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Articles by Gary Ledbetter
Southern Baptist Sen. Lindsey Graham dies suddenly at 71, remembered for loving nation, God
WASHINGTON (BP) – U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a longtime Southern Baptist who began supporting Donald Trump after first challenging him for the 2016 presidency, died suddenly July 11 after reportedly suffering an aortic tear at his Washington home.
Send Relief, Venezuelan Baptists continue earthquake response
CARACAS, Venezeula – As emergency response continues in Venezuela following June’s earthquakes, Southern Baptists have been faithful in continued prayer and generosity. Last week, International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood joined a team on the ground at the invitation of Elier Romero, general director of the Venezuelan National Baptist Convention (CNBV).
‘We just pray about everything,’ Texas pastor says
EL PASO, Texas – Cielo Vista Church is in the middle of a summer season that is recognizable to most large Southern Baptist churches. The summer will include an evangelistic vacation Bible school, student camps and mission trips to Cambodia and the Philippines. The church’s weekly calendar is full of ministries including men’s and women’s Bible studies in Spanish and English, Celebrate Recovery and collegiate gatherings.
‘We just pray about everything,’ Texas pastor says
Submitted photo. Prayer is foundational to the ministries of Cielo Vista Church in El Paso. EL PASO, Texas — Cielo Vista Church is in the middle of a summer season that is recognizable to most large Southern Baptist churches. The summer will include an evangelistic Vacation Bible School, student camps, and mission trips to Cambodia and the Philippines.
‘We just pray about everything,’ Texas pastor says
EL PASO, Texas – Cielo Vista Church is in the middle of a summer season that is recognizable to most large Southern Baptist churches. The summer will include an evangelistic vacation Bible school, student camps and mission trips to Cambodia and the Philippines. The church’s weekly calendar is full of ministries including men’s and women’s Bible studies in Spanish and English, Celebrate Recovery and collegiate gatherings.
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Crossover is an annual tradition for this Illinois family
ORLANDO – Why would an Illinois family of 10 make an almost 1,000-mile journey from their home in Casey, Ill., to Central Florida (or some other distant location) every year? For the Howards, the reason is simple: to share the Gospel. This family has traveled every June since 2019 to take part in Crossover, the annual evangelism outreach in and around the host city for the Southern Baptist Convention. Their first outreach together was in Birmingham.
STATE MEETINGS: Missouri, Texas
Metadata: Series: SBC DigestsTopic(s): SBC NewsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: Missouri Baptists celebrate uptick in baptisms By Benjamin Hawkins BRANSON, Mo. –During their 191st annual meeting, Missouri Baptist Convention (MBC) messengers celebrated their Great Commission partnership and were challenged to reach and baptize 8,000 new believers across the state in 2026.
FIRST-PERSON: Cooperation - it's worth it
Metadata: Series: First PersonFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: Cooperation is hard. It has been difficult from the beginning of the church. As in Acts 6, when the apostles had to resolve a conflict between the Hellenists and the Hebrews. Or as in Acts 15 when Paul and Barnabas had “a sharp disagreement,” which led them to separate from one another. Any cursory glance of church history teaches us that Christians disagreeing with each other is quite regular.
What church do you attend? Maybe more than one, survey finds
Metadata: Topic(s): Churches and MinistryFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: (RNS) — Five years after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, almost half of churchgoers are regular participants in congregations other than their primary one, either attending in person, watching online or on TV, or taking part in both physical and virtual offerings.
At this high-profile meeting, one team considers its job well done when ‘people don’t notice us’
Metadata: Event(s): 2025 SBC Annual MeetingTopic(s): SBC Annual Meetings, SBC NewsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: DALLAS—When tens of thousands of Southern Baptists come to town for their annual meeting, it takes hundreds of local Southern Baptists working behind the scenes to ensure essential services are provided. Many of those behind-the-scenes workers are from Southern Baptists of Texas Convention churches.
