WRAP-UP: Messengers focus on call to repentance, pass BF&M-related motion
SAN ANTONIO (BP)--Southern Baptists meeting in San Antonio June 12-13 re-elected Frank Page as president, focused on a call for repentance and passed a motion identifying the Baptist Faith and Message as the denomination's "only consensus statement of doctrinal beliefs" while saying it's not a creed but a guide. 
The pastor of First Baptist Church in Taylors, S.C., Page was elected unopposed, one year after he surprised many observers by being elected on the first ballot in a three-man race. Page this year used his first presidential address to say the denomination must repent of its "hubris" and "arrogance" in order to hope for revival.
With more than 8,600 messengers in attendance, it was the first annual meeting held in San Antonio since 1988.
"For 30 years we've been trying to raise baptism levels among non-revived churches among non-revived people who've lost their passion for the lost," said Page, adding he was paraphrasing longtime evangelism professor Roy Fish. "But interestingly enough, we've become strangely passionate about our own agendas.... [We should ask ourselves,] 'Why am I not as deeply passionate about the lost?'
"... I have seen a factionalism that deeply disturbs me, and I have asked Baptists across this land, 'Although we have ... significant differences, would you take my hand and work with me in the winning of the lost to Jesus and the winning of this world to Christ?'"
SBC prays for God’s ‘renewing power’
SAN ANTONIO (BP)--With a man's arms spread wide, facing the open blue sky, the logo for the Southern Baptist Convention's annual meeting said it all: "Lord, send your Holy Spirit."
Missionary answers ‘God-sized’ question
SAN ANTONIO (BP)--What will it take to win the world to Jesus Christ?
Live like a missionary, Stetzer urges
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Messengers to the Southern Baptist Convention were challenged June 13 to set aside secondary and tertiary theological issues to unify for the sake of reaching the spiritually lost. Ed Stetzer, LifeWay Christian Resources’ director of LifeWay Research and resident missionary, was asked by SBC President Frank Page to “bring a charge” on how […]
Seminary luncheons draw alumni, guests
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Fellowship and campus updates anchored the alumni luncheons hosted by the six Southern Baptist Convention seminaries June 13 during the SBC annual meeting in San Antonio. Following are reports from the luncheons. GOLDEN GATE SEMINARY Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary alumnus Henry Deneen was presented with GGBTS’ Distinguished Alumni Award June 13 at […]
Chaplains hear ‘Black Hawk Down’ hero
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Capt. Jeff Struecker has walked “The Road to Unafraid,” an experience he described vividly in his book by the same name. As an Army chaplain with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Fort Benning, Ga., he continues to walk with Jesus Christ, leading many of his fellow soldiers along the way. Introduced as a […]
Welch: ‘Hunting dogs’ ready to evangelize
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Comparing people who do evangelism to hunting dogs, and those who don’t to lap dogs, Bobby Welch encouraged FAITH evangelism luncheon attendees to “get out of the house and do some huntin’!” Welch, creator of the FAITH evangelism strategy and strategist for global evangelical relations for the Southern Baptist Convention’s Executive Committee, joined […]
Pastors’ wives hear stories of strength
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–After Kathy Ferguson’s husband died four years ago in a car accident, her 26-year role as a pastor’s wife changed dramatically. Struggling to overcome an empty nest as well as an empty home, Ferguson told the Southern Baptist Pastors’ Wives Conference June 11 that she had come to appreciate the Puritan proverb: “Life […]
Wives’ luncheon draws sellout crowd
SAN ANTONIO (BP)–Author and radio personality Nancy Leigh DeMoss addressed a sellout crowd of 1,500 at the June 12 Ministers’ Wives’ Luncheon during the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in San Antonio. Comedian Dennis Swanberg, also known as the “Minister of Encouragement, and biblical counselor June Hunt joined DeMoss on the program at the fiesta-style […]
SBC sharpens global warming stance
SAN ANTONIO (BP)--Resolutions Committee members were pleased with the overwhelming vote for a resolution on global warming during the June 13 evening session of the SBC annual meeting, even though two sections of the measure were deleted by messengers.
