Baptist Press Archive

Tuesday, August 01, 2017

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  • First Indian Baptist aims for multi-tribal reach
    by Karen L. Willoughby, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    Photo provided by First Indian Baptist Church
    PHOENIX (BP) -- When pastor Shaun Whitey asked First Indian Baptist Church in Phoenix to write down their tribal affiliation, people from nearly all of Arizona's federally-recognized tribes were represented in the congregation that Sunday, 22 people groups in all, which Whitey described as typical.

    The church reaches a broad cross-section of tribal groups in its aim to carry the Gospel to all the state's reservations, Whitey said, yet faces an ongoing challenge of adequately preparing disciples who multiply other Christians. Read More

  • Native American evangelism: past & present examined
    by David Roach, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    BP file photo by Bill Bangham
    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Following a two-day evangelism training session in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix, the Fellowship of Native American Christians is setting its sights on what executive director Gary Hawkins calls "self-propagating, self-promoting, self-supporting" efforts to reach American Indians for Christ.

    "It is absolutely essential for the [Gospel] message to become owned by indigenous people," Hawkins told Baptist Press in written comments. FoNAC must achieve "a contextualized, culturally relevant ministry while maintaining doctrinal soundness." Read More

  • 400 years: Pocahontas conversion discussed
    by David Roach, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    Image from Wikimedia Commons.
    JAMESTOWN, Va. (BP) -- Four hundred years after the death of one of the most well-known Native Americans in history, scholars say Pocahontas' profession of faith in Christ is among the few facts known with certainty about the famed daughter of a Virginia Algonquin chief.

    Yet her conversion -- along with other key details of her life -- is absent from some contemporary portrayals of Pocahontas' life.

    "Most of what we think we know about her is legend," said Helen Rountree, author of multiple books and scholarly articles on Pocahontas. "We've actually got very few records that even mention her." Read More

  • Jerry Vines enrolls in SWBTS Ph.D. program
    by Alex Sibley , posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    FORT WORTH, Texas (BP) -- Following more than 60 years of preaching, Jerry Vines has enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

    The prolific preacher, former Southern Baptist Convention president, and frequent speaker at Southwestern's annual preaching conference will begin his studies at the seminary's School of Preaching this fall. Read More

  • BGR celebrates 10th anniversary
    by BGR Staff, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    NASHVILLE (BP) -- Baptist Global Response (BGR) is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in a big way -- with a campaign to raise $100,000 for people in need.

    Since 2007, the humanitarian aid organization has been partnering with Southern Baptist donors to fund disaster relief and community development projects around the world. And, BGR hopes to celebrate the milestone in August by raising $10,000 for each year of service, reaching a total of $100,000. Read More

  • Survey weighs value of Bapt. associations
    by Roger Alford/Kentucky Today, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    Image: iStock/License purchase required
    PIKEVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- Most church leaders believe their financial contributions to local Baptist associations are "a good kingdom investment" while others are struggling to see their relevancy, according to findings from a national survey released Monday (July 31).

    "When asked to describe the most exciting aspect of their local Baptist association, the most popular answer among church leaders was 'nothing,'" said Jason Lowe, a Kentucky director of missions who led the study that looked into attitudes about the work of local Baptist associations. Read More

  • FIRST-PERSON: Coffee & God's creativity
    by Jason Thacker, posted Tuesday, August 01, 2017 (7 years ago)

    For Jason Thacker, coffee is more than a pick-me-up drink but a work of art, from its planting to its brewing. And, for a Christian, it's "another good gift from the Father." Read More