At this high-profile meeting, one team considers its job well done when ‘people don’t notice us’ | Baptist Press - Crossmap News
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BIBLE STUDY: God’s faith principle
Metadata: Topic(s): LifewayFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) — This weekly Bible study appears in Baptist Press in a partnership with Lifeway Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Through its Leadership and Adult Publishing team, Lifeway publishes Sunday School curricula and additional resources for all age groups. This week’s Bible study is adapted from the MasterWork curriculum.
Parents find purpose, ministry opportunity through young son’s health struggles
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (BP) — When Grant Falls was born in 2022, his parents, Laura and Seth, had a traumatic start to life with their son. His condition was far worse than they expected when the doctors noticed he had a heart problem in utero. After he was born, Laura actually couldn’t see him until the day after his birth because of the immediate need to treat his heart defect. Seth took her in a wheelchair to the ICU.
El pastor de Texas Tommy Mann será nominado para segundo vicepresidente de la CBS
GREENVILLE, Texas (BP) – Un director de misiones de Texas ha anunciado sus planes de nominar al pastor de Texas Tommy Mann para que ocupe el cargo de segundo vicepresidente de la CBS en la reunión anual de la CBS de 2025, que se celebrará este verano.
Se publicado el programa de la reunión anual de la CBS de 2025
Metadata: Topic(s): Annual Meeting, SBC NewsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: DALLAS (BP) – El martes 25 de marzo, el Comité de la Orden del Día de la Convención Bautista del Sur publicó un programa preliminar de la reunión anual de la CBS de este año, que se celebrará en Dallas los días 10 y 11 de junio.
FIRST-PERSON: Is your heart too cluttered?
Metadata: Series: First PersonFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: EDITOR’S NOTE: The following is an excerpt from Mark Dance’s book, Start to Finish. Used with permission from the author. In Luke 8:14, Jesus said, “As for the seed that fell among thorns, these are the ones who, when they have heard, go on their way and are choked with worries, riches, and pleasures of life, and produce no mature fruit.” When God’s Word competes with our wills, it will expose a cluttered, selfish heart.
Parents find purpose, ministry opportunity through young son’s health struggles
GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (BP) — When Grant Falls was born in 2022, his parents, Laura and Seth, had a traumatic start to life with their son. His condition was far worse than they expected when the doctors noticed he had a heart problem in utero. After he was born, Laura actually couldn’t see him until the day after his birth because of the immediate need to treat his heart defect. Seth took her in a wheelchair to the ICU.
Pressley names 2025 Committee on Committees
Metadata: Event(s): 2025 SBC Annual MeetingTopic(s): SBC Annual MeetingsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: CHARLOTTE, N.C. (BP) – SBC President Clint Pressley has announced his appointments to the 2025 Committee on Committees. Michael Wood, lead pastor of First Baptist Church West Monroe, Louisiana, has been selected to lead the committee. Pressley told Baptist Press he is thankful for Wood’s willingness to serve. “I’ve known him and his great church for several years,” Pressley said.
ERLC releases guide for addressing gambling in the church
Metadata: Topic(s): ERLCFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) – The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) has released a practical guide designed to help pastors and church leaders navigate difficult ministry scenarios regarding the growing problem of gambling. The guide, titled “Pay to Play: A Practical Guide to Addressing Gambling in the Church” and released Monday (Feb.
Does Your Church Need to Be Recharged? Emphasis on prayer, evangelism, discipleship revitalizes rural Texas church
I talked to a Deacon of a Church here in New Mexico yesterday. The Church is down to about 6 people. They have no Pastor. I have attempted to help this Church for years. I called my mentor Dr. Claude Cone, who was the head of the Baptist Convention here in New Mexico for 20 years. At 20-year mark, Claude Cone to retire as N.M. executive. I also called the Southern Baptist Convention office for help. It is a very tough time for many Churches, especially in rural areas.
