President of the SBC
Articles by Ronnie Floyd
FIRST-PERSON: The honor and privilege of serving
NASHVILLE (BP) – I was reminded this past weekend of these words from Scripture which have moved me for many years. From Isaiah the prophet, “Look to the rock from which you were cut, and to the quarry from which you were dug.” Isaiah 51:1 Unknown to most, my parents never graduated from high school due to World War II. They were ordinary Baptist laypersons who loved the Lord, their church, their pastor, and the work of God across America and the world.
Facebook sensation Brenda Gantt debuts book full of recipes, wisdom
ANDALUSIA, Ala. (BP) – When Brenda Gantt was a young bride, her husband’s job placed him on the lookout for an illegal moonshine liquor still in the backwoods of Linden, Ala., where he happened upon a small, isolated cabin. A lone elderly woman invited him and his partner in for lunch. Lacy cornbread complemented an array of vegetables. “She had a big platter of lacy cornbread. It’s like paper-thin. It spreads out to about 5-inches big. And it’s got holes all in it where she fried it in this pan.
Yanes’ testimony reflects legacy of Cooperative Program
Editor’s note: October is Cooperative Program Emphasis Month in the Southern Baptist Convention. NASHVILLE (BP) – Peter Yanes began serving as the executive director of Asian American relations and mobilization for the Executive Committee in late 2019, but his Christian testimony showcases the impact of Southern Baptist missions in his life long before that. Originally from Lingayen, Philippines, Yanes said he was always interested in religion as he grew up in a devout Roman Catholic family.
Churches are the key to sending missionaries and planting churches
One of the real joys of serving as a former local church pastor and in this role until the end of October is the common unity we as Southern Baptists have together around Christ in sending more missionaries and planting more churches. As my time at the Executive Committee comes to a close, I want us to remember that the Great Commission of Jesus Christ our Lord is a commission to His church. We are the church.
Ronnie Floyd resigns: Letter to EC, SBC
Dear SBC Executive Committee Trustees and SBC Family, I was planning to release this letter on Monday, October 11; however, I delayed the publishing of this letter until today, due to the death of my mother-in-law on Sunday and then the funeral which took place on Wednesday afternoon in Bridgeport Texas, October 13.
EC calls meeting to consider attorney-client privilege, Guidepost contract
NASHVILLE (BP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee is scheduled to hold a special session on Tuesday (Oct. 5) at 11:30 a.m. EDT, according to Roland Slade, EC chairman. The central issue of meeting is the finalization of an agreement with Guidepost Solutions and the matter of waiving of the EC’s attorney-client privilege as requested by messengers and the Sexual Abuse Task Force, appointed by SBC President Ed Litton.
49 Christians killed, 27 kidnapped in central Nigeria
KADUNA, Nigeria (BP) – At least 49 people were killed and 27 others kidnapped in attacks on Christian communities in southern Kaduna, Nigeria, early this week, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported. While Fulani militia are blamed for the Sept. 26-27 attacks, many Fulani herdsmen live peaceably alongside Christians and other Muslims and are not involved in the ongoing violence, said Khataza Gondwe, CSW advocacy director and team leader for Africa and the Middle East.
ERLC’s goal on abortion: Illegal but also ‘unnecessary and unthinkable’
NASHVILLE (BP) – The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission is aiming for more than the reversal of Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court that legalized abortion nationwide. It wants a post-Roe world in which abortion is “unnecessary and unthinkable.” The ERLC has begun using that phrase – “unnecessary and unthinkable” – increasingly as the United States nears the 50th anniversary of the Roe decision in January 2023.
An open letter to all Southern Baptists
By RONNIE FLOYD, President SBC Executive Committee Dear Trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and the Churches and Baptist Bodies of our Convention Family, When I arrived in Nashville to serve the Lord and our Baptist Family on Monday, May, 20, 2019, I did so with a strong vision and passion to inspire a renewed sense of cooperation, all for the sake of reaching a world that was, and is now, in desperate need of knowing Jesus Christ.
Southern Baptist pastors, leaders weigh in on EC-Task Force stalemate
NASHVILLE (BP) – Pastors and other leaders across the Southern Baptist Convention are voicing their frustration about the lack of progress of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee’s work toward an independent third-party investigation of issues related to sexual abuse.
