Episode 282

ERLC Presents Policy Priorities, Online Scammers Steal from Church & Beauty Queen Earns Wrestling Title

Feb 1, 2023

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will address four categories of priorities in what it acknowledged will be a challenging year for legislating and governing, the Southern Baptist entity announced Monday (Jan. 30). A North Carolina church near the Piedmont Triad has haulted plans to move into a new worship center this spring after cyber criminals stole more than $793,000 from the church in an online scam. And, 2022 was quite a year for Kat Grigsby…a student at Hewitt High School near Trussville, Alabama. Not only did she work with her mom to raise more than $20,000 for needy children, but she also won the Miss Junior Teen United States pageant.

Transcript

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission will address four categories of priorities in what it acknowledged will be a challenging year for legislating and governing, the Southern Baptist entity announced Monday (Jan. 30).

The ERLC issued its 2023 Public Policy Agenda, which is divided into four general sections: Religious liberty; sanctity of human life; family and marriage; and human dignity.

The federal government and the commission are each entering “a new season,” ERLC President Brent Leatherwood and Policy Manager Hannah Daniel wrote in the 16-page document.
===

A North Carolina church near the Piedmont Triad has haulted plans to move into a new worship center this spring after cyber criminals stole more than $793,000 from the church in an online scam.

Elkin Valley Baptist Church broke ground on a new sanctuary last September, but about half of the funds that had been raised by the church and earmarked for the project were stolen by scammers through a fraudulent email in early November.

The pastor of the church said they received an email from Landmark Construction, the company overseeing the project, that included an invoice. He said moments later they received another email with payment instructions.

However, the second email – and the one through which the church submitted payment – was fraudulent.

Church officials didn’t discover that they had been the victims of a scam until about a week later when the construction company followed up to inquire about the payment.

A number of folks have reached out to help. The church has established a Go Fund Me page for those interested in making a contribution to help replace the stolen funds.
===

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.
===

2022 was quite a year for Kat Grigsby…a student at Hewitt High School near Trussville, Alabama. Not only did she work with her mom to raise more than $20,000 for needy children, but she also won the Miss Junior Teen United States pageant. And, oh yeah, she became first wrestler to win a match for the school’s girl’s wrestling team and led them to win a state championship.

Grigsby told Baptist Press she credits all of her success to God. She says her spiritual growth is nourished by family dinner discussions and prayer and is evident in the mirror – as she regularly writes Bible verses in lipstick on the bathroom mirror and post them around her room.

Read the full piece and sign up for our daily emails at Baptist Press.com.

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