- Journal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention since 1877 September 3, 2025

Bible Studies for Life: September 7

September 3, 2025

The Greatest Name • Isaiah 42:1-12 By Melody Mercer He’s the G.O.A.T.! It seems everywhere we look today we see this acronym, especially with sports. …

First Church, Gulfport, repays NC volunteers after Helene

Members of First Church, Gulfport, work on a home in Spruce Pine, N.C., on Aug. 19. (Photo credit: Jimmy Stewart)

First Church, Gulfport, repays NC volunteers after Helene

September 2, 2025

From devastation to hope: The enduring legacy of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief 20 years after Katrina

Hurricane Katrina evacuees were spread across the Gulf Coast. Here, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers prepare a meal in Meridian. In total, SBDR volunteers prepared 14.6 million meals in the response. (Photo credit: John Swain/NAMB)

From devastation to hope: The enduring legacy of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief 20 years after Katrina

August 29, 2025

‘Blessed Be Your Name’: Twenty years later, First Church, Biloxi, pastors reflect on Katrina

(Photo credit: First Church, Biloxi)

‘Blessed Be Your Name’: Twenty years later, First Church, Biloxi, pastors reflect on Katrina

August 28, 2025

Equipping Leaders Weekend delivers Gospel-centered tools to strengthen church outreach

Equipping Leaders Weekend, August 22–23, at Brandon Church in Brandon. (Photo credit: Bart Lambright)

Equipping Leaders Weekend delivers Gospel-centered tools to strengthen church outreach

August 28, 2025

Clergy Act advances from House
Ways and Means Committee
DALLAS – On Dec. 10 the House Ways and Means Committee advanced the Clergy Act, H.R. 227, in a bipartisan, unanimous vote. The Clergy Act would provide ministers who opted out of Social Security a one-time window to opt back in. The bipartisan legislation was reintroduced in the U.S. House of Representatives by California Congressmen Vince Fong and Mike Thompson, and has gained the support of several co-sponsors. The legislation is supported by GuideStone Financial Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention and other leaders from a wide variety of large and historic denominational benefit boards. In a news release issued by Rep. Fong’s office, GuideStone President Hance Dilbeck expressed gratitude to Fong for his leadership. The Clergy Act would create a two-year window beginning in 2029 that would allow eligible ministers who have opted out of Social Security to revoke their exemption and begin contributing. Ministers must still meet the standard 10-year contribution requirement to earn full retired-worker benefits, receiving benefits proportional to their contributions.