Discipleship

SOMERSET, Ky. (BP) – The pastoral staff of Beacon Hill Baptist Church is four weeks into a weekly Bible study they lead at Pulaski County Detention Center. Eleven men—many of whom are new believers—have already been baptized. 

Years ago, I helped organize our church’s VBS and oversaw all the crafts. I spent hours finding ideas, cutting construction paper, and gathering all the supplies. I loved hearing parents’ comments on what their children brought home. But I can’t serve that way anymore; now I have to worry about even walking down the children’s hall, afraid I could get knocked down. At times now I feel useless.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (BP) – David Franklin is about as Georgia as you can get, from his drawl to his permanent smile as he makes his way among the churches in Bartow Baptist Association. As an associational mission strategist, he has developed a reputation for identifying needs and coming at them with a commonsense, biblical perspective.

PROVO, Utah – Culturally speaking, David Gaskins is as far removed from the Bible Belt as a North American missionary can be. And yet Gaskins, who planted Mosaic Church in Provo, still knows first-hand this foundational truth of Southern Baptist life: “People,” he said, “always show up for food.”

MAGNOLIA, Texas – Joshua Nostrand remembers lying on a gurney just minutes after playing basketball at student camp, telling God at 14 years old that he trusted Him to decide whether he lived or died.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — North Shelby Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., celebrated six baptisms last year on Baptism Sunday, the annual Southern Baptist emphasis that urges churches to “fill the tank” and stir the waters, marking new life in Christ.

NASHVILLE (BP) – They occurred in churches, but also at the stadium, city park and school building. Today, several state convention leaders shared various positive reports from Easter and Holy Week services with Baptist Press.

NASHVILLE (BP) – Sam Green, then a 2-year-old healthy toddler, longed to play with his younger brother, perhaps on the playground, perhaps riding bikes. Perhaps he could read to him and maybe they could go to the zoo.

JACKSON, Tenn. – Anyone walking past Union University’s Great Lawn in recent days could hear Scripture being read aloud, played through speakers outside a small white tent beneath Miller Tower.

For many modern Christians, Sunday School is primarily seen as a children’s ministry – a place where kids are taught Bible stories while their parents attend the main worship service. Yet historically, Sunday Schools played a far greater role.