Baking Cakes, Community Awards, & Following God

Tennessee church named non-profit of the year

If you lived in the small town of Portland in northern Tennessee, there’s a good chance you would be familiar with cakes baked by Parnell Suttle. The 95-year old Suttle is a member of First Baptist Church in Portland, and in 2021 she baked 196 cakes for friends and community events.

The hard work panned out for Suttle as she was named the Citizen of the Year in Portland.

What makes it even sweeter is that her church, was name the non-profit organization of the year in the community. Pastor Tim Colovos is grateful for the honor and points to the dedication of the members of the church. They serve the community through a backpack ministry and a summer feeding program for school aged children. They also play host to around 800 community members every week through their Upward sports ministry.

Colovos says the church is also known as a good neighbor by making their indoor walking track available to the community.

Speaking of being a good neighbor, on a recent Monday afternoon in Douglas, Georgia, the folks at Eastside Church responded quickly to a train derailment that left train cars scattered across their parking lot and the church yard.

Once the dust settled, the folks at the Eastside Church opened their building to those affected by the derailment and provided refreshment to first responders and rail workers as they investigated the accident.

Only minor injuries were reported, but several of the trains 39 cars derailed during the accident.

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.

Following God in uncertain times

In a Bible study from Lifeway Christians Resources, the question is asked – when is it most challenging for you to follow God’s plan?

The lesson recaps the Old Testament Joseph who was loved by his father – who gave him a special coat of many colors – but despised by many of his brothers. Their animosity toward Joseph led the brothers to sell him into slavery. As you may know, Joseph ended up becoming a high ranking official who was blackmailed into prison, but was later restored to being second in command to Pharaoh. He led the Egyptians to prepare for a seven-year famine that likely catapulted Egypt to generations of great wealth as they sold grain to bordering nations during the famine.

While Joseph’s story includes high peaks, there are some devastating valleys. The lesson looks at how Joseph keeps his focus on God during both seasons of life. That’s a lesson we all need to remember no matter the season we’re in.

You can find the study called Following God in uncertain times at BaptistPress.com.

A federal district judge ordered the U.S. government to pay more than $230 million to survivors of the 2017 massacre of 26 worshipers at First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas.

U.S. District Judge Xavier Rodriguez ruled the U.S. government was 60 percent liable for the massacre.

Rodriguez levied that the U.S. Air Force had failed to report to the FBI shooter Devin Kelley’s bad conduct discharge in 2014.

First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs Senior Pastor Frank Pomeroy, who lost a daughter in the attack, has chosen not to comment on the court case out of respect for the victims. Pomeroy is not listed among plaintiffs.

Women from 19 states and hundreds of churches came together for Abide 2022 conference at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary and Leavell College Feb. 4-5 to hear Jen Wilkin, popular Bible study author and speaker.

Wilkin encouraged the women to take a specific approach to their Bible study that would cause to not only learn about God, but to grow in their love for Him.

“The heart cannot love what the head does not know,” Wilkin said. “If we want to feel deeply about God, we must think deeply about God.”

In her follow-up plenary Saturday morning, Wilkin offered a better approach for Bible study that begins by understanding that the Bible is “not about me” or about making believers “feel better.”

“The Bible is a book about God,” Wilkin said. “Read it first for what it says about Him.”

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.

Wayne Bray, pastor at FBC Simpsonville, SC, says, “Common sense tells us that it’s impossible for us to convince others of something we don’t believe ourselves,” in a First-Person piece at Baptist Press.

He encouragers readers to examine their own hearts to make sure they truly believe God’s redeeming power for their lives.

Pointing to Romans 1:16, Brays writes, “The Gospel still has the power to change lives, and Jesus still saves sinners who call on His name.”

Find more stories at BaptistPress.com.