SBC Life Articles from 1997

I want church leaders to think about times when church really is fun – and to long for that to happen in their own congregations. 

The melody was the same, but the voices united in worship sang in numerous languages. “Then sings my soul,” sang a group in Arabic. Deaf believers lifted hands to sign “My Savior, God to thee, how great Thou Art.” The diverse group of worshipers praised in styles unique to their culture. Their praise, however, was joined to honor one God and their reason to gather was for one purpose — to ask God to send more missionaries from all nations to all nations.

When First Baptist Church in Bettendorf, Iowa, needed to decrease its Cooperative Program (CP) giving in a financial pinch this year, the congregation consented on one condition: that they could increase it as soon as possible back to its previous level of 16.5 percent of undesignated receipts. Leaders agreed, and First Baptist approved temporary CP giving of 10 percent.

ALPHARETTA (BP) — When leadership from Union Hill Baptist Church approached Hope Church in February of last year, both congregations were at an important point in their history.

HELENA-WEST HELENA, Ark. – April 9 marked a historic occasion in Helena-West Helena as members of Helena First Baptist Church deeded the church property to Second Baptist Church in West Helena on Park Avenue. 

WASHINGTON (BP) -- U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson heard from select evangelical leaders in a press call in advance of the chamber’s weekend passage of a $95 million foreign aid package.

SEAFORD, Del. (BP) – Like many other houses of worship, Grace Seaford Church opens its doors during cold weather to provide shelter for individuals experiencing homelessness. But while many places provide a night or even a week, Grace offers housing to women from Dec. 1 to March 15.

INDIANAPOLIS (BP) – The SBC’s Cooperation Group announced Friday (April 19) that it would release its recommendations May 1. In a release on its website, the group’s chairman, Texas pastor Jared Wellman, said the release date should allow for ample discussion of the recommendations before the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting.

I’m not what you would consider a man of the outdoors, but I did my fair share of fishing during my teen years.