Yesterday, we reported that some NOBTS students have planned to write an open letter to Jack Graham and wear "I Love CP" t-shirts during Tuesday's chapel service. I've been able to talk with another of the students involved, Devin Haun, since yesterday's article. His story is fantastic and will be available in an upcoming post very soon. Dr. Kelly also tweeted yesterday that Jack Graham had contacted Chuck Kelly and asked for a Q&A time with students following the chapel. This Q&A session is in the works and sounds like it will take place. I don't have any information on the format … [Read more...] about Update: Jack Graham to Participate in Q&A with Students after Tuesday’s Chapel
NOBTS Students Plan to Let Jack Graham Know They Support the Cooperative Program
Jack Graham is scheduled to preach in New Orleans seminary chapel this coming Tuesday, March 7. Graham's been in the news lately and somehow word got around the state of Louisiana that Graham's church, Prestonwood Baptist, is planning to withhold a large amount of previously planned Cooperative Program giving in order to exert pressure on certain SBC leaders. I ran across an article from a NOBTS student, who describes what some students are planning to make sure Graham knows his actions are not appreciated. First, several students plan to write an open letter to Jack Graham and invite … [Read more...] about NOBTS Students Plan to Let Jack Graham Know They Support the Cooperative Program
Graham & Prestonwood’s Serious Threat to Cooperative Ministry Efforts
At times, Baptists from Texas have been known to cause a ruckus in SBC life. It was about 40 years ago that Paige Patterson and Paul Pressler were forming plans for a revolution in the Southern Baptist Convention. Yesterday, news dropped that a Texas megachurch pastor aims to make serious waves in the SBC - but with a wholly different approach than Pressler and Patterson. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist, through one of their staff, announced that the church would be withholding their Cooperative Program giving, one million dollars annually, until they’re more satisfied with the … [Read more...] about Graham & Prestonwood’s Serious Threat to Cooperative Ministry Efforts
Keith & Kristyn Getty to Lead Worship at 2017 SBC Pastor’s Conference
We’re thrilled to announce that the music and worship times for all four 2017 Pastor’s Conference sessions will be led by Keith and Kristyn Getty. We consider the Gettys the perfect fit for our conference vision: leading music that highlights corporate singing as our voices are lifted together and Scriptural truth through their fantastic hymn-writing abilities. As we’ve worked with Keith, Kristyn, and their team, we’ve been blessed by their humble spirits and desire to serve SBC pastors through the SBC Pastor’s Conference. From the start we’ve made the focus of our conference the … [Read more...] about Keith & Kristyn Getty to Lead Worship at 2017 SBC Pastor’s Conference
NOBA Statement in Support of Russell Moore
The New Orleans Baptist Association this morning published a letter titled Hard-Pressed But Not Beaten: A Word of Support for Dr. Russell Moore and the ERLC. The letter was signed by a group of pastors and leaders from the New Orleans area: past SBC President Fred Luter, Jr., David Crosby, Chad Gilbert, Page Brooks, Mike Miller, Anna Palmer, Geovanny Gomez, Jay Adkins, Larry Johnson, and Jack Hunter. The letter is not only a well-articulated argument for Russell Moore's effectiveness as ERLC President (they say "Moore is especially well-suited to engage the culture with the gospel of Jesus … [Read more...] about NOBA Statement in Support of Russell Moore
Crosby, Luter, Hunter, and Others Call for Unity Among Louisiana Baptists
Today the New Orleans Baptist Association published an important article signed by 7 New Orleans area pastors and the Executive Director of the NOBA. The post calls for unity and an end to the divisiveness that's been shown by Louisiana Baptist Convention (LBC) leadership and the state Baptist newspaper, the Baptist Message. I'm tremendously grateful for these eight leaders and their willingness to speak out publicly about their concern for Louisiana Baptists. I've watched the Louisiana Baptist Convention from a distance for several years now, and with great concern for what I see as damage … [Read more...] about Crosby, Luter, Hunter, and Others Call for Unity Among Louisiana Baptists
It’s Not Tricky: J. D. Is the Best Choice for SBC President
I'll add my voice to those who have commended all three candidates in this year's presidential election. I don't have anything negative to write about Crosby or Gaines. I even blogged in a recap of last years convention about the positive experience I had meeting and talking with Steve Gaines at last year's convention. I appreciate what I know of both of the other candidates. But as I try to picture a healthy SBC in 10 years, there's no doubt in my mind that J. D. Greear is the best choice to lead us in that direction. 12 years ago Jimmy Draper launched an initiative to engage and develop … [Read more...] about It’s Not Tricky: J. D. Is the Best Choice for SBC President
We Came to Serve Them, But They Served Us: Lithuania Part 2
Our church took mart in a mission trip to Lithuania earlier this month. This post is part of a series highlighting different aspects of our experience and the IMB work going on there. The first part of our trip that I’d like to highlight is our experience with our IMB personnel. We have one missionary unit in Lithuania, a country of just under 3 million people. A country that’s less than 1% evangelical. Milton Magalhaes and his family have been serving Lithuania for years. He and Lara have invested their lives, sweat, prayers, tears into this country. Our goal with this new partnership … [Read more...] about We Came to Serve Them, But They Served Us: Lithuania Part 2
Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB
We recently took our first trip in a new missions partnership with our IMB missionaries in Lithuania. In early October, we flew out of Norfolk International to JFK, then to Helsinki, Finland, and on to Vilnius, the capital city of Lithuania. We spent an incredible week in Lithuania that I’ll be reflecting on in this series of posts. Why Lithuania? This was my first trip to Europe. I’ve always wanted to visit the continent, but never envisioned Finland as my entry point nor one of the Baltic states as the place I’d spend my time there. Earlier this year, the SBC of Virginia hosted Milton … [Read more...] about Our New Missions Partnership in Lithuania: Co-laboring with the IMB
Why I Moved to Amend the Nominations Report
During the Tuesday afternoon business session of the 2015 SBC Annual Meeting, I offered an amendment to the Committee on Nominations Report. I asked the convention to approve a change on the IMB trustee list from Thom Polvogt from FBC Katy, Texas (original nominee) to a church member of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Dallas with significant international missions experience. Several people have questioned my reasoning and judgment for making an amendment like this. I have no problem letting everyone know why I thought this was important enough to bring to a floor vote and why I stand by my … [Read more...] about Why I Moved to Amend the Nominations Report