‘The Jesus Music,’ documentary aims to offer audiences ‘a rush of hope’
NASHVILLE (BP) – “The Jesus Music,” a new documentary depicting the rise of the contemporary Christian music (CCM) genre, releases in theaters Friday (Oct. 1). The documentary features interviews with a wide variety of CCM artists both new and old, including Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Lauren Daigle, TobyMac, Kirk Franklin, Bart Millard and Bill Gaither.
Cooperative Program crosses $20 billion in cumulative giving
NASHVILLE (BP) – Since 1925, Southern Baptists have given more than $20 billion through the Cooperative Program to fund its entities and missionaries taking the Gospel throughout the world. That news was delivered Sept. 29 by SBC Executive Committee Chief Financial Officer Jeff Pearson to EC President and Chief Executive Officer Ronnie Floyd on the eve of Cooperative Program Emphasis Month, which is celebrated throughout October.
FIRST-PERSON: Champion your pastor in October
NASHVILLE (BP) — The month of October is Pastor Appreciation Month. This is the time to champion your pastor. Pastors are God-called servant-leaders who feed the people of God through the ministry of preaching the Bible and lead the people of God by providing spiritual oversight of the church. In his shepherding role, the pastor prays for the people regularly, and especially when they find themselves in a time of great need.
Called Conference reaches 400-plus Oklahoma students
SHAWNEE, Okla. (BP) – Moses, Gideon, Isaiah, Paul. The Bible is full of examples of people who were directly called to ministry leadership by God. Oklahoma Baptists’ annual Called Conference aims to help young people who feel that same call. This year’s conference at Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) Aug. 28 drew more than 400 people who sense God’s call on their lives. The theme was “Appointed,” based on Isaiah 42:6.
9/11: Have we forgotten?
NASHVILLE (BP) – On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, America will observe the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. On this day, it seemed the world stopped as all eyes and hearts observed the horrific events that were occurring before us on live television. The events of 9/11 were shocking Terrorism struck our nation in a devastating manner. A total of 2,996 people were killed in America on that day, and more than 6,000 others were injured by the deadliest terrorist attack in world history.
9/11 drives two Manhattan Southern Baptists closer to ministry, God
NEW YORK (BP) – Trina Craft is habitually 50 minutes early for most anything. But with a 9:45 a.m. job interview on the 86th floor of the World Trade Center 20 years ago, she was delayed in the rush of getting her daughter Florence Marie to school. Manhattan resident Trina Craft visits the 9/11 memorial where her late cousin, New York Police Sgt. Rodney C. Gillis, is among those memorialized.
ERLC, others urge retention of abortion funding bans
WASHINGTON (BP) – The Southern Baptist Convention’s ethics entity has joined other pro-life organizations in urging members of Congress to maintain long-standing bans on federal funding of abortion. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) was among 60 national and state groups whose leaders signed onto a Sept. 7 letter that asked the Senate and House of Representatives to protect the Hyde Amendment and other measures that prohibit abortion funding.
SBC entity heads respond to Biden vaccine mandate
NASHVILLE (BP) — A number of Southern Baptist leaders are taking a cautious approach to President Joe Biden’s announcement Thursday (Sept. 9) that businesses with 100 or more employees will soon be required to have all employees be vaccinated or tested weekly.
SBC DIGEST: Charleston church burns; North Carolina Baptists honor woman’s 50 years of service
Charleston church loses sanctuary in fire By Brandon Porter CHARLESTON, S.C. (BP) – Members of Fort Johnson Baptist Church will face a new challenge as they recover from a fire that likely destroyed the church’s sanctuary on Thursday (Sept. 9). Pastor Marty Middleton speculated to WCBD-TV a lightning strike sparked the fire late Wednesday night that smoldered overnight and started the blaze.
FIRST-PERSON: Have we forgotten?
NASHVILLE (BP) – On Saturday, Sept. 11, 2021, America will observe the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. On this day, it seemed the world stopped as all eyes and hearts observed the horrific events that were occurring before us on live television. The events of 9/11 were shocking Terrorism struck our nation in a devastating manner. A total of 2,996 people were killed in America on that day, and more than 6,000 others were injured by the deadliest terrorist attack in world history.
