Posts published in “SBC”

Southern Baptists spring into action after devastating storm

RESPONSE UNDERWAY — Southern Baptist Disaster Relief leaders (from left) Larry Hunt, Paul Louallen, Glenn Hickey, and Mike Slonecker confer at command headquarters at First Church, Murray, Ky., to begin planning the Southern Baptist response to the devastating Dec. 10-11 storm front that spun off as many as 24 tornadoes in a five-state area. (Photo credit: Submitted to Baptist Press)

Southern Baptists spring into action after devastating storm

December 16, 2021

MURRAY, Ky. (BP and local reports) – Southern Baptists have set up six disaster relief sites across the South following the Dec. 10-11 supercell storm…

Loss of life mounting from Dec. 11 tornado swarm; Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief on standby for mobilization

TORNADO AFTERMATH — Debris is piled up in the parking lot of First Church, Mayfield, Ky. — including a Kentucky Baptist Disaster Relief trailer (center) pre-positioned at the church -- after a massive tornado swept through the town on Dec. 11. The church building sustained significant damage. (Photo credit: Baptist Press/Morgan Bass)

Loss of life mounting from Dec. 11 tornado swarm; Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief on standby for mobilization

December 13, 2021

How a monster catfish provided the impetus for a Lottie Moon gift

WHALE OF A FISH — Bill Benton, member of First Church, Lyons, Ga., and his 37-pound lunker. (Photo credit: Larry Brantley)

How a monster catfish provided the impetus for a Lottie Moon gift

December 9, 2021

New churches springing up in Czechia

RISEN ANEW — Larry Lewis with Southern Baptists’ International Mission Board baptizes new believer Christian Dajbog, a 19-year-old who first heard the Gospel at an English camp outside of Prague, Czechia (also known as the Czech Republic) when he was 12 years old. (Photo credit: IMB)

New churches springing up in Czechia

December 6, 2021

Taiwanese turnaround sees burgeoning missionary numbers

GOING FORTH — In November 2020, Huayu International Missions (HIM) in Taiwan partnered with the local Baptist convention to commission the first Taiwanese missionaries from HIM. The commissioning service was held at the end of the Baptist convention, but every pastor in attendance stayed to participate in the service. The five missionaries were prayed over and encouraged by the pastors who attended. (Photo credit: IMB)

Taiwanese turnaround sees burgeoning missionary numbers

December 6, 2021

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.