Resources from 2016

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) -- Many churches and individuals lived their lives on mission in 2016, and the North American Mission Board has released a list of the year's highlights, spotlighting those who gave, served, loved their neighbors and shared the hope of Christ.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- LifeWay Christian Resources celebrated two historic milestones in 2016, but remains focused on the future of the organization. In April, LifeWay held a chapel service to commemorate its 125th anniversary, then held a groundbreaking and prayer service on the downtown Nashville property that will house its new headquarters in 2017.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Gospel application to such issues as the sanctity of human life, sexuality and religious freedom marked the work of the Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission in 2016. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) co-hosted a first-of-its-kind, pro-life conference in the opening month of 2016, sponsored a national conference on the Gospel and culture in the summer, and promoted scripturally based policies with the federal government throughout a year featuring an election campaign that divided evangelical Christians.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. (BP) -- Michael Arnold and his family were among hundreds of St. Augustine residents who fled their homes two months ago as Hurricane Matthew trailed close behind. And while St. Augustine, known as the nation's oldest city, didn't take a direct hit from the hurricane, coastal flooding from its storm surge and near-hurricane-force winds wreaked havoc and destruction for many who call it home.

PINEVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- At Kentucky's Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, every Christmas season includes "turkey day." On the designated day in December, all degree-seeking students taking at least six hours of classes at the eastern Kentucky college receive a frozen turkey, fixings for a holiday meal and a cash gift of at least $100 to help with Christmas expenses. A separate "shopping spree" gift helps student families buy presents for their children.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) -- As Christians worldwide prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus, one Kentucky couple reflects on the day they say God stitched together their Christmas gift of a new family. On Dec. 18, Sam and Stephanie Patterson celebrated the second anniversary of the day they adopted four siblings from foster care. "That's our 'forever family' day," said Stephanie, a music ministry associate at Little Flock Baptist Church in Shepherdsville, Ky., just south of Louisville.

OKLAHOMA CITY (BP) -- El año 2016 ofrece una única oportunidad en la que Navidad cae domingo. Hace años, una mega iglesia sin denominación públicamente decidió cancelar sus cultos cuando Navidad caía domingo citando necesidades familiares de pasar tiempo juntos ese día y la inhabilidad de la iglesia de obtener suficientes voluntarios para hacer que los servicios funcionaran. Este movimiento, quizá involuntariamente mostró un gran malentendido del significado de la palabra Navidad en inglés: Christmas -- que traducido al español es: misa de Cristo. Ven, no solamente quita a Cristo de Christmas, quita esa ...

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Un póster del personaje de Peanuts con un versículo bíblico, una cruz en el árbol de Navidad de un pueblo e inclusive la palabra "festivo" están entre los últimos campos de batalla en la sollamada guerra en contra de la Navidad. El presidente de la Convención Bautista del Sur, Steve Gaines le dijo a Baptist Press que el remolino de ataques de este año por las expresiones públicas de Navidad destaca la necesidad de salvaguardar la libertad religiosa.

WASHINGTON (BP) -- Los partidarios provida esperan que tenga una corta existencia la más reciente ley de la administración Obama que beneficia a Planned Parenthood y a otros proveedores de abortos. Casi cinco semanas antes que el Presidente Obama deje el puesto, el Departamento de Salud y Servicios Humanos (HHS, por sus siglas en inglés) emitió un fallo final el 14 de diciembre que bloquearía efectivamente a los estados que prohibirían que fondos del Título X vayan a los proveedores de abortos. El gobierno federal provee fondos para la planificación familiar y servicios ...