There is something of a blog debate right now about contextualization and sharing the Gospel in a Muslim context. It began with this post on SBC Impact which is a sample of a contextualized personal testimony offered by anonymous missionary. SBC Today posted a response that raised several issues with this approach to contextualization. Among other things, that response concluded: It is certainly worthwhile to “contextualize the gospel.” The task is difficult, surely. The author of the SBCImpact.net article may well have sought to do something similar to what Paul did in these examples, but … [Read more...] about Blog Debate: Contextualization, IMB, And Gospel Integrity
Does Cooperative Program = Missions?
This is the one question that kept coming up in yesterday's conversation. One commentator even asked, "When did the CP start describing itself as mission work?" Here are a few observations: The domain www.cpmissions.net definitely gives that idea. The title of the website is "Cooperative Program (CP) Missions" The about page states, "a God-given partnership of missions support was conceived—The Cooperative Program." Missions Home & Abroad? This was a second question that kept coming up. I wasn't able to find an authoritative definition, but my instinct is to think … [Read more...] about Does Cooperative Program = Missions?
The SBC & Bleeding Kansas
While looking up some history of the Domestic Missions Board, I came across this resolution from the 1855 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting. Resolution On Missions (May 1855): RESOLVED, That the Board of Domestic Missions be instructed to occupy Kansas, as a field of missions as soon as practicable. This immediately brought to mind Bleeding Kansas and the boarder wars over slavery in Kansas Territory. Does anybody know the rest of the story? … [Read more...] about The SBC & Bleeding Kansas
How Much CP Even Gets To The IMB?
Lately, we have been looking into the best way to use our missions money as a local congregation. The more I learn, the less satisfied I become with the Cooperative Program as a "missions" funding tool. Attention LifeWay Research, I'm moving to the minority on this one. Here is the way the math works for our church. We give about $24,000 through the Cooperative Program. The Indiana Baptist Split is (64.5%) 15,480, and the SBC portion is (35.5%) 8,520. Once the money gets to Nashville, the CP allocations gives half (4,260) to the IMB and the rest to other causes (NAMB, Seminaries, etc.). … [Read more...] about How Much CP Even Gets To The IMB?
CP At 91.88% Of Budget After 3 Months
Baptist Press issued some figures about the pace of Cooperative Program giving over the last few months. We have seen hints that it was coming and today we get confirmation. The news wasn't good and we're 5% behind the 2008 pace. But the real headline was buried in the article. For the (2008-2009) SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget, the year-to-date total of $47,251,306.70 is 91.88 percent of the $51,429,208.50 budgeted to support Southern Baptist ministries globally and across North America. Remember, the SBC operates on an Oct. 1-Sept. 30 fiscal year. So, these figures are … [Read more...] about CP At 91.88% Of Budget After 3 Months
Baptists In The 111th Congress
Aaron Weaver, has posted some analysis on the church affiliation claimed by members of the 111th US Congress. He makes special note of incoming legislators affiliated with Baptist churches. He states that 27 House Representatives hold membership in a Baptist church that affiliates with the Southern Baptist Convention. He also lists four SBC affiliated Senators. Southern Baptists in the Senate include John McCain (R-AZ), North Phoenix Baptist Church; Roger Wicker (R-MS), First Baptist Church Tupelo; Tom Coburn (R-OK), First Baptist Church Muskogee; and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Corinth Baptist … [Read more...] about Baptists In The 111th Congress
2008-2009 Cooperative Program Budget Allocation
Earlier today I was looking for the breakdown of CP monies used by the SBC. I had to look through a 1300+ page PDF, but I found it at last. Since I had such trouble finding this data online, I thought it would be good to post it here in a usable format. This information was taken from the 2008 Annual of the Southern Baptist Convention. TOTAL BUDGET ALLOCATION $205,716,834.00 (100.00%) WORLD MISSION MINISTRIES $ 149,741,283.47 (72.79%) INTERNATIONAL MISSION BOARD $ 102,858,417.00 (50.00%) NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD 46,882,866.47 (22.79%) THEOLOGICAL EDUCATION MINISTRIES$ … [Read more...] about 2008-2009 Cooperative Program Budget Allocation
New Blog About Church Conflict
Check out a new blog about dealing with church conflict by David Noble author of Winning The Real Battle At Church. Here is what SBC President Johnny Hunt said about that book. If your church has ever dealt with any type of internal strife or conflict and you have wished there was a resource to help guide you, let me commend this book to you. I'm excited that David is bringing this topic to the blogosphere. … [Read more...] about New Blog About Church Conflict
When Money Is Tight The WMU Leads By Example
The Tennessean.com posted a story today about cutbacks at the Woman's Missionary Union. It was reported that they won't ask for additional donations for operating costs. Instead they are slashing personnel expense. The article mentions unpaid furlough for employees, a hiring freeze, no raises, and pension cuts. This is a strong contrast from the "bailout" mentality that is dominating our culture. It was their rationale that caught my attention. Here's the quote: Julie Walters, communications specialist at the union's headquarters in Birmingham, Ala., said the organization's priority is … [Read more...] about When Money Is Tight The WMU Leads By Example
Top 10 SBC Stories Of 2008
What events from this past year will have a lasting impact on the life of the SBC? Here is my attempt to answer that question. This exercise is sure to invite criticism and I am open for your correction in the comment section. 1. Decline In SBC Giving: While membership numbers can be inflated and baptisms can fluctuate, the real measure of our denominational mission has always been our missions offerings. That is what the SBC does - cooperate for missions. So, when that slides it should catch our attention. This story broke in early October but was largely ignored. The quote, "Cooperative … [Read more...] about Top 10 SBC Stories Of 2008