Craig Carlisle to be nominated for SBC 2nd vice president

By / May 16

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama pastor Jared Cornutt has announced his intention to nominate Craig Carlisle for second vice president of the Southern Baptist Convention in June when the convention meets in Dallas.

Carlisle, director of missions for Etowah Baptist Association in North Alabama, is currently serving his second one-year term as Alabama Baptist State Convention president. He is a member of First Baptist Church Gadsden, Ala.

“Dr. Carlisle has been many things in my life: my pastor, my mentor, and one of my closest friends,” said Cornutt, pastor of North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Cornutt said when he was in college and sensed a call to vocational ministry, he drove to Gadsden from Tuscaloosa to meet with Carlisle.

“He was the first person I told and the first person I sought wisdom from,” Cornutt said. “That day in February of 2011, Craig made me a promise: he would be my biggest supporter and help me however he could.”

Fourteen years later, Carlisle is still doing that, Cornutt said.

“But what’s remarkable is this — my story is not unique,” he said. “There are countless pastors across Alabama and beyond who could say the same. Craig Carlisle is a pastor to pastors. Every month, he faithfully prays for hundreds of ministers by name. He answers the late-night calls. He gives generously of his time and wisdom. He walks with pastors through their highest joys and their lowest valleys.”

Carlisle has also revitalized the historic School of the Prophets conference and has gone out of his way to make bivocational ministry a priority in his association and the state, Cornutt said.

“Also under his leadership, many churches have increased their support of the association or have begun to support the association when they previously were not,” he said.

Carlisle also chaired the state convention’s Sexual Abuse Task Force and was instrumental in founding the Alabama Young Pastors Network. Currently he is a trustee for the SBC Executive Committee.

“Craig Carlisle is humble, gracious, kind, generous, concerned and loving,” Cornutt said. “He believes in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the mission of our churches. Not only that, he also believes in the pastors who lead those churches.”

Carlisle said he is honored to be nominated for this role.

“I love Southern Baptists. I’m grateful for what God is doing through us in these days,” he said. “I’m humbled that some would consider me a candidate for this position. It would be an honor to serve our Convention.”

During the 2024 ACP year, FBC Gadsden received $1,538,073 in total undesignated receipts and gave $131,232 (9.84 percent) through the Cooperative Program. The church gave $15,467 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering, $35,189 to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering and reported 285 in average worship attendance and five baptisms, according to the ACP information provided by the church.

So far, one other nominee for second vice president has been announced — Tommy Mann, pastor of Highland Terrace Baptist Church in Greenville, Texas, who will be nominated by Jim Gatliff, associational missionary for Hunt Baptist Association.

This article originally appeared in The Alabama Baptist. Baptist Press contributed to this report.



ERLC hosts pastors in D.C. to discuss reconciliation priorities with elected officials

By / May 16

WASHINGTON (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) gathered a group of Southern Baptist pastors this week (May 14-15) for meetings with elected officials to discuss their policy priorities for Congressional budget reconciliation, including defunding Planned Parenthood.

ERLC staff convened a group of pastors from Alabama, Florida, South Dakota and Texas for the two-day advocacy trip which included meetings with senators and members of the House of Representatives, staff from the Trump administration, representatives from Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s office and staff from other congressional offices.

Pastors and ERLC representatives pray for Alabama Sen. Katie Britt.

In addition to these discussions over reconciliation priorities and other topics, ERLC staff and the participating pastors had the opportunity to pray for these elected leaders.

ERLC President Brent Leatherwood spoke to the significance of the trip.

“The ERLC exists to boldly proclaim truth in the public square while equipping pastors and churches on the issues of life, religious liberty, marriage and family and human dignity,” Leatherwood said. “We are deeply committed to standing alongside our SBC churches, ensuring that the Gospel is advanced through faithful engagement in the public square.

