women Symposium last Friday and Saturday as a celebration and commissioning for the kickoff of Lifeway Women Academy, a platform for online, on-demand courses for women, by women.

Southern Baptist leaders hope a 2019 Texas law passed with bipartisan support may become a model for other states in helping churches pass information among themselves about potential perpetrators of clergy sexual abuse. The legislation, initially written by Texas pastor and current SBC President Bart Barber, protects charitable organizations, their volunteers and independent contractors from liability when disclosing credible allegations to prospective employers. It passed in the Texas Senate and House without opposition.

LVIV, Ukraine (BP) – Russia’s increased attacks across Ukraine forced the Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary to hold classes in basement bomb shelters, the school's President Yaroslav Pyzh said in a new video. “Several days of our session, our students went in bomb shelter. We are lucky that we have basement and we are lucky that our building allows us to have sessions even when we have a raid siren,” Pyzh said in the video. “Russia is escalating conflict and bombing Ukraine all over the places.”

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the GBC, 1822-2022, and the bicentennial of any organization is a time to highlight influential people and notable milestones. Multiple threads weave together to form the GBC’s story, and the contributions enslaved people and leased convicts made to the GBC is one thread that deserves to be highlighted and honored.

This Bible study expands upon the Explore the Bible curriculum from Lifeway Christian Resources. This week's study focuses on Hosea 6:1 - 7:2.

 LEBANON, Mo. - Steven Strauch lives his life to the fullest. Even though he has a terminal diagnosis of stage 4 cancer, he says he has “a determination to ‘live life.” He says, “You can live with cancer or die of cancer. I choose to live.”

AUGUSTA, Ga. – International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood is excited about holding a “sending celebration” next month in Georgia for potentially dozens of new missionaries being deployed to other countries. “Georgia Baptists are among IMB’s strongest partnering and most generous churches,” Chitwood said. “Each year, thousands of volunteers come to the mission field to serve alongside their IMB missionaries and millions of dollars flow from Georgia Baptist Convention churches to support those missionaries.”

MONROE, Ga. – A post-COVID revival that has been sweeping across Georgia over the past year has resulted in a record number of baptisms at 1025 Church in Monroe, a city of 14,000 people an hour east of Atlanta. “We had set a goal to reach 100 baptisms, and we passed that,” said Pastor Tommy Fountain Sr. “We actually had 102 baptisms.”

Pastor David L. Chancey, a regular contributor to the Index, recently released his third book, Marvelous Faith: Pursuing the Faith that Makes Jesus Marvel.

“Addressing lostness as the world’s greatest problem requires the world’s greatest resources,” International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood recently told Southern Baptists. For this reason, we invite all Southern Baptists to participate with us in the 2022 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and Week of Prayer for International Missions.

SARASOTA, Fla. – More than 150 Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers have been making quick work of hurricane damage in the Sarasota area. Chainsaw crews have been especially busy sawing away trees knocked down when Hurricane Ian blew ashore on September 28.

DALLAS (BP) — A study by Barna and its partners shows that "teens generally have positive opinions of the Bible, and they’re curious about it,” Barna CEO David Kinnaman said in a press release announcing the data. “Despite these high views, engagement with the Bible remains low, and we see many teens express uncertainty about how Scripture can influence their lives and the world around them.

This morning I still smelled like smoke.  Even after a shower and washing my hair, I could taste it on my breath. We had an outside fire last night and had some friends over to enjoy it with us.  Marshmallows were roasted, smores eaten, and coffee sipped as we stared into the flames that danced and hypnotized.  I crept as close as possible to enjoy the warmth and may or may not have melted the bottom of my shoes a little.  We were there for hours. 

NASHVILLE (BP) – This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Explore the Bible curriculum and focuses on Hosea 1:2-9.

NASHVILLE (BP) — Southern Baptists are known for their support of missions, as evidenced by a record Lottie Moon offering. However, a significant portion also comes from the tithes and offerings given each Sunday and funneled through the Cooperative Program.

WOODSTOCK, Ga. – In 2020, George Barna president David Kinnaman predicted that 20 percent of America’s churches could close with the next 18 months. It is yet to be determined if his prophecy has become a reality, but many churches are struggling in the wake of what we hope is the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, it appears that churches large and small have suffered some loss in the past 30 months.

PALMETTO, Ga. – While finding a church that still has an old-fashioned revival meeting may be challenging, such an event was a much anticipated and successful experience for the residents of Palmetto Park Senior Living, a ministry of Baptist Retirement Communities of Georgia.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Individuals aren’t the only ones facing consequences of inflation and other negative economic factors in the U.S., as many pastors say their churches are being harmed as well. A Lifeway Research study of U.S. Protestant pastors found that more than half say the current economy is having a negative impact on their churches.

CLEVELAND, Ga. – Truett-McConnell University’s efforts to expand its sports programs were evident at the recent President’s Weekend at the school. In August, the Truett McConnell University Athletic Department announced the addition of the men’s and women’s tennis programs. And the special weekend featured the dedication and ribbon cutting for the new on-campus tennis facility. A significant number of students, faculty and guests were present for the dedication ceremony.

RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Glenn Creech served in Asia for 30 years through the International Mission Board and doesn’t recall encountering any workers from other missions organizations who received the kind of steady, generous financial support he received from Southern Baptists.

NEW YORK (BP) – SBC President Bart Barber was a guest of Anderson Cooper on CBS’ 60 Minutes program Sunday. The 13-minute segment dealt with issues of sexual abuse in the SBC, political division in the United States surrounding former President Donald Trump, the separation of church and state, abortion, immigration and same-sex marriage.

MOUNT VERNON, Ga. – Large numbers of Georgia pastors who work full-time jobs while also leading churches could benefit from a partnership between Brewton-Parker College, the Georgia Baptist Mission Board and local Baptist associations that will provide in-depth training in key areas, including theology and preaching. “Literally hundreds and hundreds of Georgia’s bi-vocational pastors could benefit from this initiative,” said Ricky Thrasher, the state Mission Board’s liaison to Baptist associations.

SARASOTA, Fla. — Scores of Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers continue the difficult work of helping get Florida hurricane survivors back into their homes. Longtime Disaster Relief worker Bob Sprinkel said his Georgia crew has found what Floridians need most right now is hope amid the despair that came with the widespread damage caused by Hurricane Ian.