Baptist Press Staff

BELTON, Texas (BP) – The Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board has affirmed the creation of a study group concerning out-of-state churches that want to affiliate with the BGCT’s GC2 movement.

Dew to speak on issues of life and death at Weber State University, Snyder named SWBTS interim VP for enrollment and student services

BIRMINGHAM, Ala., (BP) -- A new digital opportunity will be available to Southern Baptist messengers at this year's SBC annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala., according to a release by recording secretary John Yeats. Messengers will be able to "pre-file" the text of their motion or amendment and contact information with the recording secretary prior to the time of introducing new business, or debatable recommendations or resolutions, Yeats told Baptist Press.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Following a called meeting via extended conference calls on Friday and Saturday (Feb. 22-23), members of the SBC Executive Committee bylaws workgroup have released a statement responding to SBC President J.D. Greear's report earlier this week on sexual abuse. n his Feb. 18 report, Greer specifically named 10 churches included in recent news reports about sexual abuse cases involving Southern Baptist congregations. He noted these churches should be asked to assure the convention they are working to correct their policies and procedures relative to sexual abuse. ...

DALLAS (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines has named members of the Committee on Resolutions for the June 12-13 SBC annual meeting in Dallas. Jason Duesing of Missouri was named as the committee's chairman by Gaines. Duesing is provost and associate professor of historical theology at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City and a member of Antioch Bible Baptist Church in Gladstone, Mo.

MONTREAT, N.C. (BP) -- Legendary evangelist Billy Graham -- whose preaching may have been heard by more people than anyone in Christian history -- died today (Feb. 21). He was 99. During 80 years of ministry, Graham's down-to-earth, homespun sermons filled stadiums across the world, leading to the salvation of untold millions. Ordained a Southern Baptist minister, he was a longtime member of First Baptist Church in Dallas before joining First Baptist Church in Spartanburg, S.C., in 2008. Graham preached in person to more than 210 million people in 185 countries and in all 50 U.S. states, according to ministry statistics.

PHOENIX (BP) -- Southern Baptist Convention President Steve Gaines has named the members of the Committee on Resolutions for the June 13-14 SBC annual meeting in Phoenix. Gaines, pastor of Memphis-area Bellevue Baptist Church, appointed the committee in keeping with the provision in SBC Bylaw 20 that its members be named 75 days prior to the start of the annual meeting.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Year-to-date contributions to Southern Baptist Convention national and international missions and ministries received by the SBC Executive Committee are 6.45 percent above the year-to-date budgeted projection, and 4.15 percent above contributions received during the same time frame last year, according to a news release from SBC Executive Committee President and Chief Executive Officer Frank S. Page. The total includes receipts from state conventions and fellowships, churches and individuals for distribution according to the 2015-16 SBC Cooperative Program Allocation Budget.

Today's BP Ledger contains items from: Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary; Joni and Friends; MOPS International; Mississippi College; Kentucky Today

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Southern Baptist churches are advancing the Gospel state by state -- and around the world -- through their commitment to the Cooperative Program. From national and international mission boards to church-hosted evangelism training -- amid a multitude of mission and ministry initiatives -- the Cooperative Program plays a key role in introducing people near and far to Jesus.