“This week, we had the distinct honor of hosting a group of SBC pastors to meet with U.S. senators, representatives and the White House Faith Office, where we championed Southern Baptist policy priorities, including the urgent call to defund Planned Parenthood. I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to bring the truth and hope of the Gospel to Capitol Hill."

Mike Orr, senior pastor of First Baptist Church Chipley, Fla., and president of the Florida Baptist Convention, was one of the trip participants and said it is important for pastors to be a voice for biblical truth.

“As Southern Baptist pastors, we have a divine mandate to shepherd the flock of God,” Orr said. “In addition, we have a responsibility to be a public voice advocating for truth.

“We had the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with some of the nation's top leaders about issues most important to Southern Baptist. These issues, such as the sanctity and dignity of human life, religious liberty and marriage and family, stem from biblical truth. We pray that our voices and presence will lead to legislation that honors and protects these sacred values and freedoms on which this nation was founded.”

This pastors’ advocacy trip was intentionally planned to take place during the budget reconciliation period, a crucially important time which provides a unique opportunity to advocate for Southern Baptist policy priorities.

Reconciliation is the legislative process by which Congress can evaluate their budget and make changes such as revising debt limits, addressing federal spending and adjusting tax policy.

The significance of a budget reconciliation bill is that it lowers the vote threshold to move forward with a vote or “invoke cloture” in the Senate from 60 members to a simple majority of 51. Under the current breakdown of Congress, a budget reconciliation bill could pass both chambers of Congress without needing support from any Democrats.

The ERLC has a list of six pro-life, pro-family policy priorities for this reconciliation bill which include:

  • Defunding Planned Parenthood
  • Removing financial barriers for choosing life
  • Improving the Adoption Tax Credit
  • Reducing marriage penalties, which disincentivize marriage in federal tax law
  • Supporting pregnancy resource centers
  • Supporting a Universal Charitable Deduction, which would encourage charitable giving

As these priorities were discussed with elected leaders, a particular focus was put on defunding Planned Parenthood, a long-held goal for Southern Baptists and currently the ERLC’s highest legislative priority.

Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider, receives at least $700 million in federal funding annually, essentially subsidizing the abortions for thousands.

As part of these talks, the ERLC hand-delivered the initial 10,000 signatures for the ERLC’s campaign to defund Planned Parenthood to Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL). Leatherwood handed Britt a printed copy of the ERLC’s letter with these signatures as a symbol of the consensus of Southern Baptists and pro-life Americans on this issue.

The ERLC’s campaign was launched in February, and the ERLC’s letter has been signed by more than 25,000 Southern Baptists and other pro-lifers. Leatherwood and other Southern Baptist leaders were the first signatures to appear on the document, and signatures continued to be added daily.  

The budget reconciliation process is expected to last into the summer months.



Arkansas Baptist DR sees four salvations amid flood recovery work

By / May 16

Editor’s note: Sunday, June 1, is Disaster Relief Sunday on the Southern Baptist Convention calendar.

MCGEHEE, Ark. – Arkansas Baptist Disaster Relief (ABDR) recently deployed to McGehee to assist with the recovery of homes flooded on April 5 following torrential rainfall across the state.

Mike Taylor, leader of the Washington/Madison feeding unit and one of the volunteers on the ground in McGehee, said they met with city officials on April 28 and received a briefing and a list of 41 homeowners that had requested assistance.  

“Arkansas Baptists were the first organization to deploy and provide actual recovery work for these homeowners,” Taylor said.  

Eighty-one homes suffered some damage during the flood event, but 40 were recovered by the homeowner or with help from friends and family. Taylor said the remaining 41 were the most impacted with up to 3 feet of water being recorded in some of the affected areas.  

“Upon the initial assessments that our assessment and chaplain teams completed it was very evident that extensive damage with mold and wet wallboard and flooring still existed,” he said. “Our recovery, flood recovery and box ministry teams began arriving on Wednesday, April 30, and immediately began assisting the homeowners.”

ABDR volunteers Howard and Ernestine Moose were in McGehee with the Clarksville First Baptist Church disaster relief team. Volunteers with their box ministry assisted in packing up four homes affected by the flood.

