Executive Committee elects officers, committee chairs; affirms accountability, budget cut
ORLANDO, Fla. (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee reelected Anthony (Tony) Dockery as chairman June 8, along with a full slate of officers and committee chairs in a meeting focused on God and aimed at serving the Convention with accountability and a streamlined budget.
‘Do what Jesus says,’ Iorg implores First Baptist Apopka, citing Mark 1:40-44
APOPKA, Fla. (BP) – Jeff Iorg used Mark’s account of Jesus healing the leper to encourage First Baptist Church in Apopka to obey Jesus in compassionate evangelism, preaching June 7 during the 11 a.m. worship service.
Retired Army General Doug Carver joins Virginia National Guard student’s claim of religious bias
RICHMOND, Va. (BP) – Southern Baptist chaplaincy executive Douglas Carver has joined a Virginia National Guard member’s court fight claiming the state’s tuition assistance program discriminates against students pursuing religious degrees. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Carver (retired), executive director of chaplaincy for the North American Mission Board (NAMB), filed an amicus brief in support of […]
Serving, resourcing churches Evan Lenow’s goal as ERLC tenure begins
NASHVILLE (BP) – Evan Lenow, who began this week as Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) president, tells the story of a rural Mississippi church faced with ministering to a little boy who presented himself as a transgendered girl at Vacation Bible School (VBS).
ERLC, lawmakers urge blocking Title X family planning funding from abortion industry
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has joined 159 lawmakers, including several Southern Baptists, urging the Trump administration to restore a rule that blocks Title X family planning funding from subsidizing abortions.
Christians in India denied clean water, jobs, food in ongoing religious persecution
CHHATTISGARH, India (BP) – Hundreds of Christians in central India have been denied clean water, fresh produce and employment for nearly a month in unsuccessful attempts to force them to denounce Christianity, International Christian Concern (ICC) reported May 29.
NorthWoods Deaf Church launches with baptisms, fellowship, music loud enough to feel
EVANSVILLE, Ind. (BP) – When Corey Harrison struggled with deep anger in college, wondering why God created him Deaf, a friend invited him to a men’s retreat. There, Harrison recalled the love he experienced when his childhood church hired Deaf pastor Paul Cannon.
Former Gaza pastor proclaims God’s remnant as Baptists’ return to strip uncertain
GAZA STRIP (BP) -- It is uncertain whether the lone Baptist Church in the Gaza Strip will rebuild as the area recovers, Christian Mission to Gaza founder Hannah Massad told Baptist Press more than six months into the October 2025 ceasefire.
SBC Executive Committee, One More Child to present anti-abuse panel at SBC 2026
The event will address online exploitation, sexual abuse prevention, survivor care, human trafficking and ministry safeguarding, organizers said, and also show churches how to compassionately and ethically protect the vulnerable.
Parental challenges, stress stymie Scripture engagement, American Bible Society finds
PHILADELPHIA (BP) – Parents are open to Scripture engagement, but are stymied by challenges including work/ family balance, fatigue and financial provision, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2026 State of the Bible.
