Oklahoma doctors continue fire and tornado relief efforts; SBTC holds conference for Arabic Baptist pastors; Enhancing Your VBS.

Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief (DR) continues to do work on multiple fronts. According to Jason Yarbrough, state director for DR, relief work continues after wildfires and a series of tornadoes and severe storms in Oklahoma; Many Texans have a general understanding they live in one of the most diverse states in the nation. What they may be less aware of is how many Arabic-speaking Southern Baptist churches exist in the Lone Star State; Vacation Bible School is an enriching time when various volunteers from all parts of the church join together to plan and lead a special event with one theme in mind—sharing the gospel with children.

NAMB Trustees: 10k new churches, visit Vegas missionaries; CP talks on Great Commandment/Commission; Bible Study on Jesus as Messiah.

Trustees for the North American Mission Board (NAMB) celebrated a milestone of more than 10,000 churches planted by Southern Baptists since 2010 as 745 church plants were added in 2022; A lineup of speakers and guests on the Cooperative Program Stage will point attention toward what should be at the heart of all Southern Baptists The waiting seasons of life can be difficult. Oftentimes we become so hyper-focused on a specific desire that we miss God’s answers that are right in front of us.

Myanmar Baptists meet; KBC promotes healthy churches; Top 7 church criteria.

The first-ever annual meeting of the Myanmar Baptist Churches USA fellowship is to take place Monday, June 12, in connection with the 2023 annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention at the New Orleans Convention Center; A healthy deacon leads to a healthy deacon ministry, which is an important part of a healthy church; In a piece on BP Karl Clauson writes, Jesus was crystal clear – his church is a prevailing church

Sudan conflict destroys churches, displaces Christians; Policies and procedures promote safety for all; The demon of self-improvement.

A call to prayer today as at least four churches have been destroyed and a congregation directly assaulted in Sudan, signaling the earliest reports of religious suffering in the fight for governmental control that erupted April 15; Having solid policies and procedures in place at your church helps prevent sexual abuse by protecting children, youth and vulnerable adults, according to Kris Buckman; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, JD Greear writes, The demons don’t mind the cleanup; in fact, they like it.

Effort to revive ERA falls short in Senate; 7 Ways to Decrease Gossiping in the Church

The U.S. Senate rejected an attempt Thursday (April 27) to revive the Equal Rights Amendment more than four decades after the controversial proposal passed its deadline for ratification; Did you know researchers believe at least 76 percent of the population of Cincinnati is far from God and not involved in any local church, according to the North American Mission Board; Want to know a secret? Theologian Chuck Lawless thinks you should take gossip seriously.

Oklahoma DR teams aid OBU area; Gospel chances at Paris 2024; Bible study: Trusting God.

Eight confirmed tornadoes slashed across Oklahoma’s midsection the evening of Wed., April 19, inflicting major damage to structures at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) and to other sections of Shawnee; In just a little over one year, it will be ‘games wide open’ for the Paris Olympics, with more than 10,500 athletes from countries spanning the globe and thousands of spectators descending on the French capital; A Lifeway Bible study on Baptist Press says, “In the book of Deuteronomy, God had already performed miracle after miracle in His care and provision for the Israelites, yet they failed to believe God could provide them with water.

Churchgoers tithe outside of church; Church pays restaurant bill for Easter; 4 barriers to being a multi-directional leader

Most churchgoers say tithing is a biblical command and give at least 10 percent of their income. But they have more diverse opinions on the “where” and “how” of tithing; Saltpetre Community Church is relatively new at nine years old, the mix of older and younger congregations; In a Baptist Press Toolbox piece, Trevin Wax discusses barriers that keep leaders from being multi=-directional leaders.

LA Baptists minister in Haiti despite danger; US House OKs transgender sports ban, unlikely to pass Senate; GA church gets grant from deceased MI businessman.

Escalating violence may have forced Louisiana Reach Haiti to halt most operations in the country, however, the ministry has found other ways to share the hope of Jesus in Haiti; The U.S. House of Representatives limited female sports to biological women in a party-line vote last week, but the U.S. Senate is expected to block the bill; A Michigan businessman who died more than a decade ago is helping a Georgia congregation with the cost of a new church building.