“Ministry is about sharing the Gospel face to face,” Howard said, adding that seeing someone “light up when you share the Gospel” is a blessing.

The recovery teams completed work on 39 homes, including removing wallboard, insulation, flooring and household items saturated with water. Treatment was then applied to the homes to kill and help prevent any further mold.  

Over the two weeks they were deployed, Taylor said the neighborhoods in the impacted area saw the “yellow shirt army working hard, long hours, praying with and for the families, hugging on them and providing hope and help.”

In a Facebook post on April 29, homeowner Jamie Mcmahan Smith wrote: “2 gentleman from this organization just visited with us and inspected the house for moisture in our walls. They were so precious and did a very thorough job. At the end of the visit, one told me ‘We don’t charge because HE (pointing to Heaven) already paid for it all!’ Then they prayed for us and I prayed for them! I’m moved to tears at the generous servant’s hearts of these men and this organization!!” 

As a result of ABDR’s efforts in McGehee, four individuals made professions of faith.  

Taylor said their host, First Baptist Church in McGehee, was outstanding by offering many spaces for the team to work, sleep and eat.  

“We felt like part of the community. A huge thank you to their staff and members,” he said. Other churches, including the Methodist and Catholic Church, also opened their arms and facilities to ABDR teams, “which was greatly appreciated.”

This article originally appeared at arkansasbaptist.org.



Groza to Gateway graduates: God is at work with you in ministry

By / May 16

ONTARIO, Calif. – Among the more than 110 students recognized at a graduation ceremony at Gateway Seminary’s Ontario campus was the seminary’s 11,000th graduate, Rony E. Morales Cumatz. Cumatz was part of the inaugural class of graduates receiving certificates in church planting through a Spanish program offered in partnership with the North American Mission Board. This year, Gateway graduates additionally walked at regional commencement ceremonies in Phoenix, Denver, Vancouver and Fremont; in June students will walk at a ceremony in Hong Kong.

During the May 2 ceremony, Gateway President Adam Groza spoke to graduates from 2 Corinthians 6:1-10.

“It is true, and we often say that God is at work in us,” Groza said. “It is also true that God is at work for us, but in our text Paul reminds us of the equally important truth that God is at work with us.”

Groza reminded graduates that even if they find themselves working as the lone pastor of a church or as an isolated missionary, they are co-laborers with Christ.

“Paul is reminding believers that the same God who reconciled you to Himself on the cross, who gave you the ministry of reconciliation, is the same God who is at work with you as you serve his beloved bride, the Church,” he said.

The passage also describes how God works with people, Groza said.

“God empowers us by His Spirit, He leads us by his word, he transforms us by His love, and He protects us by His righteousness.”

Groza’s second point was a scriptural warning against taking the Gospel in vain as a minister.

“The word vain is commonly translated as empty,” he said.

“Paul is warning us against having an empty ministry; a Gospel-less ministry, a Word-less ministry, or a prayerless ministry is an empty ministry and a powerless ministry.”

Instead, ministers are to “to preach the Word, to point people to Jesus and His finished work on the cross, and to proclaim Jesus on every page of Scripture,” Groza said.

Groza shared Paul’s final warning – that ministers can expect and must withstand troubles, mistreatment and hard work.

“God is with you, God empowers you, and God has equipped you to endure every hardship in ministry.”

Groza told graduates endurance comes from “moral purity, knowledge, patience and kindness, these and other fruits of the Spirit” granted by God.

“We endure by having Christlike character and by humble confidence in God's Word.”

Groza concluded his charge by describing one of the mysteries of the life of a minister: it is characterized by both sorrow and rejoicing.

“The paradox of ministry on one hand is there are joys and blessings and victories,” he said.

“But on the other hand, there are struggles and there is hurt and there is pain in ministry. It's not one or the other, it's both.”



