Joe Beckler and wife Cheri are stepping onto a diverse and challenging mission field. It's a mission field where people are skeptical, even suspicious of Christianity.
Twenty years of starting something new Sowing new churches produces harvest of new believers By Joe Westbury, Managing Editor Published October 22, 2009
When it comes to starting churches, Stone Mountain Baptist Association must be doing something right.
First there was Elian Gonzalez, the Cuban boy torn between two nations. Then there was Terri Schiavo, the brain-damaged woman torn between two families. Now comes Rifqa Bary, the teenage runaway torn between two faiths.
Many years ago Ed Sullivan had a man on his show that could spin plates on the top of flexible sticks. It was an amazing performance, because he could keep 15 to 20 plates all spinning at the same time.
Market analysts and pundits as well as average investors expressed a measure of excitement and skepticism as the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed above the 10,000 mark Oct. 14 for the first time since Oct. 3, 2008.
A meatpacking company was wrong to fire more than 200 Muslim employees who walked off the job to protest insufficient breaks during Ramadan last year, according to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
Maxine Harris had no idea cancer was forming in her body when, miles away, pastors in the Stone Mountain Baptist Association were meeting to talk about evangelism strategy.
Community collage By Scott Barkley, scottbarkley@christianindex.org Published October 22, 2009
The Sunday night Terry Richardson grabbed the marker and stood in front of a dry erase board was the first step for Marshall Memorial Baptist Church.
The Hindu god who removes obstacles was no match for a tree limb.
Breakthrough from Bollywood Renown Indian actor gives testimony to packed house at Clairmont Hills By Scott Barkley, Production Editor Published October 22, 2009
The testimony from a veteran of Indian cinema and stage led to an overflow crowd for Pastor Avinash Raiborde and First India Baptist Church Sept. 5.
Three of the four churches honored this year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency with the prestigious Energy Star Congregation Award are Southern Baptist.
Thirty Southern Baptist disaster relief specialists have completed a week's labor in the Philippines capital, helping local partners and community residents dig out from a flood that inundated vast sections of the city.
When it comes to evangelistic outreach, the most common methods Southern Baptist churches use are Vacation Bible School, feeding ministries, visitor follow-up, and prayer for people who have not made a decision to receive Christ.
The Southern Baptist Convention finished its Oct. 1 - Sept. 30 fiscal year 2.87 percent below budget, while Cooperative Program receipts for the year were down 2.23 percent and combined CP and designated giving for the year was down 3.65 percent, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Morris H. Chapman.
Twenty Baptist-related educational institutions have been selected for the 2010 list of Military Friendly Schools compiled by G.I. Jobs magazine based in Pittsburgh, Pa.
The Reformers who preached in Spain during the 16th century recognized expository preaching as a matter of life and death, Spanish Reformation scholar Emilio Monjo Bellido said during a lecture series at Southwestern Seminary.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations is taking a "wait-and-see" approach after meeting Sept. 24 with Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to seek the release of three American hikers imprisoned by Iran on July 31.
Moving Iowa's mid-term caucuses to a Saturday disenfranchises Jewish voters who can't participate in such events during their Sabbath, according to a letter signed by 18 national Jewish organizations.
A woman's touch By Sherri Brown, Communications, GBC Published October 22, 2009
Homemade chicken pot pie and red velvet cake, blooming flowers under a newly painted line of metal mailboxes, camouflage curtains, a haircut, pancakes for breakfast, and even a Bingo game.
Bible Study
Choose Wisely By Joe Ringwalt, pastor, Rowland Springs Baptist Church, Cartersville Published October 22, 2009
Psalm 1:1-6
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Nov 8
When I Am Afflicted By Joe Ringwalt, pastor, Rowland Springs Baptist Church, Cartersville Published October 22, 2009
Psalm 102:1-14, 24-28
Related Sunday School Lesson, Bible Studies for Life, Nov 1
When Southern Baptist pastors huddle together, whether at Starbucks or Cracker Barrel, the conversation these days generally gravitates toward the Great Commission Resurgence Task Force and the work it has undertaken.