A response to a question Blacks have been asked for years, is finally answered in this great book of epic insights by Terry Turner entitled, God’s Amazing Grace: Reconciling Four Centuries of African American Marriages and Families. “Why don’t you just get over it,” is a question many non-Blacks often ask of African Americans, in […]
#SBC18 Annual Meeting Recap (Karen Swallow Prior)
Last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention garnered more attention than others in recent memory. Controversies mounting over recent weeks and months for Southern Baptists and evangelicals—from presidential politics to #ChurchToo—led to intense media coverage in the days leading up to and surrounding the meeting. Countless news outlets reported on the issues that […]
On Inter-Congregational Relationships
One of the highlights for me of this year’s SBC annual meeting was the opportunity I had on the Sunday morning before the convention to worship at both FBC Farmersville with Bart Barber and Cornerstone Baptist Church with Dwight McKissic. Bart and Dwight were gracious hosts, and their congregations were both very welcoming. It was a joy […]
Refugees & Gospel Heritage
My mom was born in Havana, Cuba. My uncle who turned 12 right at the beginning of the Castro regime was one of the ‘Pedro Pan kids’ whose story was full of heartache and loss as he was sent alone to foster care in Florida to help flee the communist regime. My grandparents and mom […]
Lost in the #SBC18 Noise: Cooperative Program Numbers
Almost lost amid the more gaudy news out of Dallas this week is something that is assuredly more important to the SBC’s future: news on the Cooperative Program. Average percentage of undesignated receipts given to CP: 4.86% down from 5.16%. Although the decline is just a fraction, 3/10 of one percent, it’s a pretty steep […]
Hope For Women Of The SBC – Quotes after #SBC18
SBC18 is over and there has been a lot of talk about women and the future of our convention. My fear is that it would remain just talking points, but my hope is that all that we have discussed, read, and heard will be put into action. That pastors, staff, and members of local churches […]
The 5 Most Important Things That Happened at #SBC18
After having a great week visiting with friends, making new ones and enduring rollercoaster air conditioning issues in the convention hall, I sat down to review the events of Tuesday and Wednesday of #SBC18 (I refused to use #SBCAM18. Let the trolls be trolls). I have put together a list of what this Louisianian thinks […]
SBC Women: Next Steps (Melissa Edgington)
I am a Southern Baptist woman. As a baby I toddled up and down the aisle of my parents’ little SBC church in central Texas, squealing with laughter as one church member after another held my chubby hands to steady me. I grew up there. I knew all of the best hide and seek spots […]
Mike Pence & the SBC – It’s a Mixed Bag (Dave “Tarheel” Cline)
I want to say from the outset that I would strongly prefer that no elected politician, candidate, or official speak at the Southern Baptist Convention. I would even go so far as to suggest that the host city send a tourism or chamber of commerce representative to welcome us to their fair city instead of […]
American Family Radio Picking the Wrong Fight (Jimmy Meek)
As I come home from Dallas, I am refreshed at the Gospel unity shown at the Southern Baptist convention. I was however disappointed by what I heard on a Dallas AFR station. American Family Radio has a combination of broadcast sermons and political commentary shows, with a conservative Christian bent. One of their commentators on […]
#SBC18 Winners
OK, so I wished we could have had all winners and no losers for #SBC18 but, alas, didn’t happen. There were many winners though. Here they are: J.D. Greear: The election wasn’t close. The Convention coalesced around a next-generation candidate with a stellar church growth and mission support record. OK, so he talks so […]
Pensive on Pence (Fabian Portunato)
Let me begin by saying I was appalled and confused when I found out about the V.P.’s speaking at the convention. With all the rah-rah on unity, to put such a polarizing figure on stage seemed to be a blatant slap in the face. Though, and no one is more surprised about this than me, […]