BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Alabama evangelist Phil Waldrep was the keynote speaker at the opening session of the State Evangelism Conference at Lakeside Baptist Church in Birmingham on Sunday night, Jan. 26.

CLAYTON, Ga. — Pinnacle Retreat Center, nestled in the picturesque northeast Georgia mountains, saw increased visitors in 2024 as more people took advantage of the site for their ministry events. Beth Ann Williams, lead strategist for Georgia Baptist Women, reported that more than 5,500 guests visited the retreat last year, representing a 13.6% increase from 2023. Of those, she said, 74% were Georgia Baptists.

WASHINGTON (BP) – Thousands of pro-life Americans, including many Southern Baptists, gathered near the U.S. Capitol on Friday, Jan. 24, for the 52nd annual March for Life.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Thousands of pro-life supporters from around the country converged in Washington D.C. on Friday, Jan. 24, for the 52 annual March for Life rally. Among the special guests at the event were newly sworn-in Vice President JD Vance and professional surfer Bethany Hamilton, who was the keynote speaker.

CLINTON, Miss. — At Garaywa Camp & Conference Center on Saturday, Jan. 11, 48 students attended Discern, a now one-day event designed for high-school and college students who sense God calling them to Christian ministry. The conference, sponsored by the Discipleship/Sunday School department of the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board, grew from the heart of a group of student pastors who recognized a need to walk alongside students prayerfully considering God’s call.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. —  Lifeway’s B&H Publishing Group and Holman Bibles have released the “CSB Grace Bible for Adults” with dyslexia in partnership with 2K/DENMARK and Cambridge University. This announcement follows the “CSB Grace Bible for Kids” in October, a first-of-its-kind Bible for readers with dyslexia. 

VALDOSTA, Ga. — This year’s Bible conference at Northside Baptist Church will take on added meaning because it comes in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene’s destructive trek through Valdosta, Lowndes County, and much of South Georgia.

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — Many churchgoers say their church connects financial blessings with personal generosity, but most pastors see those ideas as bankrupt.

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. — Members of the Arise and Build Task Force reported “significant progress” last week during a meeting to evaluate relief efforts for those affected by the historic flood caused by Hurricane Helene in East Tennessee.

PASADENA, Calif. – When Trenton Mueller moved from Tennessee to Southern California to begin the church planting process, he never imagined his journey would intersect with one of the greatest tragedies Los Angeles would ever face.

The motion detector kept going off in the middle of the night. Who or what would be in the backyard in the pitch dark? My beloved went to the back door but couldn’t see anything. He returned to bed.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Midwestern Seminary inaugurated a new academic semester at Spring Convocation on Tuesday, Jan. 21, with an address by President Jason Allen and the signing of the Articles of Faith by two recently-elected faculty members.

FORT WORTH, Texas — During the spring convocation address on Tuesday, Jan. 21, David S. Dockery, president of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, invited Southwesterners to join him in considering what it means to serve and live in community, explaining the importance of the communion of saints and how it impacts the institution.

ONTARIO, Calif. — Gateway President Adam Groza preached the gospel from the story of David and Mephibosheth during the first chapel of spring semester, Thursday, Jan.16.

I was always taught not to use the word "hate," so I will just say I "strongly dislike" going to the dentist. It has nothing to do with my dentist or hygienist, who I totally love. It just has to do with the sounds and feel of them working on my teeth.

AUSTELL, Ga. — It has been said that Baptist Associations are “first responders.” When a need or a problem arises in a local church, the association’s leadership is already familiar with the geographic location and spiritual health of the member churches and can quickly respond with concern and assistance. Associations are also resource hubs and can often provide the specific needs that a local church requires.

A South Carolina business found a unique way to support International Mission Board missionaries. Golf Carts. 

ROME, Ga. — Shorter University will present cellist Steven Taylor and pianist Hue Jang in a duo recital at Brookes Chapel on Monday, Jan. 27 at 7:30 p.m. The event is open to the public at no charg

CLEVELAND, Ga. — On Monday, Jan. 20, Truett McConnell University’s Peter and Gredel Walpot School of Education announced the addition of a new graduate degree in Elementary Education. Beginning in the fall of 2025, students will be able to pursue a Master of Arts in Elementary Education.

New leadership was named for the Administration Committee of the Georgia Baptist Convention last week. Chris Humphries, senior pastor of First Baptist Bainbridge, was named chairman and Brady Howard, pastor of Glen Haven Baptist Church in McDonough, will assume the role of vice chairman.

MACEDONIA, Miss. — Margurette Robison, 88, lives in the Macedonia community near Tupelo in Lee County. Her two daughters, Vanita Billingsley and Sherry Smith, live close by. What makes Robison’s story unique is how she has spent the past three-and-a-half years hand-copying the entire Bible word-for-word. She completed her task on Jan. 14.

A church without discipleship is just a gathering. And groups ministry is key for making disciples in the local church.

NASHVILLE (BP) — Jeff Dalrymple has been named to lead the office within the SBC Executive Committee dedicated to Southern Baptists’ long-term efforts in Sexual Abuse Prevention and Response, according to a statement from EC President and CEO Jeff Iorg.

Lately, I have been on a poetry kick. I cannot precisely tell you why or how I landed on this new reading hobby, but it is good for the mind and beats watching the so-called entertainment on television.

God desires to be worshipped at a place of worship. In the Old Testament, the place of worship was the tabernacle. Later it became the temple in Jerusalem. In the New Testament, the place of worship is the church.