Wednesday, September 02, 2015

• Dying church revitalized, called 'a Lazarus story'

  by Karen l. Willoughby, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  EASLEY, S.C. (BP) -- When its copier was repossessed, Powdersville First Baptist Church believed the end was near.

  The remaining members drew up papers turning the church's property over to the next-door neighbors. Former members heard the news and started returning, praying for God's direction. That was nine years ago. Read More

• National CP YTD 1.13% over projection

  by BP Staff, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are $174,276,734.99, or 1.13 percent above the year-to-date budgeted goal, and are 1.42 percent ahead of contributions received during the same time frame last year, a news release from SBC Executive Committee President Frank S. Page reported. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution, according to the 2014-15 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget. Read More

• New book showcases Baptist history

  by Aaron Earls, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Three Baptist history scholars were not completely satisfied with the textbook options in their field, so they decided to write their own.

  In "The Baptist Story," Michael Haykin, Nathan Finn and Anthony Chute sought to produce a more narrative story that spans four centuries of Baptist history of this diverse group, but is approachable for students and laypeople. Read More

• 100-plus turn to Christ at college Bible conference

  by Ryan Bower, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Cedarville photo

  CEDARVILLE, Ohio (BP) -- More than 100 students made professions of faith in Christ during Cedarville University's annual Fall Bible Conference. Another 90-plus students responded to a call to full-time ministry.

  "We praise God that each of these students responded in faith, moving forward toward what they felt God wanted them to do," said Thomas White, president of Cedarville in southwest Ohio. "It was an amazing week, and we are praying that it is only the beginning of even more spiritual awakening." Read More

• Declining church morphs into 4 new congregations

  by Mike Creswell, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Submitted photo

  HIGH POINT, N.C. (BP) -- Albertson Road Baptist Church was once a strong congregation, drawing members from around south High Point to its building, located not far off U.S. 29. But in more recent years, the church was ailing as local factories closed. Many white residents moved away and many Hispanics and Asians moved in.

  "We wanted to reach them but we didn't speak Spanish," recalled Debbie Ford, an member of the North Carolina church for about 30 years. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Clique. Un-clique.

  by Diana Davis, posted Wednesday, September 02, 2015 (9 years ago)

  PENSACOLA, Fla. (BP) -- Columnist Diana Davis suggests: Check whether your small group or church is cliquish. "The Great Commission is too vast -- and eternity is far too important -- for us to sit in a huddle," she writes. Read More