Nigerian women grow soybeans to battle hunger, share faith

By / May 16

In rural Nigeria, Southern Baptists partnered with Nigerians to introduce a groundbreaking initiative that would improve food consumption and transform communities. Access to wholesome food is limited in the region, so the project sought to address the nutritional challenge that has been stunting the growth and development of many children.

The project, supported by Send Relief, aimed to empower women with the knowledge and skills to improve their families’ diets and generate income. At the heart of it was soybeans, a rich source of plant-based protein, carbs and fat.

International Mission Board missionary Angel Oswood said this soybean project, which began in 2020, was started by Nigerian women who were instructors in the women’s training department at a Nigerian theology college. As pastors came for training at the college, their wives attended classes as well.

IMB missionary Angel Oswood, middle left, and members of the women’s program at a Nigerian theology college taste the results of their labor from the soybean project in the kitchen funded by Send Relief. IMB Photo

“Some of them can't read when they come in,” said Oswood, who is a member of the college’s training department for women. “We teach them how to read, and then the ones who can read enroll in a two-year women’s program.”

Oswood said instructors noticed the children coming to the classes with their mothers were “malnourished and sickly,” so they provided soy milk.

“The children could get more nutrients from drinking soy milk, and that’s how the project started,” Oswood said. “Of course, we didn’t have any money to buy the soybeans, so that’s where Send Relief came in to help us get the project started, and they've been continuing to help us.”

Send Relief also provided funding to build a kitchen not only for the soybean project but also for students and their families to make meals.

“The students didn't have any place to cook,” Oswood said. “They’ve been cooking on rocks outside.”

Very little shade is offered, so training was done outside in the heat, which Oswood described as miserable conditions. The new kitchen offers better arrangements for food preparation and a little relief from the sun.

As the women learned and practiced together, they discovered the project was not just about food; it was about community transformation and sharing the Gospel. Each graduate received 22 pounds of soybeans to take back to their villages, jumpstarting a journey toward healthier eating habits. The ripple effect was immediate, as the women shared their knowledge and resources with others.

Financial benefits also came from the soybean project. One woman sold enough beans to pay for her husband’s school fees.

The soybean project provided the opportunity to bridge the divide between communities often burdened with religious tensions. As Send Relief reported, Muslim women are attending the soybean trainings, and friendships are forming.

Graduates of the Nigerian women’s program receive 22 pounds of soybeans to take back to their villages, jumpstarting a journey toward healthier eating habits. IMB Photo

Oswood said a pastor gave a testimony about two Muslim women who came to a village training and heard the Gospel. The pastor requested prayer for their husbands to allow the women to continue to connect with the Christians leading the training.

“It takes time to develop those relationships, but this opportunity through soybean education makes it more comfortable for these women to share with Muslim women,” Oswood said.

The impact of the soybean project has reached remarkable levels. An estimated 6,700 people have been touched by the project, with 600 people hearing the Gospel and two Bible study groups started. The project has also strengthened the network of local churches, with 67 involved, and empowered 418 people with training in areas like agriculture and healthcare.

As Send Relief looks to the future, the goal is to equip even more women with the knowledge and resources to transform their families’ lives and share the Gospel with unreached people groups. Graduates of the soybean project are encouraged to use their harvests to plant future crops and continue the training independently in their villages.

According to Send Relief, “The numbers translate to real change. Children are healthier, families are stronger, and communities are coming together.”



2025 SBC Book of Reports available online

By / May 15

DALLAS (BP) – The SBC Book of Reports is the paper of record for those wanting SBC entity reports and information before arriving at the SBC Annual Meeting. The book is available online.

“The Book of Reports is likely the most detailed, publicly available denominational reporting document in the world,” said SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg.

“It tells the story of a people on mission experiencing Gods’ supernatural blessing and guidance – for which we are grateful.”

The book is published annually and gives messengers key organizational data. It contains business reports from each entity and includes the 2025-2026 Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

This year’s Cooperative Program Allocation Budget has been a topic of interest to many Southern Baptists.

