Wednesday, September 23, 2015

• Army troop reduction: Churches can aid veterans

  by Joe Conway, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  

  Photo credit: U.S. Army file photo

  ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Churches have the potential to assist U.S. Army veterans who may find themselves retired prematurely within two years.

  A reduction in force was announced by Brig. Gen. Randy George, the Army's director of force management, at the Pentagon in a July 9 briefing. The downsizing may affect 40,000 troops by the end of 2017, the Army News Service reported. Read More

• EC WRAP-UP: Hawkins notes market correction

  by BP Staff, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  

  Photo by Morris Abernathy

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- When the Dow dropped to 15,400 last month, many pastors exited the stock market and "lost a lot" of money. The market's volatility should prompt all ministers to carefully review their retirement accounts, GuideStone Financial Resources President O.S. Hawkins told the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

  During the EC's Sept. 21-22 meeting in Nashville, members also learned of a North American Mission Board proposal to provide funds to the International Mission ... Read More

• Engage24: a day of Gospel conversations

  by Ronnie Floyd, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  

  SPRINGDALE, Ark. (BP) -- According to research by the Barna Group, only 52 percent of evangelicals shared their faith with someone in the past year. In a recent LifeWay Research study, 48 percent said that spiritual matters do not tend to come up in their everyday conversations.

  It's not a lack of conviction. Overwhelmingly, Christians believe they should be sharing their faith. Read More

• Moore: Senate fails to protect 'unborn neighbors'

  by Tom Strode, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  This is to our national shame." -- Russell Moore

  WASHINGTON (BP) -- The U.S. Senate's refusal to protect unborn children even in the last half of pregnancy brought contempt upon America, said Southern Baptist ethicist Russell Moore.

  Moore, president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, decried the failure "to protect our unborn neighbors" after senators rejected legislation Tuesday (Sept. 22) to prohibit abortions of babies 20 weeks or more after fertilization. Read More

• 'Entertaining' children costly to missions, Lee says

  by Art Toalston, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  

  Photo by Morris Abernathy

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- "How did this happen?" Wanda S. Lee asked herself.

  "Beyond what words can say … we're grieving," the executive director of the WMU, the Southern Baptist Convention's missions education auxiliary, said of the imminent downsizing of 600-800 missionaries and staff members in a multi-million-dollar shortfall confronting the International Mission Board. Read More

• NOBTS report highlights God's grace during tragedy

  by Gary D. Myers, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  

  Photo by Morris Abernathy

  NASHVILLE (BP) -- With the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina fresh on his mind, New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary President Chuck Kelley offered a testimony of God's grace and mercy during his report to the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.

  "We serve an awesome God who delights in expressing His character through amazing works He does on behalf of His churches, His people and the lost of the world," Kelley said Sept. 21 in Nashville. Read More

• WORLDVIEW: Calling and being  

  by Erich Bridges, posted Wednesday, September 23, 2015 (8 years ago)

  RICHMOND, Va. (BP) -- Missions columnist Erich Bridges shares his perspective on the tough days ahead for the International Mission Board as it looks to reduce the number of its personnel due to years of financial shortfalls. Read More