FARMERSVILLE, Texas (BP) – Lottie Mooon, pastor Bart Barber’s choice red Santa Gertrudis cow, stars in the music video “Lotta Lottie,” an original jingle by Barber and James Cheesman promoting the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Midwestern Seminary and Spurgeon College held their seventy-eighth commencement exercises on Dec. 5, celebrating God’s kindness in allowing the institution to gather once again for a full December graduation ceremony. More than 400 graduates received degrees across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs.

FORT WORTH, Texas — During the fall commencement of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary on Dec. 5, Robert Brown, alumnus and chairman of the Board of Trustees, encouraged the graduates to consider their love and leadership of others for God’s glory as markers of their future success.

ROME, Ga. — Shorter University celebrated a memorable evening of inspiration and generosity at its eighth annual President’s Gala on Thursday, Dec. 4. This cherished tradition supports student scholarships and highlights the university’s mission of "Transforming Lives through Christ."

BIXBY, Okla. – Two men from the Muscogee Creek Nation were honored as “Native American Trailblazers” during the recent regional meeting of the Fellowship of Native American Christians.

WASHINGTON (BP) – The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments Dec. 2 in a case involving a group of New Jersey pregnancy resource centers challenging a state subpoena asking them to hand over information about their fundraising practices.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — What people believe matters—and Lifeway Research’s State of Theology Insights Report helps leaders understand those beliefs and take a step toward meaningful ministry.

ATLANTA — Georgia Baptists were reminded at this year’s annual meeting earlier this month that gospel witness does not begin and end in the pulpit. It also flourishes in classrooms, clinics, offices, and even on the Miss America stage.

ATLANTA – Georgia Baptist Convention president Steve Browning, lead pastor of First Baptist Alpharetta, delivered a passionate and personal challenge to messengers at this year’s annual meeting, urging them to renew their focus on reaching “everyone, everywhere” with the hope of the gospel.

Tuesday evening, I had the opportunity to spend some time with the ladies of Allen Baptist Church. It was their annual Christmas party. The cooks and bakers of ABC had outdone themselves; tasty treats lined several tables. Women of all ages in brightly colored sweaters and shirts milled about the fellowship hall.

In an edition of Bill Keane’s popular comic strip, “Family Circus,” young Billy sees many of the ads displayed during this time of year.

I don’t know about you, but it always seems like during the month of December, I feel overwhelmed! I think this year it seems more prevalent than in years past. There are so many things that are factoring into my feeling overwhelmed.

McDONOUGH, Ga. — Dr. Eugene (Gene) Dailey celebrated his 100th birthday last month, on Nov. 6. Salem Baptist Church, the church he has called home for more than 30 years, hosted the centennial birthday party for Dailey on Nov 8.

Mitch Englehart identifies himself as a “big thinker.” In 2004, while jogging in Arlington, Texas, God put the number “10 million” on his mind.

CHICAGO (BP) – Overdose deaths, homicides, gang violence, prostitution and political corruption are rampant in Chicago’s Garfield Park, but God called Jamie Thompson to plant a church “right in the middle of the devil’s playground.”

TOKYO — The line into one of the stadiums at Tokyo’s Komazawa Olympic Park stretched out the door and down the street. The crowd waited patiently in the crisp fall air for a chance to watch the volleyball semifinals at Deaflympics, a worldwide event that brings Deaf athletes together to compete every four years.

The subject and doctrine of faith are central to a Christian’s life and the biblical story. I’ve described the Bible as a large woven cloth made up of many different threads. Some threads stand out more than others, and faith is one of those main colors you can’t avoid seeing when studying God’s Word.

I love the Gospel of Matthew. It serves as a bridge between the testaments. Each of the gospel writers communicates from a different perspective. Matthew is writing for a primarily Jewish audience, and his mission is to present Jesus as the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy.

BOULDER, Colo. (BP) — Weekly Bible reading resurged 12 points this year in the U.S. after a 15-year low, with Millennial and Gen Z men leading the way, State of the Church researchers said in their November release.

Walter and Mary Norvell, who celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in August, never imagined retirement would see them embarking on a new adventure in Africa to reach university students with the gospel. In fact, until a few years ago, they had never been on a mission trip outside the United States. 

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — After 19 years and 4 months, Fred McCoy is concluding his ministry as pastor of Houston Lake Baptist Church. He has emphatically emphasized that he is not retiring, just recalibrating and ready to write a new chapter in his life of service for Christ.

RICHMOND, Va. — The International Mission Board hosted the first-ever Mission School for Lay Leaders of Korean Baptists on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 11 and 12. Fifty-four Korean American pastors and lay leaders from eight different churches in the U.S. traveled to Richmond, Virginia, to attend. 

NASHVILLE (BP) – He’s had a knack for getting into jams that leave others ripe with frustration for over a decade. That said, his antics give the morning some flavor even if they leave one question unanswered.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – When the federal government shutdown that began in October dragged into November, food ministries across Georgia saw a sharp rise in families seeking help. With federal nutrition programs slowed and holiday demand increasing, Mission Georgia stepped in to ensure churches and associations could continue meeting needs with compassion.

ERLANGER, Ky. (KT) – The hope of the gospel was shared in multiple languages Saturday, Nov. 8, during the Kentucky Baptist Convention’s Crossover: Hope For Northern Kentucky futbol tournament.