Friday, September 18, 2015

• Conserving Gospel top priority, ERLC's Moore says

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Photo by Jason Thacker

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Conserving the Gospel is Russell Moore's primary goal in the year ahead, the Southern Baptist Convention's ethicist and religious freedom advocate told trustees in their annual meeting.

  During his report to the board of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission Sept. 16, Moore -- the entity's president -- said his top priority in the next 12 months is "to set the course and set the tone for a Gospel conservatism that is anchored in the churches and addressing the outside world." Read More

• IMB transition team announced for missionary retirees

  by Marie Curtis, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  RICHMOND, Va.(BP) -- International Mission Board President David Platt has announced a transition team that will focus on the practical needs of missionaries who accept the voluntary retirement incentive recently offered to personnel who are at least 50 years of age with five years of service.

  The retirement incentive is the first phase to reduce IMB staff and field personnel by 600 to 800 people in response to revenue shortfalls. Read More

• Fla. Baptist Conv. to reduce staff by 47%

  by Barbara Denman/Florida Baptist Convention, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  LEESBURG, Fla. (BP) -- A reorganization of the Florida Baptist Convention staff that reduces the number of employees statewide by 47 percent -- from the 115 currently employed to 61 employees -- was approved by the State Board of Missions, Friday (Sept. 18) at Lake Yale Baptist Conference Center.

  The reorganization and downsizing was the fulfillment of a promise made by Executive Director-Treasurer Tommy Green on May 29 after being elected to the post. Read More

• Marijuana claims from GOP debate evaluated

  by David Roach, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  CNN screen grab

  SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (BP) -- The second 2016 Republican presidential debate included more than eight minutes of discussion on marijuana policy, with candidates differing over recreational marijuana proposals but appearing to agree in their support of medical marijuana.

  "[M]any people on social media wanted us to ask about marijuana legalization," CNN moderator Jake Tapper told the candidates during the Sept. 16 event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Semi Valley, Calif. Read More

• TRUSTEES: Perkins, Packer honored by ERLC

  by Tom Strode, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Photo by Jason Thacker

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- The trustees of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission have voted to honor two well-known Christian leaders for their contributions during their more than eight decades of life.

  In its annual meeting Sept. 15-16 in Nashville, the ERLC board unanimously approved civil rights leader John Perkins for the John Leland Religious Liberty Award and theologian J.I. Packer for the Richard Land Distinguished Service Award. Read More

• EDITORIAL: Esperanza en la adversidad

  by Luis López, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- En los últimos días la crisis migratoria en la Unión Europea ha revelado ser probablemente el desafío más grande que la UE haya enfrentado desde su origen. La brutalidad y la compasión han sido exhibidas de diferentes maneras en la medida en que diferentes países responden a los miles de inmigrantes que llegan de Siria, el Medio Oriente, África y el sur de Asia. Read More

• Amid Fed rate uncertainty, long-term view advised

  by Roy Hayhurst, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  DALLAS (BP) -- The Federal Open Market Committee's decision to leave the Federal Reserve's target Fed Funds range unchanged means continued uncertainty for institutional investors, but should mean little for long-term investors, according to analysts for GuideStone Financial Resources, the financial services arm of the Southern Baptist Convention.

  As reasoned by Fed decision-makers, the Sept. 17 decision to keep rates steady dealt primarily with the need for further improvement in the labor market as well ... Read More

• SBC committee candidates sought by Ronnie Floyd

  by Art Toalston, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- Candidates to serve on committees pivotal to the Southern Baptist Convention are being sought by SBC President Ronnie Floyd.

  In addition to sending letters to SBC entity and state convention leaders, Floyd is broadening his call for candidates for four committees whose work is key to the SBC's annual meeting each year. Read More

• Sudan church wins court battle for property

  by Morning Star News and Baptist Press staff, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  KHARTOUM, Sudan (BP) -- A Christian church in Sudan has won a four-year court battle to prevent the Sudanese government from forcibly taking the church’s property and giving it to Muslim investors, Morning Star News has reported.