Baptism Sunday offers churches opportunity for reflection, rejoicing
Editor’s note: Sunday (Sept. 12) is Baptism Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. NASHVILLE (BP) – While Baptism Sunday (Sept. 12) will mainly serve as a day for Southern Baptist churches to perform and celebrate baptisms, it can also serve as a day for pastors to continue teaching and discussing the critical ordinance. Pastors and church leaders have the opportunity not to simply ask people to participate by being baptized, but also to explain the why and how of baptism to their congregations.
9/11: Reflections from 3 SBC leaders
NASHVILE (BP) – As we approach the 20th anniversary of 9/11, three Southern Baptists leaders who held significant leadership roles on Sept. 11, 2001, help us remember that infamous day and consider its impact on the Southern Baptist Convention and our world. At that time, Richard Land was president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission; James Merritt was president of the SBC; and Jerry Rankin was president of the International Mission Board.
9/11: Southern Baptist Disaster Relief left legacy at Ground Zero
NEW YORK CITY (BP) – Twenty years after spending weeks in what could only be called a war zone, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are reflecting on their experience working in the immediate aftermath of 9/11 and how it affected their lives. Sam Porter is the national director for Southern Baptist Disaster Relief for Send Relief with the North American Mission Board.
COMMENTARY: Extraordinary challenges in the world call for extraordinary prayer
By Ronnie Floyd Together, We Need Extraordinary Prayer and Cooperation The current challenges across America and the world are extraordinary. Together, we need to respond with a commitment to extraordinary prayer and cooperation. We need each other now more than ever before and we need God’s power like never before in life and in ministry. Tragedies in Afghanistan How can any of us dismiss the ongoing tragedies in Afghanistan?
FROM THE SEMINARIES: SBTS, SWBTS convocations focus on battle for truth
The battle of ideas is a war for our souls, Mohler says at convocation By Jeff Robinson/SBTS LOUISVILLE, Ky. (BP) – The battle of ideas is not a matter of intellectual strength but is most fundamentally a spiritual war in which our very souls are at stake, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. told students and faculty gathered Tuesday morning for fall convocation at Alumni Memorial Chapel.
FIRST-PERSON: Through it all, God Is still working
NASHVILLE (BP) – Over the past 10 days, I have been ministering, speaking, preaching and leading with Southern Baptists in multiple settings in Texas, California, Tennessee, Alabama, Ohio and Mississippi. After being in each of these locations, I want to assure you God is working, moving and actively engaged in every way in everything we do. Through it all, God is still doing great things.
‘Bracing for the worst’ in Florida’s COVID-19 hot zone
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — As quickly as one COVID-19 patient is discharged, another waits for a bed in northeast Florida, the hot zone of the state’s latest surge. But the patients at Baptist Health’s five hospitals across Jacksonville are younger and getting sick from the virus faster than people did last summer. Baptist has more than 500 COVID-19 patients, more than twice the number they had at the peak of Florida’s July 2020 surge, and the onslaught isn’t letting up.
Russian Baptist leader urges American believers to pass the torch of faith
DULUTH, Ga. (BP) – When Peter Mitskevich was a child, he attended a lot of birthday parties when there wasn’t a birthday to celebrate. It was part of being in a Christian family in the Soviet Union, where evangelical gatherings were illegal. That included Sunday School or Bible studies for children. If one were being held at a home, it was common to receive a knock at the door by the local police.
SBC DIGEST: Melson elected SBU president; ‘Free Burma Rangers’ coming back to theaters
Melson elected president of Southwest Baptist University By Pathway Staff BOLIVAR, Mo. (BP) – Southwest Baptist University’s board of trustees has unanimously elected Richard J. Melson as the school’s 26th president, effective Sept. 7. “Dr. Melson is a conservative evangelical Christian leader with experience in Christian higher education, pastoral ministry and executive leadership,” said Eddie Bumpers, chair of the SBU trustee board.
SEND RELIEF: How Southern Baptists can respond to crises in Afghanistan, Haiti
Prayer, giving most needed response to Afghanistan crisis By IMB Staff The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan, storming across the nation and capturing all major cities within a matter of days. This political takeover occurred just weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the current crisis, an exodus is building as people by the thousands try to evacuate the country.