Charles Stanley’s Legacy Celebration; Hundreds killed in Nigerian attacks; 8 signs of church drift

The “Legacy Celebration” service for pastor Charles Stanley featured a lineup of notable pastors and musical guests worthy of his world-famous ministry career; More than 200 Christians have been killed in terrorist attacks in Benue and Kaduna states in Nigeria since the election season ended in March, according to news reports and statements from religious freedom advocates; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Sam Rainer offers eight ways you might be able to recognize your church is drifting from the mission.

Florida responder’s spiritual career; Spurgeon Library acquires unpublished letters; Bible Study: Overcoming internal foes.

For Tommy Neiman, an award-winning firefighter and paramedic, the theme for his vocational calling has become about challenging first responders to be believers, and believers to be first responders; The Spurgeon Library, located on the campus of Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, celebrated the recent donation of a collection of unpublished Spurgeon writings at the second annual Spurgeon Library Conference April 19; A Lifeway Bible study says, “Famed evangelist D.L. Moody began his book “The Overcoming Life” addressing “the Christian’s warfare.”

Mohler recovering; TN Baptists, ethics leader urge gun violence legislation; 7 factors hindering church evangelism.

Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Albert Mohler thanked supporters for their prayers and encouragement during his recent health scare; The head of the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board (TBMB), the leader of Southern Baptists’ ethics entity and a group of Tennessee pastors are urging the state legislature to enact safety measures to protect the public from gun violence; In an article in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Thom Rainer shares seven things that are hindering churches when it comes to evangelism.

Boston pastor’s marathon record on bombing anniversary; Baptism Sunday life transformations; FIRST-PERSON: 3 ministry regrets.

Had it gone as planned, Josh Wyatt’s wife Becky and their three young children would have been outside Marathon Sports when the first explosion blasted the storefront at the finish line of the 2013 Boston Marathon; Every Sunday is a good Sunday for a follower of Jesus Christ to be baptized; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Lifeway President Ben Mandrell shares some leadership mistakes he’s made over the years.

FBC Dadeville ministers post-shooting, Yom HaShoah mourns 6M Jewish deaths, 9 factors for discipleship.

In the midst of deep sorrow, you can usually find hope. Hundreds of people from the tight-knit, east Alabama town of Dadeville filled the FBC Dadeville parking lot Sunday evening for a time of prayer; The nation of Israel is marking Yom HaShoah today, a 24-hour observance of the devastation caused by the Holocaust during World War 2; Perhaps you’re a Christian who would like to help another believer grow in their faith. Maybe you’re considering discipling another believer. In a piece on Baptist Press Toolbox, Pastor Mark Dever offers some tips on where to look.

FBC Dadeville ministers post-shooting, Yom HaShoah mourns 6M Jewish deaths, 9 factors for discipleship.

The U.S. Supreme Court placed a temporary hold Friday afternoon (April 14) on a week-old decision that suspended the federal government’s 2000 approval of the abortion pill; In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Scott McConnell writes, Everyone in our community needs Christ, but many times we can feel lost knowing how to help our congregation start connecting with people.

Abortion pill appeal upheld, police chaplain offers support after school shooting, Bible study on counseling.

A federal appeals court has blocked a nationwide injunction suspending the two-decade-old approval of the abortion pill but restored protective requirements weakened in recent years by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Many first responders sprang into action in the aftermath of the tragic shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville on March 27. A Lifeway Bible study teaches about the Holy Spirit.

DR work progresses in Arkansas and Mississippi while 10 ways a church can assist a missionary.

Easter weekend is a time for family, friends, and worship. For Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Disaster Relief workers, it was a time to serve survivors of the tornados that devastated parts of Central Arkansas on March 31; In the Baptist Press Toolbox, we hear from Chuck Lawless on how churches can come alongside missionaries. He offers 10 ways. Here’s a few of them.

Barber, Wright promote SBDR in Arkansas; ERLC defends moral objections; Developing future leaders.

So far, disaster relief teams have assisted nearly 100 homeowners across Arkansas with clean-up and recovery, and they’ve provided thousands of meals; A newly proposed rule would crush the freedom of conscience for Americans who have a moral objection to the provision of “life-threatening contraceptives,” according to the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; Have you given much thought to the next generation of leaders in your church? In a piece in the Baptist Press Toolbox, Pastor Darryl Nelson offers some helpful tips.