“The Executive Committee is recommending a national 2025-26 Cooperative Program allocation budget which includes a $3 million priority allocation for future legal expenses,” Iorg told Baptist Press. “While this is a difficult recommendation to make, it provides the resources to meet these needs and move us toward a healthier financial future.”

He says the Executive Committee is “making progress on finalizing legal expenses” but totals are not yet known.

Hard copies of the Book of Reports will be available at the SBC Annual Meeting in June. The digital version is online now.

Individual reports are available from:

  • SBC Executive Committee
  • Southern Baptist Foundation
  • GuideStone Financial Resources
  • International Mission Board
  • Lifeway Christian Resources
  • North American Mission Board
  • all six SBC seminaries
  • Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission
  • Woman’s Missionary Union

The book also includes the proposed Business and Financial Plan that was approved and recommended to messengers by the Executive Committee in February.

“Creating this new plan has been a joint effort involving the Executive Committee staff and officers, entity presidents, entity chief financial officers, entity attorneys, Executive Committee attorneys and Executive Committee members,” Iorg said.

Because of the “complexity of issues in creating this plan,” Iorg said he “hopes it will be adopted without significant changes with the understanding we can and will continue to evaluate it in the future to be sure it serves our purposes.”

The SBC’s governing documents – the Charter and Constitution, Bylaws and Business and Financial Plan – are also included in the Book of Reports, which in addition to being online, is available in the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting app.

Should updates or changes take place, they will be noted in the Daily Bulletin made available each day before the annual meeting sessions begin.

Iorg said the Book of Reports “reflects the breadth of our work, the integrity of our governance processes, the vision of our leaders and the transparency of our public reporting.”

The 2025 SBC Annual Meeting is set for June 10-11 at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in Dallas.



USCIRF highlights surging violence against Christians in Nigeria, urges U.S. action

By / May 15

WASHINGTON (BP) – Almost daily, news surfaces of Islamic extremists or Fulani militants killing Christians in northern or central Nigeria, with law enforcement either lacking or inadequate to intervene.

Nigeria’s size, population and underdeveloped infrastructure make full and accurate data on such attacks difficult to obtain, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said at a Capitol Hill hearing on religious freedom in Nigeria, but the country is the deadliest in the world for Christians.

Around 62,000 Christians have been killed for their faith in Nigeria since the year 2000, Commissioner Vicky Hartzler said, referencing Genocide Watch’s research.

In April, more than 240 Christians were massacred in attacks on villages in Plateau and Benue states during Lent and Easter, some as they worshiped, news agencies and religious liberty advocates reported.

What is clear, Commissioner Maureen Ferguson told Baptist Press, is that the U.S. can play a role in driving Nigeria to provide the religious freedom protections the African nation’s constitution stipulates.

Consistently since 2009, USCIRF has asked the U.S. State Department to designate Nigeria a County of Particular Concern (CPC) for egregious, systemic and ongoing religious liberty violations, which would carry a host of U.S. sanctions against the nation, including financial restrictions.

Ferguson encourages the U.S. Senate to confirm Mark Walker, a Southern Baptist from North Carolina, as U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, which she believes is a first step in drawing the U.S. State Department’s attention to Nigeria.

“The appointment of former Congressman Mark Walker as the ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom was an excellent appointment,” she said. “We hope the Senate will quickly confirm him because that will help focus things at the State Department on this very important issue.”

Nigeria was last designated a CPC in 2020, but was dropped from the list in 2021. Ferguson believes Secretary of State Marco Rubio might be inclined to revive the designation.

“What I would say is that Secretary Rubio has been a champion of international religious freedom and the protection of religious minority groups from persecution and violence,” she told Baptist Press. “The secretary of state has been an absolute leader on that during his time in the Senate. So I'm confident that he will bring that to the State Department. I just think we're still kind of in a transitional period because there's all this reshuffling at the State Department.”

The Biden Administration did not issue a Report on International Religious Freedom his departing year in office, and former Secretary of State Antonin Blinken did not issue a new list of CPCs. Now, there’s no indication of when the new administration will issue its first report.