  The Administrative Court of Appeal ruled the Ministry of Guidance and Religious Endowments interfered with church matters when it appointed committees charged with turning over to Muslim investors the property of Khartoum Bahri Evangelical Church in North Khartoum, Morning Star News reported Sept. 16. Read More

• Phyllis Bennett dies at 90

  by BP Staff, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- Phyllis Jean Metz Bennett, 90, died Sept. 6 in Winter Garden, Fla. She was the wife of the late Harold Bennett, president-treasurer of the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee from 1979-92.

  "Phyllis strongly supported her husband's work, both in churches and in the denomination," according to information posted by a Nashville-area funeral home. Read More

• At 94 with Alzheimer's, she remained a missionary

  by IMB Staff, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  IMB photo

  CHIANG MAI, Thailand (BP) -- Evelyn Harthcock never met a stranger. She was "mama" to many; her Southern drawl, hospitality and deep love for people transcended language and culture.

  The 94-year-old emeritus IMB missionary died today (Sept. 18) after a battle with Alzheimer's. Read More

• Bible Study: Sept. 20, 2015

  by Staff/LifeWay Christian Resources, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, LifeWay publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups.

  This week's Bible study is adapted from the Bible Studies for Life curriculum.

  Bible Passage: Psalm 34:4-14 Read More

• FIRST-PERSON: A picture of the Savior

  by Russell D. Moore, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- If we as Christians don't feel the weight of our Lord's command to show compassion and mercy to those who need us, perhaps it is because we have unintentionally absorbed the consumerism of our culture, says Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Russell Moore. Read More

• Abejas 'asesinas', esfuerzos bautistas de alivio ayudan a campesinos

  Ann Lovell, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  (Foto de BGR)

  RUINAS DE COPÁN, Honduras (BP) -- El zumbido crece más fuerte a medida que el pequeño grupo sube la montaña hacia el enjambre de abejas. Vestidos con equipo de protección, el grupo se acerca cuidadosamente. Han oído las historias de estas abejas -- abejas "asesinas" africanizadas que se enjambran agresivamente y cuyo doloroso veneno puede dañar el tejido humano e inclusive lleva a falla renal y a la muerte. Read More

• Vigilia de oración por Abedini determinada globalmente para el 26/9

  Diana Chandler, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Foto de Facebook

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- La esposa del encarcelado pastor estadounidense Saeed Abedini está en un ayuno "Daniel" de 21 días y está organizando internacionalmente vigilias de oración para el 26 de septiembre, el tercer aniversario del encarcelamiento de su esposo en Irán por su fe cristiana.

  Naghmeh Abedini, ha pedido a los cristianos que oren por su esposo y por la iglesia perseguida ... Read More

• La JMI anuncia los detalles del incentivo para la jubilación voluntaria

  Anne Harman, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  JMI foto de Thomas Graham

  RICHMOND, Va. (BP)—En la primera fase del plan de la Junta de Misiones Internacionales (IMB, por sus siglas en inglés) para abordar el déficit en sus ingresos, el liderazgo anunció los detalles de un incentivo para la jubilación voluntaria durante sus reuniones generales con el personal el jueves (10 sept.).

  La meta del plan, compartieron los líderes de la JMI, es ofrecer un incentivo tan generoso como sea posible ... Read More

• Ministerio de prisión de Angola celebra 20 años y nueva instalación

  Marilyn Stewart, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  

  Foto de Boyd Guy

  ANGOLA, Louisiana (BP) -- Al celebrar 20 años de colaboración que ha cambiado vidas y ha desplegado "misioneros," el Seminario Teológico Bautista New Orleans /Leavell College (NOBTS por sus siglas en inglés) ha dedicado una nueva instalación con salones expandidos de clase y un espacio para biblioteca en la Penitenciaria Estatal de Louisiana, Angola, Louisiana.

  La dedicación del 27 de agosto seguida de una ceremonia de graduación marcó el graduando 278º del programa. Read More

• EDITORIAL: Esperanza en la adversidad

  Luis López, posted Friday, September 18, 2015 (9 years ago)

  HENDERSONVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- En los últimos días la crisis migratoria en la Unión Europea ha revelado ser probablemente el desafío más grande que la UE haya enfrentado desde su origen. Read More