FIRST-PERSON: Why attend denominational meetings?
Attending the Southern Baptist Convention, Gary Ledbetter writes, yields opportunities to better understand what "Southern Baptist" means through participation, education, encouragement and fellowship.
FIRST-PERSON: Talking to your children about …
What do you say to children about disturbing news events? Gary Ledbetter suggests, first and foremost, that "children need to know Mom and Dad are dependable and depending on God."
FIRST-PERSON: What will people say?
Gary Ledbetter reflects, "If there are funerals where someone says with wonder, "This guy had 200,000 Twitter followers," I've not attended them. Rather, he notes, "faithfully loving God and loving people is the way to impact those who know you and love you best."
FIRST-PERSON: January is coming
Gary Ledbetter laments the tone of division among Baptists displayed in social media over two unlikeable candidates vying for the White House. "It's time to talk less," Ledbetter, editor in chief of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, writes. "It's time to pray more" yet making sure of "your own core beliefs."
BAPTISTS: Reporting on the SBC
Gary Ledbetter, editor in chief of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, assesses the periodic tensions between Baptist leaders and Baptist journalists -- and their shared commitment to advance the Great Commission.
FIRST-PERSON: Life and death, blessing and cursing
Gary Ledbetter, editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, voices hope that "some will be saved" in a culture afflicted with "hate for God and love for death." Thousands of churches and millions of Christians still understand "that their neighbors, even the inconvenient ones, bear the image of our Creator," Ledbetter writes.
FIRST-PERSON: About 5 miles down the road
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (BP) -- After the previous day's Supreme Court ruling, a family gathering stirs Gary Ledbetter, editor of the Southern Baptist TEXAN, to note the value of "wrinkled and scarred relationships" that speak convincingly of love and commitment. "They have seen that doing the right things, generally, produces something worth passing along," he writes.
FIRST-PERSON: Pro-lifers, walk & don’t grow weary
Though abortion clinics are on the decline, advocates for the unborn and supporters of pregnancy resource centers must remain vigilant, Texas editor Gary Ledbetter writes.
HOUSTON SUBPOENAS: Miranda rights for Christians?
Gary Ledbetter of the Southern Baptist TEXAN: the Houston subpoena issue is an indication that Christians have been "Mirandized – read our rights" to worship inside our homes and churches but not live as transformed people in a pluralistic culture.
FIRST-PERSON: Planned, and unplanned, pregnancies
GRAPEVINE, Texas (BP) -- Last year was a great year for pro-life Texans, at least when compared with the past 40 years and the other 49 states.