Ferguson spoke to Baptist Press on the 22nd birthday of Leah Sharibu, the lone schoolgirl who remains captive among 104 kidnapped on Feb. 19, 2018 by the Islamic State-West Africa Province (ISWAP) from a government school in Dapchi, Yobe state. Her captives threatened to hold her as a slave for life because she refused to renounce her faith.

“There is an indication that she's still alive,” Ferguson said of Sharibu, who was taken at age 14. “I believe she's borne children in captivity and suffered abuse.”

While Nigeria’s constitution stipulates a respect for religious freedom, the country’s religious landscape defies it. Islamic Shari’a law is enforced in 12 of Nigeria’s northern states, with harsh punishment for blasphemy. The government is unable to protect religious groups from violence, particularly in rural areas, USCIRF said, citing banditry and interreligious violence,

Dangerous to Christians are Islamic terrorists, including ISWAP, Boko Haram, militant Fulani and the newly emerging Lakawara.

Violence against Christians, moderate Muslims and minority religious groups is escalating in Nigeria in the meanwhile, USCIRF highlighted in its hearing May 5 on Capitol Hill, offering testimony from commissioners, scholars and political leaders who have long advocated for religious freedom in Africa’s most populous nation.

“People are dying every day. It is getting worse, and it has been going on for years,” said panelist Frank R. Wolf, former USCIRF commissioner and U.S. congressman. “And I’ll tell you, the Christians you meet there, they are amazing.”

Wolf, who has worked alongside Rubio in Congress, believes as does Ferguson that Rubio has a “deep concern about religious freedom.” The new secretary of state would want to do everything possible, Wolf said, to address religious violence in Nigeria.

“The U.S. needs to do something that actually will help prevent further killings of Nigerian Christians and moderate Muslims,” Wolf said.

Video of the hearing is available here.



Bible App releases 21-day reading plan leading up to SBC Annual Meeting

By / May 15

DALLAS (BP) – A three-week reading plan associated with the upcoming Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting is now available through The Bible App.

Titled “SBC 25 – Hold Fast,” the plan is “focused on missions, cooperation, and holding fast to sound doctrine,” its description says. Each day brings a brief devotional and corresponding passage using the Christian Standard Bible translation. Users can also follow the Southern Baptist Convention in The Bible App.

“The Bible App is used by countless Southern Baptists every day. We are grateful for the opportunity to provide content focused on preparing messengers spiritually for this year’s SBC Annual Meeting and Pastors’ Conference,” said Jonathan Howe, SBC Executive Committee vice president for convention administration.

YouVersion, a digital ministry of Life.Church based in Edmond, Okla., launched The Bible App in 2008. It was one of the first 200 free apps available for the initial iPhone and received 83,000 downloads. According to a statement from YouVersion, the ministry’s family of apps that includes one for children and another for developing nations is projected to collectively reach 1 billion installs in November.

Free of charge to consumers, The Bible App’s content comes from more than 5,000 ministry partners connecting over 20,000 churches globally, the statement added.

“We are thrilled to expand our partnership with the SBC, united by a shared passion for equipping churches and believers to engage more deeply with God's Word,” said Justin Tarsiuk, YouVersion director of partnerships. “Together, we are creating pathways for life-changing discipleship, building vibrant, Christ-centered communities and inspiring a renewed love for Scripture. This collaboration is a powerful step forward in our shared mission to help people experience the transformative power of God's truth in their everyday lives."

The reading plan is a good reminder that when Southern Baptists gather next month, it “is more than just a business meeting,” said Howe.

“There is a spiritual component to it as well,” he said. “Our prayer is that the content here will be used to prepare the hearts of those coming to Dallas to celebrate our shared mission and to hold fast to our cooperative spirit and sound doctrine.”



Indiana pastors visit political leaders, offer Scripture, prayer, encouragement

By / May 15

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The recent trip by a group of pastors to the Indiana Statehouse brought reminders that opened doors have a way of opening eyes.