FIRST-PERSON: All about what God is doing through local churches
NASHVILLE (BP) – When you want to know what is really happening in and through Southern Baptists, you need to look at what God is doing in and through our churches. This is the only place to get the true look, the accurate description and the real story of what God is doing. We are a Convention of churches. We are not a Convention of national entities, state conventions or associations. These Baptist bodies serve our churches. No one governs our churches.
'Ten Percent' drives increase in giving at California church
MENIFEE, Calif. (BP) – Pastor Gregory Perkins wanted his congregation at The View Church to remember God in the midst of the distractions of the COVID-19 pandemic. He found a solution in “Ten Percent: A Call to Biblical Stewardship,” a free resource from the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee and authored by SBC EC President and CEO Ronnie Floyd.
Disaster Relief Appreciation Sunday recognizes volunteer efforts
Editor’s Note: This Sunday (Aug. 22) is Disaster Relief Appreciation Sunday in the Southern Baptist Convention. ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) – Every year, thousands of volunteers with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) bring tangible help and spiritual hope during the trying days that follow disaster. This Sunday (Aug. 22), Southern Baptists will celebrate them by recognizing Disaster Relief Appreciation Sunday.
Southern Baptists begin assessment, response to Haiti earthquake
NASHVILLE (BP) – A massive earthquake that struck Haiti Saturday morning (Aug. 14) and has left more than 1,200 dead has spurred Southern Baptists to coordinate relief efforts. “In the aftermath of the 7.2 earthquake that struck Haiti, Send Relief is working with local partners on the ground to assess needs,” the group announced on Twitter hours after the earthquake struck.
HLGU campus damaged by wind, rain
HANNIBAL, Mo. (BP) – Days before Hannibal-LaGrange University (HLGU) opened for new students and fall semester classes, a nasty windstorm and accompanying rain damaged the campus. The main damage from the late-afternoon storm Thursday (Aug. 12), was to the student center in the middle of the campus, where a large section of the roof was stripped off and thrown to the ground. However, other buildings had water infiltration, and some students were evacuated from one housing unit for a time.
FIRST-PERSON: Do not let your heart be troubled
NASHVILLE (BP) – Jesus’ words are instructive and inspiring. Never miss them and do not let your familiarity with these words lose their impact for your life. “Do not let your heart be troubled.” (John 14:1) Jesus informed his disciples in John 13 about His soon departure from this earth. He had just: Humbled Himself by washing the feet of each of them. Shared with them that one of their own would betray them. Given them a new commandment to live by: Love one another.
$2.7M government grant goes toward fetal tissue harvesting, report says
PITTSBURGH (BP) – According to documents obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request, at least $2.7 million from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has gone to support a project at the University of Pittsburgh that includes the possible removal of organs and tissue from pre-born babies who are still alive. An Aug.
Appeals court upholds Tennessee waiting-period law
CINCINNATI (BP) – Pro-life leaders and Tennessee officials commended a federal appeals court opinion Thursday (Aug. 5) that upheld a state law requiring a 48-hour waiting period before an abortion. The full Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati overturned by a 9-7 majority a federal judge’s 2020 decision that invalidated the waiting-period law. The appeals court also reversed its own three-judge panel that refused by a 2-1 margin in February to place the law back into effect.
Fire destroys portion of Northern California church
GREENVILLE, Calif. (BP) – The three-week-old Dixie Fire engulfed the town of Greenville along with Greenville Southern Baptist Church’s fellowship hall and youth building Thursday (Aug. 5). The church had a small apartment in which a father and three daughters were living. All four were evacuated safely but now face the loss of their home.
Independent review task force releases update, calls for proposals
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (BP) – Members of a seven-member task force named to oversee an independent, third-party review of the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of sexual abuse claims have released an update calling for proposals from firms interested in conducting the review. Bruce Frank, chairman of the task force appointed by SBC President Ed Litton, provided the update to Baptist Press and other media outlets Friday (Aug. 6).
