WHY THE GALILEE GRIGGS MEMORIAL DISTRICT ASSOCIATION OF BAPTIST CHURCHES EXISTS By William Dwight McKissic, Sr. Servant/Moderator of the GGMDABC And Senior Pastor of Cornerstone Church, Arlington, TX Impacting the Next Generation for the Kingdom Psalm 145:4 I. INTRODUCTION AND TESTIMONIAL Jesus established the church in order for the church to represent His Kingdom on planet earth. The church’s primary role is to be ambassadors of Christ’s Kingdom. Although the church and the Kingdom are not synonymous, they are interrelated and interdependent. The theme of Jesus’ preaching was … [Read more...] about Concerning the Galilee Griggs Memorial District Association of Baptist (by Wm Dwight McKissic, Sr)
Is NAMB planting vast numbers of Calvinistic churches…. (by William Thornton)
William is the SBC Plodder. ...and, if this is true, should Southern Baptists be concerned? There has been and is this narrative afoot in our Convention: Calvinists are too numerous, have become too powerful, occupy too many leadership positions, occupy too many pulpits, exercise too much influence, and steps should be taken to slow or stop this Calvinist train. This is a Gospel Narrative to some in our convention and it colors how this group sees our entities and decisions by our trustees. For example, our North American Mission Board has this nascent church planting program called … [Read more...] about Is NAMB planting vast numbers of Calvinistic churches…. (by William Thornton)
No One Prepared Me for the Loneliness (by Tony Jones)
This post is authored by Tony Jones. Tony is pastor of the First Baptist Church of Rich Hill, MO. He blogs at http://thespiritualwoodshed.com/. When I was a music minister, it seemed I was always surrounded by people. There was always someone there, in part, because music ministers are always part of a staff of ministers and there really is always someone else there. I enjoy the presence of others, and I always enjoyed spending my days amongst other people. When my office was located in the back of the church, I would hear the front door open and I would walk to the front office to see … [Read more...] about No One Prepared Me for the Loneliness (by Tony Jones)
Sorry, but that MDiv is not a paying investment (William Thornton)
The SBC Plodder is back with his customary incisive analysis of all things SBC. LifeWay and Baptist Press do a good job this time of the year in researching and writing about clergy salaries. BP's story about pastor salaries not keeping pace with inflation is a good example. According to LifeWay's 2014 Clergy Compensation Survey, pay and pay package increases for full-time senior pastors are going up at a rate less than the rate of inflation. This means that, as a group, senior pastors are slightly losing ground in their income considering the cost of goods of services. Any senior pastor … [Read more...] about Sorry, but that MDiv is not a paying investment (William Thornton)
“Your Comment Contains Profanity” (Paul Thompson)
Paul Thompson blogs at the Bridge. Unfortunately, evidently he also needs his mouth washed out with soap! The childhood fear of having my mouth washed out with soap haunted me this evening as I was responding to some push back from mycolumn this morning in the Times-News. I’m thankful for the opportunity to write a regular column for the Times News. They are kind to publish my 500-700 word column in a rotation with 5 others in the Magic Valley. Today’s post generated a small amount of discussion via www.magicvalley.com (the online version of the Times-News). In my attempt to dialog with … [Read more...] about “Your Comment Contains Profanity” (Paul Thompson)
When Those Who Preach Don’t Know God (Paul Thompson)
Paul Thompson blogs at "The Bridge." Today (October9, 2014) at 5 p.m., mountain time, we will know what the courts will say in regard to Idaho’s defense of marriage. In the mean time I’ve received messages like this in response to my calling the church (Eastside Baptist) to prayer. “OK, well in my place of worship my pastor fully supports gay rights. I’m a bisexual Christian I married a man when I was 19 and that man cheated on me and divorced me and with man or woman I’m happy and God is happy to call me his child and is proud that I spread love throughout the state.. So keep your rude … [Read more...] about When Those Who Preach Don’t Know God (Paul Thompson)
Designated giving UP; Cooperative Program giving DOWN for 2013-2014 (William Thornton)
William Thornton is the SBC Plodder. The SBC Executive Committee has closed the books on the fiscal year 2013-2014 and Baptist Press reports that "The Southern Baptist Convention ended its fiscal year 0.76% below last year's contributions and missed its Cooperative Program allocation budgeted projection of $191.5 million by 2.58%..." Here are the relevant figures as compared to the last fiscal year. These are for monies received by the SBC Executive Committee for distribution to the SBC entities IMB, NAMB, the seminaries, ERLC, and EC itself. The figures, in millions of dollars, do not … [Read more...] about Designated giving UP; Cooperative Program giving DOWN for 2013-2014 (William Thornton)
Overlooking the Cooperative Program (Luke Holmes)
Luke Holmes blogs at "A Copernican Revolution" and is pastor of First Baptist Church of Tishomingo, OK. “Mr. President, Mr. President!” Three voices spoke almost as one. “Mr. President, do I have the floor?” The president’s gavel hammered vigorously. “The Chair recognizes Brother Stealey.” “Mr. President, we must settle this evolution issue at once,” Clarence Stealey said. “Let the messengers to this annual session of the Southern Baptist Convention vote now. It’s the most pressing matter before us in 1925. Brother Burts’s money report can come later.” “Mr. President!” shouted … [Read more...] about Overlooking the Cooperative Program (Luke Holmes)
A Call to Rural Communities (Steven Schenewerk)
Steven Schenewerk is pastor of Winston's Community Baptist Church in Winston, Oregon. He blogs at WCBCpastor's Blog. I have seen countless articles encouraging young adults to consider serving urban poor populations. That is wonderful. But what I haven’t seen are many articles or encouragements for young adults to consider serving rural poor. Serving in a rural, poor community certainly is not glamorous and it is certainly not economically advantageous. However, there are several reasons I believe we need to encourage young college and seminary students to consider serving in rural … [Read more...] about A Call to Rural Communities (Steven Schenewerk)
The CP and the SQ: A Response to Bart Barber (William Thornton)
William is the SBC Plodder. My insightful friend and fellow blogger, Bart Barber, has a short article on SBC Voices entitled, "It's the CP, not the SQ", in which he says, "I write today to disabuse you all of the idea that defending the Cooperative Program means defending the status quo." I've concluded that our venerable denominational funding scheme, The Cooperative Program, has become an inherently status quo system with little chance of accommodating major changes. This article explains why. To discuss this necessarily involves dividing the question of status quo into two parts: (1) … [Read more...] about The CP and the SQ: A Response to Bart Barber (William Thornton)