Monday, September 12, 2016

• 2016 study of pastor salaries, benefits available

  by Martin King, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Compensation for full-time Southern Baptist church staff members has exceeded the cost-of-living increase over the past two years. However, health insurance coverage continues to decline, according to the 2016 SBC Church Compensation Study.

  The biannual study is a joint project of state Baptist conventions, GuideStone Financial Resources and LifeWay Christian Resources. Compensation and congregational data is collected anonymously from ministers and office/custodial personnel of Southern Baptist churches and church-type missions. Read More

• Platt: Make evangelism 'primary' in life, ministry

  by Marilyn Stewart, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  NOBTS Photo

  NEW ORLEANS (BP) -- International Mission Board president David Platt sounded the alarm against a "gospel-less" and "gospel-lite" missions approach that many are apparently adopting today. This dangerous trend, he said, promotes good deeds but minimizes a call for repentance.

  Platt spoke of his concerns during the Global Missions Emphasis chapel at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Sept. 6. He referenced debates taking place among some evangelical mission agencies regarding the usage of "Son of God" in translating Scripture or in interacting with Muslims. Read More

• New rule to handcuff states on Planned Parenthood

  by Tom Strode, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  "This is merely a move of retribution against those who have called to keep abortion providers accountable."

  -- Russell Moore

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced Sept. 7 a proposed rule that would effectively prevent states from prohibiting Title X funds for abortion providers.

  The proposed rule includes the country's No. 1 abortion chain, the Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA). The federal government provides funds for family planning and preventive health services to states through the Title X program. Read More

• N.Y. attorney general approves late-term abortions

  by Emily Belz/WORLD News Service , posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  NEW YORK (BP) -- New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, a Democrat, issued a legal notice to the state comptroller on Sept. 8 saying that abortions after 24 weeks are legal in the state. Schneiderman argued that the "health" exception in judicial precedent allows abortion at any time in a pregnancy.

  "New York law cannot criminalize what the federal Constitution protects," Schneiderman wrote in the opinion. "[A]n abortion performed after 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy is legal in New York when the fetus is not viable or when the abortion is necessary to protect the health of the pregnant woman." Read More

• Russian anti-evangelism law victim requests prayer

  by Diana Chandler, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  

  ORYOL, Russia (BP) -- A Baptist missionary who ended his ministry in Russia after being arrested under a new anti-evangelism law is requesting prayer in advance of his Sept. 19 appeal hearing.

  Donald Ossewaarde was found guilty and fined 40,000 rubles, about $600, a month ago when Russian police interrupted a Sunday Bible study in his home, charging him with evangelizing outside church walls and without a government permit. Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: Risking everything

  by Mark Snowden, posted Monday, September 12, 2016 (8 years ago)

  Courageous witness by Christians in lands it can lead to death sparks Mark Snowden's call for U.S. believers to use their freedom "not just to check cultural decay but bring God's healing to our troubled world." Examine your walk with the Lord, Snowden, of the Cincinnati Area Baptist Association, counsels. "Is it in obedience to Jesus?" Read More