by Luke Switzer | Jun 15, 2023 | Episodes
Green Valley Crossing “has seen around a 20 percent increase in attendance since the first of the year, the vast majority of them being spiritually disconnected with no relationship with Christ,” says Pastor Riley Prather; Churches and Christian ministries are not exempt from cyber-attacks and online theft; A Lifeway Bible study based on 1 John 5 references a book by D.L. Moody on living the overcoming life.
by Luke Switzer | Jun 14, 2023 | Episodes
Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in New Orleans have prayed over more than 90 new missionaries that will be sent out this summer to carry the hope of Jesus Christ to those who’ve never heard; U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy released last month an 82-page advisory focusing on an unexpected public health crisis – loneliness; A Lifeway Bible study based on Mark 4 says, “Jesus demonstrated God’s love for the perishing in a greater way by laying down His life to provide salvation from sin and death.
by Luke Switzer | Jun 13, 2023 | Episodes
The Southern Baptist Convention gavels in today in New Orleans. Key issues in front of the group are the continuation of actions to address sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches; A federal district judge has ruled unconstitutional a Tennessee law prohibiting gender-bending drag performances in front of minors, which had been the only such law in the nation; Why is worshiping together in person better than worshiping alone? Thom Rainer offers five metaphors to make the point.
by Luke Switzer | Jun 12, 2023 | Episodes
Paul Davis is on the front lines of ministry in Jacksonville, Florida; Last month in Thailand, a Pregnancy Center Care Team was connected with Violet three days before she delivered her baby girl, Daphne; Want to build a culture of trust in your church family?
by Luke Switzer | Jun 9, 2023 | Episodes
Church planters Joaquin and Megan Pena are excited how God is working at their young church plant just outside Atlanta; Despite being beaten by his father for studying his Bible, a young man simply identified as Asad is continuing to read and grow in his new faith in Jesus; Even as many students are on summer break, Chuck Lawless says churches must continue to focus on reaching college campuses
by Luke Switzer | Jun 8, 2023 | Episodes
Across the Asia-Pacific Rim there are Gospel Ministry Partners being prepared to carry the good news into countries across the region; If you’re good at quick math in your head, calculate what 85 percent of 10 million is; In his book, In the Lord I Take Refuge, Dane Ortland looks at Psalm 4
by Luke Switzer | Jun 7, 2023 | Episodes
Theological education gives pastors the foundation they need to preach and teach the Word of God. In Tanzania, students are working hard at the Tanzania Baptist Theological Seminary; In a post in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Chuck Lawless talks about how a clean life before God brings greater joy and glory to God. He compares it to his desire for a clean house.
by Luke Switzer | Jun 6, 2023 | Episodes
The 2023 hurricane season is now open in the US. Forecasters are calling for a near-normal season in the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf Coast; 15 pastors and church planters from the North American Mission Board’s Send Network traveled to Frankfurt, Germany, to learn from and collaborate with International Mission Board missionaries and local partners; In an article at Baptist Press, Thom Rainer writes, “The trend toward smaller gatherings was slow but perceptible prior to the pandemic
by Luke Switzer | Jun 5, 2023 | Episodes
When more than 50 people were baptized at the Sumner County, Tennessee Jail in early May, it was the culmination of many years of ministry from two neighboring churches; For those with a passion for healthcare and a calling to missions, the International Mission Board has avenues of service ready to fill; Unfortunately, natural disasters are inevitable in this world. Coy Webb of Send Relief encourages believers to get trained in responding to disaster relief
by Luke Switzer | Jun 2, 2023 | Episodes
As the Hispanic population in the U.S. grows, new challenges are emerging Christians should care about predatory lending because its practices exploit and take advantage of our neighbors, whom we’ve been commanded to love; Jesus revealed His identity as Messiah and Lord through His words and His actions.
by Luke Switzer | Jun 1, 2023 | Episodes
Everyone finds great joy when God answers their prayer. Richard Gamble’s is working hard to build what he calls the Eternal Wall of Answered Prayer, an interactive, 160-foot monument of 1 million white bricks built into an infinity loop on a plot of high-profile land in Birmingham, England; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Kie Bowman encourages believers to pray and offers some tips to pastors and believers on how to create culture of prayer in the local church.
