SBC Voices traces it's humble beginnings back to a blogger site in June 2007. We moved to the current address in 2008. Times have changed, technology has improved, but we're still here talking about all things Southern Baptist. The stats dashboard says we've had something like 6.5 million page views (not counting blog authors). We've released 3,727 posts and they have earned 168,598 comments (not counting spam). That's an average of 45 comments per post over the last 9 years. There aren't many blog communities with that kind of activity -- all credit to the readers who keep things … [Read more...] about SBC Voices is turning 9 years old — here are the top 20 posts (sorted by comment count)
About Tony Kummer
“1 of 4 SBC Baptisms Result from VBS,” can that be right?
Summer is almost here, that means the annual Vacation Bible School across the SBC. Here's what Baptist Press (reporting the ACP) said about VBS in 2006. Vacation Bible School continues to have the greatest evangelistic impact in the Southern Baptist Convention, with 26 percent of baptisms in SBC churches a direct result of VBS. A more recent article has roughly the same numbers. 25 percent of baptisms reported by the SBC come from VBS. Every one person trained in VBS results in 1.1 salvation decisions. I'd like to hear what everyone thinks of those kind of figures. Do they hold true in … [Read more...] about “1 of 4 SBC Baptisms Result from VBS,” can that be right?
How to get your face beside your comments…
This is a short PSA for anyone who would like to display a profile picture beside your comments. SBC Voices, like many Wordpress blogs, use the free Gravatar service. It basically connects a mugshot to your email, so when you comment on a blog people can judge you by your photo. It's a good idea and will make everyone a little more civil. Click the link above. … [Read more...] about How to get your face beside your comments…
The Forgotten Southern Baptist Podcast
In the way back days (aka my Seminary years) we created some podcasts for this blog. They are mostly from 2008 but might be fun to listen now. Not to ignore history, our podcasts were actually a spin off of the Said at Southern Podcast. Some people you might know appeared in those episodes: Russell Moore, NT Wright, Derek Webb, Martin Luther King Jr.. In hindsight, I may have learned more from scheduling, recording, and producing these podcasts than my actual education. (Let current the current Seminary student understand!) We hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment about your favorite … [Read more...] about The Forgotten Southern Baptist Podcast
#jesusFREAKcruise Too Weird for Satire
https://youtu.be/riu3S7vkT_s Everyone get excited~! The "hardcore soldout for Jesus feeling" we had in the 90s is now just another artist soldout to the CCM cruise circus. The former members of DC Talk are getting back together for an event called the Jesus Freak Cruise. They've added lots of other people making music & money in Jesus name to join them. Of course the Babylon Bee broke the story in style. With some light satire about the advanced age of the group. Then our friend son Twitter had their say: PR team's response after reading your tweets. #dctalk … [Read more...] about #jesusFREAKcruise Too Weird for Satire
Democracy: The Only Problem with Stopping Trump
It's been one week, but I'm still shocked by the failure of Indiana voters to stop Donald Trump. It looks like I'm stuck with this billboard every day until November. This was our May 9th INDIANA results (ignoring party lines). Trump 587,706 Cruz 404,327 Sanders 331,707 Clinton 297,150 Kasich 82,786 That was Indiana voters choosing Donald Trump. Democracy. Notice that both also-ran Republicans combined could not have won. More remarkable, both Democrats combined would only have a 41,151 advantage against Trump. That's not conclusive of anything, but it makes me a … [Read more...] about Democracy: The Only Problem with Stopping Trump
Yes. Peter Lumpkins Got a Time-Out
I usually defend Peter's blog as an interesting side-note to the Baptist conversation. Other times, I call him our weird cousin from Georgia. Either way, I think SBC Voices should be a place where outliers find their place. He earned a brief time-out the Jonathan Merritt posts. That seems over except for a few private grudges. Peter, welcome back. Any protests are welcome in the comments. Watch below if you are still upset. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSReSGe200A … [Read more...] about Yes. Peter Lumpkins Got a Time-Out
Liberty Publicly Refutes Peter Lumpkins (but leaves wiggle room)
This statement (HT) came out of Liberty University regarding Peter's blog post about their Trustees and Mark Driscoll. I'm interested is the wiggle room they left and how it might suggest Peter is closer to the truth then they want to admit. Announcement MISREPRESENTATIONS BY BLOGGER RE. LIBERTY'S BOARD Student Affairs On April 4, 2012, a Southern Baptist blogger, Peter Lumpkins, wrote an innacurate account of Liberty's recent Board of Trustees meeting as it relates to the university's invitation to Mark Driscoll to speak in Convocation. Lumpkin’s recent blog contains information that … [Read more...] about Liberty Publicly Refutes Peter Lumpkins (but leaves wiggle room)
Liberty University Vs. Peter Lumpkins: Seriously???
I had a good laugh last night when I received the following email from David Corry, a General Counsel with Liberty's Office of Legal Affairs. I'm posting it here with grammatical, factual, and spelling errors as received. from: Corry, David M dcorry@liberty.edu to: "peterlimpkins@gmail.com" cc: "Tony@sbcvoices.com" cc: "court-orders@wordpress.com" date: Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 6:39 PM subject: Cease and Decist False Statements regarding Liberty University Trustees Peter Lumpkins: Your recent internet blog on peterlumpkins.com/typepad.com has come to the attention of Liberty University … [Read more...] about Liberty University Vs. Peter Lumpkins: Seriously???
The “Great Cop-Out Baptist” Convention
In the past, I've considered a full SBC name change a worthy idea. But it's more fun to be negative, so here are # reasons why the proposed "Great Commission Baptists" naming scheme is a failure. It's a deceitful label. With declining baptisms and missions giving, this looks like wishful thinking. "Rainer said Baptists need to spend more time spreading the faith to nonbelievers. In the 1950s, he said, there was one baptism for every 20 Southern Baptists. "Now, it takes 40 of our members to baptize one person," he said." (USA Today) It will accelerate the divisions. Instead of saying, … [Read more...] about The “Great Cop-Out Baptist” Convention