SBC Voices

(William Thornton, the SBC Plodder, shares another of his articles with us.) Our wonderful CP, an eminently sensible concept, is shrinking and churches have dropped from over ten percent to the CP to around six. One complaint about the CP is that state conventions keep too much of each CP dollar. SBC Executive Committee statistics show that the percentage of CP dollars kept by the states is around 63% and in the last 50 years has ranged between roughly 61% and 67%. There seems to me to be a growing criticism that more of each CP dollar fails to get out of the states. Bryant Wright … [Read more...] about Cooperative Program Confusion (by William Thornton)

(Micah Fries, pastor of Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church in St. Joseph, MO, blogs at MicahFries.com.) Osama Bin Laden is dead. After a decade of reining as the most well known face of terror and depravity, Bin Laden will no longer have the privilege of presiding over a culture of terror. As a result of his death, American’s have filled the streets of their respective cities, setting off fireworks and jubilant celebrations. As I think through the implications of Bin Laden’s death, particularly as I thought through how to explain it to my daughters this morning who never lived through 9/11, I … [Read more...] about Let us not dance on his grave (by Micah Fries)

On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast and laid waste to the area.  In 2006, 2007 and 2008, I went on mission trips to the area with my church and its youth group.  We went to Pascagoula, MS; Bay St. Louis, MS; and then to New Orleans itself.   In 2007, I had to fly in and out of New Orleans for the Bay St. Louis trip.  At the end of the week, I was dropped off in the New Orleans airport for the flight home and I noticed something interesting.    The airport was filled with small (and some fairly large) groups of young people in matching t-shirts.  It was youth groups from all … [Read more...] about The Church Shines Brightest in the Darkest Night

A while ago, I published a challenge that we help CB Scott and the people of Westmont Baptist Church.  Bob Cleveland, who blogs at Eagle's Rest and is a frequent imparter of wisdom here at SBC Voices, got the ball rolling.  I saw his post, which I am reprinting here (with his permission) and then contacted CB.  Here is Bob's post describing some of what is going on. From Bob Cleveland: It started with a text message: "I have very limited phone service. We are OK. NO power. This area would make a great partnership ministry between Westmont and 1st Pelham. We are feeding all we can, but … [Read more...] about “Church, Behaving Like Church” (by Bob Cleveland)

Mostly, bloggers talk.  We analyse, criticize and examine what is going on in this SBC and the larger Christian world.  Today, we can take the next step.  We can do something important.   In a time of crisis, of great need, can we come together and make a difference.  We have an opportunity to help people whose lives have been devastated in recent days.  One of our own, a fellow-blogger named CB Scott is at ground zero of this tragedy and is trying to minister in the name of Christ.  You and I can help him. I talked to CB tonight.   He is the pastor of Westmont Baptist Church in Birmingham, … [Read more...] about “BloggerAID”: We Can Help Alabama Tornado Victims

I've been introduced to something new in the last couple of months, something called "spoken word" poetry.  It's not sappy rhymes like you find on greeting cards and funeral programs, but gritty observations about life set in a lyrical form.  You can find a lot of it on Youtube and Vimeo.  Much of it, of course, is pretty vulgar. I found out about spoken word poetry because my daughter was introduced to it in her Creative Writing class and has become a devotee.  She has started participating in "poetry slams"  - essentially poetry battles.  She won one and has finished second and third at … [Read more...] about The Spoken WORD: “Hypochristians” by Karness

We’ve got the perfect opportunity for you to teach your children about urban church planting while making a kingdom impact in a strategic city! As you may know, one of Lifeway’s VBS themes this year is “Big Apple Adventure”. Please consider connecting your VBS to the Gallery Church in New York City by: 1)    Designating your VBS Missions offering to us at the Gallery Church, and 2)    Energizing your VBS by using Missions Moment videos we’ve created for you! We’re getting great feedback on the videos and trust they will energize your VBS! The Gallery Church is an SBC church plant that … [Read more...] about The Big Apple Adventure (from Freddy Wyatt)

For the second time I am reading Ed Stetzer’s landmark book Breaking the Missional Code. I agree with most if it. But one thing I am having a hard time with is this statement and the implications that come out of it: “Our growing cultural diversity requires a church within the reach of every people group, population segment, and cultural environment if we are to be faithful to the Great Commission”. The implication here is that if you live in an area that has lots of “cowboys” then perhaps a cowboy church would help reach people with the gospel. Or maybe you live around a bunch of … [Read more...] about Still Trying to Understand Cowboy Church