Articulos en Español by Joy Allmond

NASHVILLE (BP) -- When Zoraida Godoy attended a Vacation Bible School (VBS) at a Southern Baptist church in her community of Sabana Basora, Aruba, in 2013, she got emotional. "Some of our children went to another local church for VBS and we saw the concept for the first time," she said. "Watching the children dance, sing and express the biblical truths they learned just moved me. And I thought: Why couldn't we do this at our church?"

NASHVILLE (BP) -- As hundreds gather at Ridgecrest Conference Center for Friday's kickoff of the 2020 VBS preview series, anyone -- for the first time ever -- can watch from around the globe. On Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. ET, LifeWay will live stream the evening session of their "Concrete & Cranes" preview event from the conference center near Asheville, N.C., for free.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- "Why are we here in 2019 -- when it's not exactly the coolest thing in the world to be a Christian ... when it seems like there's a generation growing up that in no way really wants to follow the purposes of God?" asked Bible teacher Christine Caine to the 1,600 women gathered for the opening session of the 2019 LifeWay Women's Leadership Forum. Teaching the leaders gathered Nov. 7-9 from 30 states and Canada, Caine spoke from Deuteronomy 6. She underscored that God took those people into Canaan, a place where they could flourish and live victorious lives, and His plan is to do the same for this generation of believers.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Robby Gallaty isn't who you think he is. At least that's what billboards in the greater Nashville area said of Gallaty, pastor of Long Hollow Baptist Church in nearby Hendersonville, in the weeks leading up to the church's 2016 Easter service. The message -- meant to mimic a smear campaign -- gained national media attention and garnered 14,000 attendees on Easter Sunday, doubling the church's usual attendance of 7,000.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Church work can be draining and lonely for leaders who sometimes find themselves working in departmental silos. But when leaders of individual ministries come together to work toward a common goal, families -- and the entire church -- begin to thrive. "Thrive" is the theme of this year's ETCH (Equipping the Church and Home) Family Ministry Conference -- an annual resourcing and networking event hosted by LifeWay Christian Resources. This year, around 1,200 leaders from kids, students, next-generation and family ministries are expected to gather in Nashville Oct. 7-9 for ETCH.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Five years ago, Karen Francka never would've believed where she'd be today. A vibrant Christian life seemed out of reach for her, as she reeled from grief after losing her best friend to cancer. "I felt very lonely, like I had no purpose," said Francka, a member of First Baptist Church of Bolivar, Mo. "I thought I was done. Then this woman gave me a ticket to the Beth Moore simulcast."

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Having exhorted messengers to place the "Gospel Above All" at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting, SBC President J.D. Greear is aiming to mobilize Christians to take Gospel action in their homes, churches and communities. Through the aptly named "Gospel Above All," Greear leads an eight-session Bible study that includes videos featuring conversations with such Christian leaders as David Platt, Jen Wilkin, Walter Strickland, Vance Pitman, Rosaria Butterfield, Kevin Smith, Greg Laurie and R. Albert Mohler Jr.

SUTHERLAND SPRINGS, Texas (BP) -- When First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs kicked off their annual Vacation Bible School the week of June 3, it looked profoundly different from two years ago. On Nov. 5, 2017, a gunman entered their sanctuary, opened fire, and took the lives of 26 people. Several of those who lost their lives were instrumental in the VBS ministry of the church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Is Vacation Bible School worth it? This is the question church leaders around the country ask themselves every year. And it was the theme of the LifeWay Christian Resources breakfast at the 2019 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala.

NASHVILLE (BP) -- As more stories of sexual abuse involving evangelical churches and pastors -- including the Southern Baptist Convention -- come to light, SBC leaders have recognized the need to be responsive and educated in caring for those within their ministries who disclose abuse experiences. LifeWay Christian Resources, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) and those working with the SBC Sexual Abuse Advisory Study have collaborated to do both -- respond and educate -- to produce "Becoming a Church that Cares Well for the Abused," a free multimedia resource geared toward church staff members, lay leaders and volunteers.