David Jeremiah’s grandson carries on ministry legacy through video devotional series
LYNCHBURG, Va. (BP) – As the grandson of a well-known minister, David Todd Jeremiah is eager to be part of carrying on his family’s ministry legacy. This is partly why he helps oversee “PassagesTV,” a video devotional series aimed at young people. David Todd is the grandson of David Jeremiah, founder of Turning Point Ministries and senior pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, Calif. His father, David Michael Jeremiah, is Turning Point’s COO.
FIRST-PERSON: Read the Bible
NASHVILLE (BP) – Subsequent to my personal salvation experience in Jesus Christ and then determining to begin each day in personal time with God, the most significant spiritual decision I have made in my life is to read the Bible daily, consistently and wholly. As of today (Aug. 6), I will have completed reading through the Bible for a consecutive 31 years. Nothing has impacted me any greater and empowered me more to grow in the grace of God daily than reading through the Bible each year.
FIRST-PERSON: Our unified Great Commission vision for the future
Southern Baptists, we have a unified Great Commission vision to carry us through 2025. With confidence, pastors and church leaders can stand before our churches and say,“These are the things we will focus on and resolve to do together as Southern Baptists from now through 2025.” As you share it with your church, ask them to join ourPRAYER TEAM by textingVISIONto90885. Immediately, they will join thousands of others who are participating in this major prayer initiative across the globe.
High court rejects florist, gives hope to Maine parents
WASHINGTON (BP)—Barronelle Stutzman’s lengthy legal effort to operate a florist shop in Washington state according to her Christian convictions came to an end Friday (July 2) at the U.S. Supreme Court. The justices announced they would not review an appeal by Stutzman, a Southern Baptist, of a Washington Supreme Court ruling in 2019 that she was guilty of illegal discrimination by declining to design flowers for a same-sex wedding.
Send Relief National Spokesperson Mark Richt announces Parkinson’s diagnosis
NASHVILLE (BP) — Mark Richt, the former college football coach who is now a national spokesperson for Send Relief, announced Thursday (July 1) he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Richt has served as a national spokesperson for Send Relief since Feb. 2020. Send Relief represents a joint effort from the IMB and the NAMB focused on compassion ministry. “I have been waddling around lately and people have asked me what’s wrong. I’ve decided to tell everyone at the same time.
Youth groups appear poised for growth post-COVID-19 as scouting suffers
GREENVILLE, S.C. (BP) — Youth groups Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls are emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic poised for growth, while longstanding scouting groups are suffering membership declines that predate the pandemic. Only Trail Life USA, founded in 2014 as a character development group for boys, grew its membership in 2020-2021 compared to the 2019 pre-pandemic year, according to CEO Mark Hancock, who cited 30 percent growth.
Christians understand costly realities of following Jesus
Editor’s note: This story is part of a series on global persecution, leading churches to pray for the persecuted church. Ramsey* didn’t want to take his own life. Instead, he accepted missions that put him in harm’s way. Years later, after he became a Christian, Ramsey still doesn’t want to take his own life, but is willing to lay down his life for the sake of Christ and accepted a mission that puts him in harm’s way. Being in harm’s way means loving those who were once his enemies.
Through refugee simulation, youth at SBC meeting grow in compassion
NASHVILLE (BP) – Among the new words students attending the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting learned were “Dermici” for listen, “yoma” for clock, “Lamichca” for calendar and “itumba” for computer. At the Youth on Mission morning session June 16, students actively participated in a refugee loss simulation, which opened their eyes to struggles many refugees experience and showed them ways to love their neighbor well.
FIRST-PERSON: A few highlights from 2021 SBC Annual Meeting
NASHVILLE (BP) – While the 2021 SBC Annual Meeting is now part of our history, let’s not forget a few of the great highlights. We each will remember some things personally and we will discover others as we dialogue with friends. I want to share a few special highlights I believe are worthy of mention. Seventy days before the SBC Annual Meeting began, we were not even certain we could have the gathering in Nashville.
Greear reflects on SBC’s past, present and future in BP interview
NASHVILLE (BP) – Twenty years from now, historians are going to call the upcoming annual meeting a defining moment for the Southern Baptist Convention. It will determine if the SBC chooses to let the Great Commission and the Gospel define its mission or if it will be seen as a geographical, cultural and political voting bloc. It will determine the basis for SBC unity. At least that’s the position of James David Greear as he finishes his third year as SBC president.
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