Shannon Baker

HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Messengers to the 2019 annual meeting of the Baptist Resource Network (BRN) of Pennsylvania/South Jersey heard a challenge for 2020, celebrated 2019 accomplishments, increased their Cooperative Program giving to SBC causes, and elected a new slate of officers, among other business. This year's meeting, attended by 189 messengers and 87 guests representing 107 of 311 active BRN churches (plus a combined reach of nearly 1,000 through its livestream), was held Nov. 7-8 at the Radisson Harrisburg Hotel in Camp Hill, Pa.

PITTSBURGH (BP) -- As Southern Baptist PrayerLink leaders gathered in Pittsburgh to pray for the next Great Awakening in America, a rising consensus among the participants was that American churches might not yet be ready for the harvest. "A part of what we need to be praying for is, 'Lord would you convict us, guide us, equip us to be ready for the harvest,' because when the harvest comes, if we're not ready, it's going to be too late," charged Claude King, discipleship and church health specialist for LifeWay Christian Resources.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Before recounting her experience in Turkey where she and her husband, pastor Andrew Brunson, were imprisoned, Norine Brunson expressed gratitude. "First of all, I just really need to thank you," she told the SBC Women's Session on June 10 preceding the SBC's annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Donna Gaines was honored with the 2019 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the June 11 Ministers' Wives Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Birmingham, Ala. In presenting the award to Gaines, wife of Bellevue Baptist Church senior pastor Steve Gaines, Mary Cox described what the award represents: "It's about a woman who has godly character, who has served the Lord alongside her husband, and has been a great example as a minister's wife." Cox is the wife of Frank Cox, pastor of North Metro First Baptist Church in Lawrenceville, Ga.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Nearly 800 ministers' wives benefited from the quick thinking -- and prayer -- of this year's Ministers' Wives Luncheon president, Kim Hamm, and her team of officers. Just the day before, they were confronted with the news that, due to unforeseen circumstances, their planned speaker, Lauren Chandler, would not be present. Chandler is the wife of Matt Chandler, lead pastor at The Village Church in Dallas.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Women from all across the Southern Baptist Convention were urged to meet the challenges of leadership and ministry with patience and confidence at the newly inaugurated SBC Women's Session, held June 10 at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex. The speakers for the three-hour event, which replaced the former Pastors' Wives Conference to include a broader spectrum of women in attendance, featured Norine Brunson, wife of Andrew Brunson, the American pastor released last fall from imprisonment in Turkey, and Lori McDaniel, outgoing manager of church initiatives in mobilization at the International Mission Board. A panel discussion on women's leadership and discipleship was moderated by Kathy Litton and included Kandi Gallaty, Amy Whitfield, Missie Branch, and Ashlyn Portero.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Women have indispensable roles in the Southern Baptist Convention and in the church, said panelists during the "Indispensable partners: the value of women in God's mission" panel discussion during the 2019 SBC Annual Meeting in Birmingham, Ala. Southern Baptist Convention President J.D. Greear, who moderated the discussion on June 12, began by asking the women on the panel about their initial response to the Sexual Abuse Advisory Study report that preceded their time on stage. See related Baptist Press story.

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (BP) -- Women attending the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Birmingham are invited to a trio of events, including a SBC Women's Session, a Ministers' Wives Luncheon, and a women's expo at the Birmingham-Jefferson Convention Complex (BJCC). Speakers include Norine Brunson, wife of Andrew Brunson, the American pastor released this fall from imprisonment in Turkey; and Lauren Chandler, wife of Matt Chandler, pastor of The Village Church in Flower Mound, Texas; among others.

PHILADELPHIA (BP) -- Some winters are harsher than others, and for university students they can be especially challenging, says Brian Musser, Baptist campus minister at Drexel University in Philadelphia, Pa. Every January, as he prepares for the return of college students for the winter term, he finds himself praying harder and asking for more prayer for the students because of the depression and pressure that often seems to accompany the cold season. "More students are prone to suicide during the months of January and February," explained Musser, who noticeably feels the pressure of caring for those under his charge. He has served as a campus minister for more than 13 years and has done more student memorials during the month of February than any other time of the year.

DALLAS (BP) -- Dalia Gonzales, wife of Michael Gonzales, director of Hispanic ministries for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention, was honored with the 2018 Willie Turner Dawson Award during the Ministers' Wives Luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting in Dallas. Gonzales, of Hurst, Texas, is the first Hispanic minister's wife to receive the award, which recognizes a minister's wife for making a distinct denominational contribution beyond the local church and for her Christian character and service to others. Kathy Litton, director of planter spouse care for the North American Mission Board, in presenting the annual award, called Gonzales "a true multiplier in the Kingdom of God" who has contributed greatly to Hispanic Southern Baptist women across Texas and beyond.