Don Morris had seen Alex Zimmerman plenty of times as Morris preached at Vernon Baptist Church. Zimmerman, his family and mother-in-law are all members.

But Morris had never experienced the pleasure of visiting Zimmerman, state representative for District 67, at his place of work.

A group of SCBI pastors and staff join several members of Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith in the lieutenant governor's office. Photo courtesy of SCBI

“It was my first time to the Statehouse,” said Morris, an Indiana resident since he was 13. “We were able to take a few minutes to speak with and pray with him. It’s good for folks to see there are believers in politics and that often our leaders can feel alone.”

The trip was coordinated by Josh Hershberger of the Indiana Family Institute. The group consisted of pastors and State Convention of Baptists in Indiana staff. Hershberger has provided legal direction for the state convention in the past.

“He’s not only a good friend, but we go to him if we need answers from an attorney,” said Ryan Strother, SCBI executive director. “He has worked with our associations and through our partnership, made this day possible. All we had to do was register our guys and he arranged for them to meet state representatives and senators.”

“I appreciate Ryan helping us get pastors connected to our government leaders,” said Hershberger, who is also serves as teaching pastor at his church. He is the director and general counsel of Church Ambassador Network of the Indiana Family Institute.

“The Network’s goal is to connect pastors and governing officials for the purpose of ministry and partnering with them for the common good,” he told BP. “We want officials to see who they are in Christ and the church as a key partner for our city, state and nation to be transformed through the power of the Gospel.”

Pastor Andy Moore of Ross Baptist Church in Gary, Ind. speaks with Sen. Dan Dernulc, who represents his district. Photo courtesy of SCBI

Similar church ambassador efforts are taking place in more than 20 states, added Hershberger.

After a brief orientation, the group met various lawmakers. Conversations were often met with opportunities to pray, which took place in the hallways well within earshot of those walking by.

Other appointments took place in offices. The informal discussions included legislators sharing their backgrounds. The group asked questions about their lives, shared Scripture and offered to pray for lawmakers, not all of whom shared in the pastors’ convictions.

In a little over five hours, the group connected with 15 officials. That included the offices of the lieutenant governor and governor as well as Senate Pro Tem Rod Bray (R) and Senate minority leader Shelli Yoder (D).

Politics was not the first point of discussion. Doors opened, literally and figuratively, through that approach. Jared Barham, just two years out of seminary, described the day as “eye-opening.”

“I can tell my students that you can be a Christian in whatever position or job you want to be,” said Barham, youth pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Indianapolis. “We prayed for and with our leaders on government property. We have the freedom and power to share the Gospel anywhere.

Josh Hershberger, with the Indiana Family Institute, stands at right and leads pastors to minister and pray with state politicians. Photo courtesy of SCBI

“Josh is doing incredible and eye-opening work, bridging the gap between politics and faith. It was a great experience for myself, as a student pastor, and I’m grateful for the opportunity.”

One lawmaker was especially appreciative.

“It was neat to open a Bible, share Scripture and ask how we can pray for them,” said Strother. “A common request was to pray for the budget to be passed. One lawmaker sat with us and said the last two weeks had been filled with a lot of hard meetings.

“She got up to leave and told us this was the most encouraging meeting she had had in that time.”

Churchgoers may misunderstand principles like the separation of church and state, said Morris, preventing them from being more active in making their values known. The group of pastors met and prayed with legislators, but also talked with them about pro-life concerns such as foster care.

“It was a good day,” Morris said. “These things affect everyone.”



SBC Messengers encouraged to visit the 12,000-square-foot Lifeway Village

By / May 15

BRENTWOOD, Tenn. — One of the most effective ways Lifeway Christian Resources serves the local church is by empowering church leaders with relevant resources that catalyze health, growth and impact. That’s the message the organization hopes messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention in June will take away from their visit to The Lifeway Village in the exhibit hall.