Emphasis on prayer, evangelism, discipleship revitalizes rural Texas church
PARADISE, Texas — When Shawn Brewer came in view of a call to pastor First Baptist Church (FBC) in Paradise, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth, he preached to about 60 people that Sunday morning. After accepting a call from the church, he was greeted by about half that number on his first Sunday due to various difficulties, including the COVID shutdown. “The church was struggling,” Brewer remembers of that time.
CONCLUSIÓN: El Comité Ejecutivo de la SBC propone un plan para los problemas presupuestarios
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) – El Comité Ejecutivo de la Convención Bautista del Sur tomó medidas importantes para abordar cuestiones que se han estado gestando en la Convención durante varios años, entre ellas, hacer frente a las consecuencias financieras de la respuesta de la Convención Bautista del Sur (SBC) al abuso sexual, introducir un nuevo director para la respuesta al abuso dentro de la Convención y responder a la petición de información financiera adicional por parte de...
Bautismos, Ofrenda del Programa Cooperativo, misiones aclamados en Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (BP) – Un aumento de casi el 33 por ciento en los bautismos, un aumento constante en las ofrendas al Programa Cooperativo y misiones internacionales vibrantes fueron celebrados cuando los bautistas del sur de Puerto Rico se reunieron el 15 de febrero en San Juan para su reunión anual de 2025.
Iorg aborda el abuso sexual y las realidades financieras en un informe al Comité Ejecutivo
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) — En un discurso histórico dirigido a los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo de la CBS, el presidente del CE de la CBS, Jeff Iorg, esbozó planes para la prevención y respuesta continuas al abuso sexual, presentó los resultados de la línea telefónica directa para reportar abuso sexual de la CBS que aclaran la incidencia del abuso en las iglesias bautistas del sur y compartió los pasos para responder a las peticiones de mayor claridad financiera de las...
El CE aprueba un presupuesto de asignación de $190 millones de dólares que incluye los costos legales
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) — Los miembros del Comité Ejecutivo aprobaron el martes por la mañana (18 de febrero) una recomendación para un presupuesto de asignación del Programa Cooperativo de la SBC de $190 millones de dólares para 2025-26 que incluye $3 millones destinados a los gastos legales previstos. La recomendación se traslada a los mensajeros para su votación en la Reunión Anual de la SBC a celebrarse en Dallas en junio.
En su misión y vocación, Dalrymple procura movilizar a la CBS en la prevención del abuso
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) – Como primer líder bautista del sur para la prevención y respuesta al abuso sexual, Jeff Dalrymple está cumpliendo un llamado y una misión, acumulando años de liderazgo en el campo que le ha enseñado cómo ganar la batalla.
Pressley: “Nada más ni siquiera se les acerca” a SBC y a PC
Metadata: Share this post: NASHVILLE (BP) – ¿Qué tienen en común la SBC y el deportivo Porsche 911? Según el presidente de la SBC, Clint Pressley, un diseño duradero que no puede igualarse, pero que debe ajustarse para un futuro estable. “Porsche era tan superior a su competencia que durante años su eslogan fue: Nada más ni siquiera se le acerca”, dijo Pressley durante un discurso pronunciado el 17 de febrero ante el Comité Ejecutivo de la SBC en Nashville.
Emphasis on prayer, evangelism, discipleship revitalizes rural Texas church
Metadata: Topic(s): Churches and MinistryFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: PARADISE, Texas – When Shawn Brewer came in view of a call to pastor First Baptist Church in Paradise, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth, he preached to about 60 people that Sunday morning. After accepting a call from the church, he was greeted by about half that number on his first Sunday due to various difficulties, including the COVID shutdown. “The church was struggling,” Brewer remembers of that time.
Emphasis on prayer, evangelism, discipleship spurs revitalization at growing rural church
When Shawn Brewer came in view of a call to pastor First Baptist Church in Paradise, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Worth, he preached to about 60 people that Sunday morning. After accepting a call from the church, he was greeted by about half that number on his first Sunday due to various difficulties, including the COVID shutdown. “The church was struggling,” Brewer remembers of that time.
