The Baptist Record - Journal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention since 1877 June 18, 2026

Church treasurer turns 100 years old; not retiring yet!

Pastor Greg Foster (left) and music minister William Ricks (right) present Alma Dean Hicks (center) a plaque in recognition of her 65 years as treasurer of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Leakesville on June 7. (Photo credit: Maria Teel)

Church treasurer turns 100 years old; not retiring yet!

June 18, 2026

By Lindsey CarrawayWriting Specialist LEAKESVILLE, Miss. — One hundred years old today, Alma Dean Hicks has served as treasurer of Cedar Grove Baptist Church in…

BMCU scholarship established to honor ministry and mission legacy of Tom and Jane Sumrall

Tom Sumrall (second from right) receives a plaque commemorating the Blue Mountain Christian University scholarship established in his honor. He is joined by (from left) Andrew Chesteen, pastor of First Baptist Church, New Albany, Barbara McMillin, president of Blue Mountain Christian University, and Michael Baker, pastor of Blue Mountain Baptist Church. (Photo credit: Blue Mountain Christian University)

BMCU scholarship established to honor ministry and mission legacy of Tom and Jane Sumrall

June 17, 2026

SIMPLE TRUTH: Not headlines, but definitely highlights

Shawn Parker welcomes the crowd during the Mississippi Baptist Fellowship in Orlando on June 8. (Photo credit: Seth Price)

SIMPLE TRUTH: Not headlines, but definitely highlights

June 16, 2026

Bible Studies for Life: June 21

Bible Studies for Life: June 21

June 16, 2026

Export the Bible: June 21

Export the Bible: June 21

June 16, 2026

Southwestern Seminary's
full accreditation restored
FORT WORTH — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary “is now in full compliance with all accreditation expectations” of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) following action by the SACSCOC board on June 11, President David S. Dockery announced in a letter today to the seminary community. The action comes after an April site visit to the seminary resulted in a recommendation to remove the sanctions, which were initially put in place in June 2023 with a “warning” status. “Southwestern Seminary is no longer on probation for good cause but is in full adherence with SACSCOC accreditation standards,” Dockery said. “We are genuinely grateful to God to receive this good and encouraging report that all sanctions have been removed, which is an answer to the prayers of many.” Dockery cited six “markers of institutional stability and health,” affirmed by SACSCOC to demonstrate the seminary’s progress: institutional culture embracing of its mission, identity, heritage, and core values; improvements in enrollment, credit hours taught, and increases in tuition revenue; decreased expenses and increased unrestricted revenue resulting a $10 million turnaround; improvement of $40 million in net assets; cash reserves and cash equivalents reaching 50 percent of the annual budget; and dramatic improvements in the institution’s Composite Financial Index, Composite Score Ratio, and bank covenant ratios, objective measures compiled by outside organizations.