“We’ve designed an experience that reflects Lifeway’s focus on serving church leaders,” said Lifeway CEO Ben Mandrell. “Church leaders who visit The Lifeway Village will clearly see and learn that Lifeway is here to walk alongside you in ministry.”

The 12,000-square-foot Lifeway Village will highlight different areas of church ministry and allow messengers to find many categories of resources for their specific needs — whether they are a pastor or a leader in kids ministry, students, discipleship, worship or women’s ministry. Messengers will also be able to have conversations with the people at Lifeway who are developing those resources.

Visitors to The Lifeway Village at the 2025 Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting will be able to browse and purchase resources for their church and themselves, as well as talk with Lifeway team members who are developing those resources. Lifeway photo

For those looking for ways to engage their congregation in Bible study, Lifeway staff will help messengers and guests plan and select the appropriate material for group Bible studies and offer information on Lifeway’s short-term studies and Sunday School curriculum, including Bible Studies for Life, The Gospel Project, Explore the Bible and YOU.

Other features include onsite demonstrations of Lifeway’s digital curriculum experiences and leader training.

Lifeway’s Auxano team will be at The Lifeway Village providing free, 45-minute consulting sessions to discuss strategies to address common problems around visionary identity and strategic direction for ministry. Ministry leaders can schedule their session through the SBC Annual Meeting app or visit Lifeway.com/SBC. Also, free copies will be available of the latest Lifeway Research Insights Report detailing five priorities for the church.

Come discover and leave refueled

Guests in The Lifeway Village will find books on leadership, prayer, marriage, parenting and other Christian living topics, as well as devotionals, Bible studies and reference material for purchase.

Also available in The Lifeway Village will be a wide selection of CSB Bibles for men, women, students and kids. Published by Lifeway’s Holman Bibles, the CSB is now the fastest-growing Bible translation in the U.S. market. “It’s such an honor for our team to steward this translation on behalf of Southern Baptists and to get the Word of God into as many hands as possible,” Mandrell said.

“According to Lifeway Research, we know Bible engagement – reading and studying the Bible – is a strong predictor of spiritual maturity,” Mandrell said. “We hope church leaders will join us this fall and encourage their churches to ‘read and remain’ in God's Word.”

Church leaders can stop by The Lifeway Village to learn more about Read and Remain, a yearlong Bible-reading emphasis. Lifeway has created two free tool kits to help congregations read through the Bible in a year. The tool kits include 52 weeks of teaching outlines, presentation slides and a number of digital graphics to help pastors encourage their people to stay engaged with God’s Word. To learn more, visit Lifeway.com/ReadAndRemain.

Among the new resources available for purchase in The Lifeway Village are “Heaven,” a seven-session Bible study by Jennifer Rothschild; “Together,” a six-session study by Ben Mandrell; “Deep Discipleship,” a 24-week discipleship course by JT English, Kyle Worley and Jen Wilkin; “A Unity of Purpose,” commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Cooperative Program, “The Church History Handbook,” the “CSB Jesus Daily Bible,” and the “CSB Grace Bible for Kids,” a new resource for children with special needs, featuring a new font for children living with dyslexia.

Spanish resources will be in big supply at The Lifeway Village, given its location in Dallas.

Messengers will want to stop by throughout the week, as Lifeway will be giving out some helpful resources to the first 600 visitors each day. Free resources will include “A Short Guide to Church” by Dean Inserra, “Pastoring Small Towns” by Ronnie Martin and Donnie Griggs, “Turnaround” by Jason K. Allen and “Succession” by Bryant Wright. Messengers can also drop in throughout the day and refuel with a cup of coffee.

Mandrell said he hoped church leaders visiting The Lifeway Village will feel renewed and refueled knowing Lifeway is here to walk alongside them in their ministry. “We hope they gain new insights and learn new approaches for their ministries, that they connect with us in new and meaningful ways, and that they feel empowered by all of the resources we’ve created to equip them on their ministry journey.”