NASHVILLE (BP) – This week’s Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies For Life curriculum and focuses on James 4:13-17, 5:7-11

The International Mission Board is rejoicing at God’s work through the generosity of Southern Baptists, who gave $203.7 million to the 2021-22 Lottie Moon Christmas Offering. This is the largest offering in the 177-year history of the IMB. Missionaries serving on the field are aware of the significance of this record-breaking total and the impact every dollar has on reaching the lost.

Mr. Richard Lamar “Rick” Smith, 70, passed at the East Georgia Regional Medical Center on October 5, 2022. Rick was a native of LaGrange, Georgia and was born to Olin and Novil Adams Smith. Upon graduation of LaGrange High School, class of 1970, he obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the Georgia Southern University in 1974, a Master’s in Education from the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in 1979, and in 1984 he received his Certificate of Ordination from the First Baptist Church of Lafayette.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (BP) – Any time a major storm system threatens the continental United States, the antennae of thousands of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders and volunteers go up. They prepare a response that has required year-round preparation and readiness. Since Hurricane Ian made landfall as a Category 4 storm Wednesday, Sept. 28, volunteers from across the U.S. have provided tens of thousands of meals and begun serving dozens of homeowners, with those numbers expected to increase as their teams develop a rhythm.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – Some of the state’s most successful pastors will speak at the Georgia Baptist Preaching Conference set for Nov. 14 at Warren Baptist Church in Augusta. “Each of these men were chosen for the Preaching Conference because they exemplify powerful preaching in their own churches,” said Johnny Nix, president of the Preaching Conference, which will run from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Life had been hard for Miss Slone before the flood.  Before July 28, she had been going through chemo for cancer.  Due to missing work for her treatments, she was let go.  She has already lost her mother, father, and four siblings to brain or colon cancer.  Meanwhile, she has pressed on, being a mother, grandmother, and anchor for others in her family.  She’s also raised many children that were not hers.

NASHVILLE (BP) – In the midst of ongoing financial challenges related to the economic aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, Southern Baptists have given more than $200 million through the national Cooperative Program Allocation Budget for the first time since 2008.

VILLA RICA, Georgia (BP) – Most things change over time, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the effectiveness of the Cooperative Program, the way Southern Baptists work together in God’s kingdom work across North America and throughout the world. Flat Rock Baptist Church shares that commitment to do what it can to spread the Gospel worldwide.

We are all looking forward to joining other Georgia Baptists as we celebrate the 200th anniversary of the Georgia Baptist Convention. This year our Convention will be held at Warren Baptist Church, …

NEW ORLEANS, La. (BP) – The speakers for the 2023 SBC Pastors’ Conference in New Orleans have been announced on a brand-new website launched on Sept. 30. The event is set for June 11-12, 2023. “While distinct in their personalities, our preachers share a common belief that expository preaching is a theological outgrowth based on a high view of Scripture,” said Daniel Dickard, conference president.

AUGUSTA, Ga. – More than 560 messengers already have completed early registration for the Georgia Baptist Convention annual meeting, which will be a milestone gathering commemorating 200 years of cooperative ministry among the state’s churches. “We’ll be looking back at two incredible centuries of sharing Christ, but, more importantly, we’ll be pressing forward, because we’re not done yet,” said Georgia Baptist Convention President Kevin Williams. “It’s our intention as a convention to keep on sharing the gospel until Christ makes his promised return.”

BUFORD, Ga. – Georgia Baptist worship pastor Will Whittaker has a new book out that promises to be a great resource people involved in music ministry. Cultivating Intergenerational Worship is designed as a resource for current and aspiring worship leaders, worship teams, pastors, and church staffs who desire to develop a unified corporate worship mindset in their local churches, no matter their size or worship style.

CHICAGO (BP) —Southern Baptists gave a record $68.9 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering in 2022, breaking the giving record for the second year in a row. Giving to the offering has …

Rev. Dr. Ernest S. Purcell Sr., 96, of Bainbridge, formerly of Augusta, Ga., passed away Sunday, September 25, 2022. Dr. Purcell spent his life serving others. He was associational missionary in Hephzibah Association and Douglas, Ga., Association. He pastored churches in Nahunta, Douglas, Wadley, and Augusta, Ga., and Colerain and Greensboro, N.C. After retirement, Dr. Purcell served as interim pastor for churches in both Augusta and Bainbridge.

GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck announced today that he is naming Chu Soh, currently chief insurance officer for the Southern Baptist board, as his new chief operating officer. Soh will succeed John R. Jones, who has served at GuideStone for almost 34 years; 25 of those as chief operating officer.

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. (BP) – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey joined Florida Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers Sunday and Monday at two Southern Baptist churches serving residents displaced by Hurricane Ian. The gubernatorial couple volunteered together Sunday at First Baptist Church of Naples, and  Casey DeSantis returned Monday to serve at Murdock Baptist Church in Port Charlotte.

Marilynn Blackaby, 83, died Sept. 29 after a short battle with liver cancer. “Over the last few days, we as her family have wept at our impending loss but also laughed much as we recalled so many amazing, cherished memories of our dear mother,” said a post at Blackaby Ministries International posted on its Facebook page. “She raised five children, all of whom, love and serve her Lord. She adored her 14 grandchildren, and everyone loved her dearly in return. Pray for our dad, Henry, as today is the first day in over 62 years he will face without his devoted wife at his side.”

SARASOTA, Fla. — With the skies cleared and the wind calmed, Georgia Baptists are arriving in hurricane-ravaged Sarasota to help residents with cleanup. “It’s expected to be a long process,” said Georgia Baptist Disaster Relief director Dwain Carter. “We have about 60 people being deployed. We’ll have chainsaw crews and mud-out crews removing downed trees and cleaning up flooded homes.”

Rev. Steve Skates, 68, of Lafayette, Georgia, passed away on Monday, September 26, 2022. He was born in Walker County on April 1, 1954, to the late Roland Lloyd and Winona Elizabeth Skates. He was preceded in death by his brother, Roger Lee Skates.

CLEVELAND, Ga. – A fledgling communication program at Truett McConnell University is intended to provide a pipeline that puts Bible-believing graduates into high-profile positions where they can influence public opinion and public policy. “We seek to educate journalists, attorneys, public office holders, corporate spokesmen, press secretaries, on-air newscasters, and other communication professionals,” said Barry McCarty, dean of the university’s Hans Denck School of Communication. “And whatever our graduates do for a living, they will do it with a Christian worldview, being witnesses to the truth of the gospel.”

NASHVILLE (BP) – With the war in Ukraine continuing to make worldwide headlines, Joni and Friends, the ministry organization of evangelist Joni Eareckson Tada, is expanding its usual outreach …

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (BP) – Frank Pomeroy has retired after 20 years as pastor at the Texas church where a gunman killed 26 worshippers and wounded 22 others  on Nov. 5, 2017.

This week’s Bible study is adapted from The Gospel Project curriculum. Bible Passage: Isaiah 44:1-20 Discussion Questions: Why do people, even believers, succumb to the temptation of …

DULUTH, Ga. – A revived Hurricane Ian pounded coastal South Carolina on Friday, ripping apart piers and flooding streets after the ferocious storm caused catastrophic damage in Florida, trapping thousands in their homes and leaving at least 17 people dead.

RICHMOND, Va. – International Mission Board trustees have approved the appointment of 22 additional missionaries to help take the gospel to the world and approved a $282,700,000 budget for next year.