The Salt Company seizing unprecedented opportunity to reach college students
Metadata: Topic(s): Church Planting, Education, SBC NewsFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: NATIONWIDE – Cassandra Hoai says she wants to help plant a church when she graduates next year from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Hoai is one of about 12,000 students at 33 universities in 16 states who are being discipled and trained to do the same. “We want all our students to consider helping us plant a church after they graduate,” Troy Nesbitt told Baptist Press.
The Cooperative Program: A brief history
Metadata: Topic(s): Cooperative ProgramFormat(s): Text Articles Share this post: JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Southern Baptists have been missionary minded since their first day and their first action.
The Cooperative Program: A Brief History
JEFFERSON CITY – Southern Baptists have been missionary minded since their first day and their first action. When 293 delegates gathered in 1845 in Augusta, Georgia, for the inaugural meeting of the convention, their first resolution expressed the desire to “organize a convention for the propagation of the gospel.” Before leaving Augusta, they had formed foreign and domestic mission boards, and appointed presidents to lead these efforts.
AM24: Spring's Estep named recipient of Leaders Legacy Award
HOUSTON—Mark Estep, pastor of Spring Baptist Church for 27 years, was named the 2024 recipient of the Leaders Legacy Award on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Annual Meeting at Sagemont Church.
State Board of Education to consider traditional curriculum offering for Texas students
AUSTIN—The Texas Education Agency, which oversees the state’s primary and secondary public education, has developed a new curriculum for students that supporters say can return public education to “rigorous academic learning.” The curriculum is called Bluebonnet Learning (formerly TEA Open Education Resource). Last year the legislature passed House Bill 1605 into law, directing the TEA to create its own free-to-use textbooks to help teachers with planning their classes.
SBC 2024: Pressley elected SBC president; Forney’s Lopez chosen as second VP
INDIANAPOLIS—In a six-way presidential race that resulted in two run-off votes, Clint Pressley, pastor of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C., was elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 12. Brad Graves, pastor of First Baptist Church in Ada, Okla., was elected first vice president. Eddie Lopez, pastor of First Baptist Forney En Español, was elected second vice president. Lopez has been a church planter and led his church to plant other churches in the U.S and Mexico.
EMPOWER 2024: Gaithers, Jeremiah, Reavis exalt Jesus during Classics Session
IRVING—A crowd of over 1,800 enjoyed the Classics Session of the 2024 Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Empower Conference, featuring the Gaither Vocal Band and pastors David Jeremiah and Herb Reavis Jr. The event, held Monday at the Irving Convention Center, is planned each year with senior adults in mind.
AM23: Longtime Sherman pastor honored with Leaders Legacy Award
EULESS—Mike Lawson, pastor of First Baptist Church in Sherman the past 24 years, was awarded the Leaders Legacy Award by the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention Executive Board on Tuesday (Nov. 14) during the 2023 SBTC Annual Meeting.
SBTC founding board member remembered as ‘champion, warrior’ for Christ
LUBBOCK—Almeida “Skeet” Workman, a founding Southern Baptists of Texas Convention board member, died Nov. 3. She was 85. Visitation will be at Southcrest Baptist Church in Lubbock on Wednesday, Nov. 8, at 8:30 a.m. Her funeral will follow at 10 a.m. Workman was a board member for the convention’s precursor group, the Southern Baptists of Texas, Inc., and then joined the new convention’s executive board in 1998.
New book invites families to ‘dive deep’ into doctrine
JEFFERSON CITY – High Street Press has just released Deep Dive Devotions for Families. The book is designed for parents and their children to read together and includes study questions and memory verses for each chapter. The devotions are intended to introduce the foundational teachings of Christianity, including the Trinity, the meaning of faith, prayer, justification, and forgiveness for sin.
