Episode 168

Forced Labor, Women in Leadership Roles & Ukrainians Marked Six Month

Aug 25, 2022

When pastor Kevin Cummings stood to preach his sermon Aug. 12 at Fincastle Baptist Church in Fincastle, Virginia, it was no ordinary feat for him. There are similarities to how Heiden Ratner leads WALK Church and his style on the basketball court from college and a year as a professional in Israel. And, a Bible Study from Lifeway on Baptist Press asks, “Have you ever bitten off more than you can chew?” It says, “Most of us have been guilty of biting off more than we could chew, taking on a responsibility we were not ready to handle.”

Transcript

Tomoya Obokata, the U.N.’s special rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, reported it is “reasonable to conclude” forced labor by Uyghurs, Kazakh and other ethnic minorities has taken place in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region and some of the coercion “may amount to enslavement as a crime against humanity.”

The Trump administration announced its decision that China is guilty of genocide against the Uyghurs and other minorities in Xinjiang on its last full day in January 2021, and the Biden administration affirmed that determination weeks later. In June 2021, messengers to the SBC’s annual meeting in Nashville passed a resolution that made the convention the first Christian denomination to denounce China’s campaign against the Uyghurs as genocide.

News reports have indicated the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has carried out a campaign primarily against the Uyghurs, predominantly Muslims in western China, that has included not only forced labor but widespread detention in “re-education” camps and a coercive population control program of abortion and sterilization.
===

A Lifeway Research study asked U.S. Protestant pastors about six potential leadership roles and if women are permitted to hold them in their congregations. While a slight majority say the position of senior pastor is open to women, a broader consensus exists for other positions.

Close to 9 in 10 pastors say women could be ministers to children (94 percent), committee leaders (92 percent), ministers to teenagers (89 percent) or coed adult Bible study teachers (85 percent) in their churches. Of those surveryed, 64% say a woman could be a deacon (64 percent) and 55% said a woman could be a senior pastor (55 percent).

Due to specific convictions about biblical interpretation, different Protestant denominations have varying levels of openness to women serving in certain leadership positions. In general, pastors at mainline congregations say their churches have fewer restrictions on the roles in which a woman can serve compared to evangelical churches

===

Good News for Today is sponsored by The Voice of the Martyrs

Good News for Today is made possible through our friends at The Voice of the Martyrs, a nonprofit organization that serves persecuted Christians around the world. Founded in 1967 by Richard and Sabina Wurmbrand, VOM is dedicated to inspiring believers to deepen their commitment to Christ and to fulfill His Great Commission — no matter the cost. Find out more and sign up for their free monthly magazine at vom.org/goodnews.
===

Ukrainians marked the sixth month of the Russian invasion into the country as they celebrated a scaled-down national independence day on August 24.

IMB President Paul Chitwood encouraged Ukrainians on the special day and on called on other to act to bring gospel hope to the country. Chitwood said more than $12 million in aid has been given to Ukrainian efforts through Send Relief.

“While Ukrainians continue to fight for their country, and simultaneously celebrate their independence from USSR, declared in 1991, Southern Baptists continue to seek opportunities to provide both current help and the gospel of eternal hope through Send Relief and ongoing partnerships fostered and maintained by IMB missionaries who are present in the region. Their generous gifts to meet physical needs and sharing the gospel have exceeded $12 million since the beginning of the war and continue to this day.” – Paul Chitwood

Related Episodes

Supreme Court Hears Abortion Pill Case, “Jesus” Film Coming to a Screen Near You & When We Blame Others For Ministry Difficulties

The U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments on March 26 in a case that will rule on the availability of mifepristone, a drug commonly used in medication abortions. Sight & Sound’s “Jesus,” portraying the Savior’s life in a theatrical musical, will be available for free livestreaming Good Friday through Easter, March 29-31. And, everyone involved in ministry faces challenges. In the Baptist Press Toolbox, Chuck Lawless writes about the sad consequences when we start blaming others for more than their share.

Easter Sunday Remains a High Attendance Day, Gospel’s Power Showing & Prayerfully Waiting on God’s Timing

Most pastors are expecting one of their largest crowds on Easter, but those expectations have tempered some in the past decade. Ministering to people in recovery centers and homeless shelters has resulted in some amazing Gospel success stories at Faith Baptist of Myra. And, in one of His most well-known parables in which He taught the importance of patience in prayer, Jesus contrasted a powerful judge to a vulnerable widow (Luke 18:1-8).

U.S. Funding Bill, Waco Youth Revivals & Fruit That Did Not Last

The latest Congressional spending package allows federally funded gender transitions and essentially bypasses current restrictions on government-funded abortions, the Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) told Baptist Press. In 1945, a group of Baylor students began leading a series of worship gatherings that came to be known as the Waco Youth Revivals. And, maybe you have a friend who started out as a Christian but isn’t producing fruit in their faith journey. In the BP Toolbox, Todd Gray offers three tips for reaching them.

0 Comments