Resources from 2019

NEW YORK, N.Y. (BP) -- On an unseasonably warm Tuesday morning Dec. 10, the line of people at Tompkins Square Park on the corner of East 10th Street in New York City swelled to a little over 100. Some had been there since 1 a.m., armed with ponchos and umbrellas to battle a steady rain that fell on the city most of the night. They were waiting for the doors of Graffiti Church to open for its annual toy sale outreach event. Inside, Graffiti's pastor and New York City Send Relief missionary Taylor Field, along with about 20 volunteers, also were waiting, anxious to spread a little Christmas cheer.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (BP) -- El Seminario Teológico Bautista Midwestern (MBTS) celebró un gran logro durante su 66a ceremonia de graduación el 6 de diciembre cuando 29 plantadores de iglesia de habla hispana obtuvieron su Certificado de Plantador de Iglesia, y dos de esos graduados también recibieron una maestría en estudios teológicos con énfasis en ministerio pastoral del programa en lengua española de la escuela. "Lo que sucedió hoy es épico e histórico. El programa piloto ya no es piloto," dijo Félix Cabrera, profesor asistente de ministerio pastoral y coordinador de relaciones de la iglesia en español. "La experiencia ministerial combinada con la educación teológica es un escenario ideal para estos pastores que sirven en República Dominicana, Venezuela, México, Paraguay, Nicaragua, y Puerto Rico."

Joe McKeever asks, "Why would a small group of men, albeit wealthy ones, put their lives on hold and travel at considerable expense ... uncertain where they were headed?"

BURLESON, Texas (BP) -- Filmmaker Jarod O'Flaherty didn't intend to produce a television series for streaming on Amazon Prime. O'Flaherty, who wrote, directed and produced the award-winning faith-based 2013 film "My Son" with the talented congregation of Retta Baptist Church in Burleson, Texas, planned to use funds designated for video and film ministry left from "My Son" DVD and ticket sales to create a short film for the festival circuit.

NASHVILLE (BP) – A medida que los bautistas del sur se dirigen hacia el 2020, cierran los libros en un año de transiciones en varias entidades nacionales, junto con una acción decisiva a lo largo y ancho de la Convención para ayudar a las iglesias a cuidar bien a aquellos afectados por el abuso sexual y el acoso. Con un incremento en el dar tanto a las misiones nacionales como al Programa Cooperativo, los bautistas del sur están abocados a continuar sus esfuerzos de avance de la Gran Comisión. Estas 10 nuevas historias, seleccionadas tanto por los editores de Baptist Press como por una encuesta de los editores de publicaciones estatales bautistas del sur, representan las historias más importantes de 2019.

Dios es la fuente de nuestras riquezas. La Biblia nos recuerda en (Deuteronomio 8:17-19) "y digas en tu corazón: Mi poder y la fuerza de mi mano me han traído esta riqueza. Sino acuérdate de Jehová tu Dios, porque él te da el poder para hacer las riquezas, a fin de confirmar su pacto ...

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Willie McLaurin ha sido nombrado icepresidente de relaciones y movilización de la Gran Comisión del Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur -- un nuevo puesto creado para maximizar los recursos y el impacto del Evangelio en el CE. "Willie McLaurin es un líder altamente relacional, disciplinado, dotado y en crecimiento," dijo Ronnie Floyd, presidente y director ejecutivo del CE. "A los 46 años de edad, es un poderoso predicador que inspira a la gente a seguir a Cristo apasionadamente. Willie ama a la gente, y es más que evidente cuando estás a su alrededor.

WASHINGTON (BP) -- The third impeachment of a president in American history came Wednesday night (Dec. 18) in a still deeply divided U.S. House of Representatives and country. The House passed two articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump without any Republican members voting for them. Democrats voted 230-197 to approve an article charging the president with abuse of power and 229-198 for a charge of obstruction of Congress. Two Democratic members voted against the abuse of power article and three against the obstruction article.

BEIJING (BP) -- As more government officials in China are empowered to close churches and a "social credit" system threatens to block Christians from schools, bank loans and jobs, authorities have taken harsh measures against more churches, sources said. In Beijing, Early Rain Covenant Church elder Qin Defu was sentenced to four years in prison Nov. 29, according to advocacy group China Aid Association (CAA). Qin was charged with illegal business operations as a result of the church's using 20,000 Christian books, according to CAA.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- As Southern Baptists head toward 2020, they close the books on a year of transitions at several national entities, along with decisive action across the Convention to help churches care well for those affected by sexual abuse and harassment. With increased giving to both national missions offerings and the Cooperative Program, Southern Baptists are poised to continue their Great Commission advancement efforts.