EMPOWER '23: NAMB’s next gen evangelism leader Pruitt receives Fish Award
IRVING—Shane Pruitt, national next gen evangelism director for the North American Mission Board, received the Roy Fish Award for Vocational Evangelism during the Monday afternoon session (Feb. 27) of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Empower conference. Pruitt came from a pastorate in Rowlett to the SBTC, where he served as director of missions and church planting before becoming evangelism director.
EMPOWER '23: Former SBTC president Turner receives W.A. Criswell Award
IRVING—Terry Turner, longtime pastor of Mesquite Friendship Baptist Church, is the 2023 recipient of the W.A. Criswell Award for Pastoral Evangelism. Turner accepted the award during the Monday afternoon session of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention’s Empower conference. In addition to serving as Mesquite Friendship’s founding pastor for more than 30 years, Turner was elected SBTC president in 2012-2013.
SBTC's Missional Ministries leader is longtime Texas pastor with 'heartbeat' for missions
Mathews’ missionary heart continues to be evidenced as he leads the convention to engage in partnerships in the U.S. and internationally. “We have recently entered into a cooperative agreement with the Nevada Baptist Convention and the Convention of Southern Baptist Churches of Puerto Rico,” he said. “Trips have been planned and SBTC pastors and leaders will be assisting the churches of these conventions as they fulfill their mission.
Farmersville student pastor carries on church tradition of letting teens put the gospel to work
Crow came to Farmersville from Austin and has been excited to find a well-developed and healthy student ministry. His predecessor, Tracy Odneal, served in the position for 25 years. Odneal now serves as First Baptist’s connections pastor, a new staff slot for the church. Crow is the third student pastor at First Baptist in the past 42 years. That kind of stability in student ministry is remarkable when an average student ministry tenure is closer to three years.
Sanctity of Human Life Sunday serves are reminder of critical need to support PRCs
GRAPEVINE—On June 24, 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision in Dobbs v. Jackson. The court, in this 5-4 decision, saw no constitutional right to abortion and said, “… the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives.” Abortion is not illegal in the U.S. as we approach this historic Sanctity of Human Life Sunday (Jan. 22), but states are now able to regulate or ban abortion within their borders.
Newly affiliated FBC Caldwell sees God’s faithfulness through cooperative mindset
When First Baptist Church of Caldwell affiliated with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention last August, it brought a rich history into the youngest Southern Baptist state fellowship. First Baptist is older than the SBTC and, actually, older than the state of Texas. First Baptist Caldwell was founded during the Texas Republic in 1843.
STATE MEETINGS: Louisiana, SBTC
Louisiana Baptists discuss cooperation at annual meeting By Scott Barkley/Baptist Press ALEXANDRIA, La. (BP) – At their annual meeting Nov. 15, Louisiana Baptists voted to expand the definition of a cooperating church on the state level while rejecting another measure allowing congregations to “negatively designate” gifts through the Cooperative Program.
Messengers conduct business as SBTC pursues God’s presence at annual meeting
Implementation of the recommendations will be overseen by the SBTC Executive Board and the SBTC staff. Biblical challenges In addition to Kaunitz, messengers heard thematic sermons from four preachers throughout the convention meeting. Julio Arriola, director of the Send Network’s church planting partnership with the SBTC, began by referencing the Acts 13 commissioning of Paul and Barnabas, which followed a time of prayer and fasting.
Let your Christian voice be heard
A couple weeks out from Election Day, the pundits and professional guessers are having a moment. Which issue will motivate voters? Which demographics will be most motivated? Which constituencies will abandon their party because they feel ignored? It gets so that I know the questions and the answers offered before the discussion begins.
Greene marks 50 years at Lufkin's Harmony Hill Baptist Church
LUFKIN—Harmony Hill Baptist Church had 74 members when John Greene became its pastor in 1972. Over the next five decades, the church grew to more than 2,100 members as Greene served the church. This November, Harmony Hill will commemorate Pastor Greene’s 50th year as pastor of the East Texas congregation. The most often-cited average pastoral tenure is about four years, with Baptists staying much longer at around 10 years. This number makes pastoral ministries of several decades remarkable.
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