by Luke Switzer | May 31, 2023 | Episodes
One of the most challenging obstacles pastors face in congregations large and small is getting people to prioritize local church commitment over the activities constantly competing to fill up their weekly schedules; Before Friday, May 26 the largest group Campbell Lino had spoken to about Jesus was the 75 or so at her church during a prayer meeting; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, William and Howard Hendricks share three benefits from regularly studying God’s Word.
by Luke Switzer | May 30, 2023 | Episodes
The task force leading efforts to address sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches say they are preparing to launch a ministry database website in June; Lifeway Research recently released a study on church health revealing four factors that predict church growth; How can pastors prepare for ministry over the long haul? Jonathan Jarboe share four tips in the Baptist Press Toolbox
by Luke Switzer | May 29, 2023 | Episodes
One morning after air raid sirens alerted Kyiv of imminent attack, hundreds attended Central Baptist Church for Sunday worship. Southern Baptist evangelist Michael Gott was preaching; Some days as an Air Force chaplain stand out among all others. For Matthew Knight, one of those days was August 29, 2021; In a First Person on Baptist Press, Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission President Brent Leatherwood says they want to help churches think biblically about the cultural issues of our time by providing resources that are rooted in the Gospel.
by Luke Switzer | May 26, 2023 | Episodes
The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) welcomed introduction Tuesday (May 23) of the Dignity Act a bill first offered last year, gained reintroduction by Rep. Maria Salazar, R-Fla., with co-sponsorship this time from Rep. Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, and other Democrats as well as Republicans; As society continues to wrestle with the complicated issues surrounding artificial intelligence such as ChatGPT, Christians should be ready to engage as the ones holding the ultimate answers, one ethicist told Baptist Press.
by Luke Switzer | May 25, 2023 | Episodes
Oklahoma Southern Baptist pastor John-Mark Hart is part of a multifaith coalition advocating for the life of death row inmate Richard Glossip on grounds of biblical mercy and the pursuit of impartial criminal justice; Why would an Alabama church more than double Christmas missions offering? Because the senior pastor went on a short-term mission trip, serving with IMB personnel in South Asia, and the whole church caught a vision for the work of International Mission Board missionaries; In a piece on Baptist Press, Michael Kelley reminds believers of four words they should always remember.
by Luke Switzer | May 24, 2023 | Episodes
The National Religious Broadcasters, an association of Christian media outlets, has joined a lawsuit seeking to block a California law that requires social media companies to publish their policies on removing hate speech from their platforms; Although most churchgoers want to serve in their communities for Gospel impact, there is a noticeable gap when it comes to the number who are already volunteering for a charity; When a student chapel service extended into days and weeks this past winter at Asbury University in Wilmore, Ky., observers far and wide questioned whether the stage was set for the next Great Awakening?
by Luke Switzer | May 23, 2023 | Episodes
Summer plans for many young adults look like taking vacations or returning to their hometown, but for more than 50 students throughout the South Carolina Baptist Convention (SCBC), plans look like living on mission through the North American Mission Board’s GenSend program; Ethnic minorities are increasing their participation in all areas of Southern Baptist Convention life, say members of the SBC Executive Committee’s Great Commission Relations and Mobilization (GCRM) Team; In a post on Baptist Press, Ben Connor and Bob Roberts, Jr. write a piece on motives that hinder believers from living a life on mission.
by Luke Switzer | May 22, 2023 | Episodes
International Mission Board trustees approved 92 fully funded missionaries for appointment during their May 17-18 meeting in Richmond; A three-judge panel in the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard arguments last week over whether the Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone should be revoked more than two decades after it was granted; Throughout his Gospel, John drew connections between seeing and believing
by Luke Switzer | May 19, 2023 | Episodes
Maybe you’re keeping up with the discussion surrounding artificial intelligence. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission’s Jason Thacker hopes you’ll ask the right questions; Anyone who has ever purchased a home knows there can be a big difference in what the buyer or seller sees and what a certified home inspector sees.
