North American Mission Board

Preaching life at a funeral home

Peter Ward — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 21:17:58 GMT

By Tobin Perry

A funeral home isn’t the kind of place you usually go to find something alive—unless you happen to live in Garfield Heights, Ohio. There, every Sunday morning, you’ll find worshippers at Alive Church praising and learning about Jesus at the local Lucas Funeral Home, not far outside of Cleveland.

In fact, Alive Church just might be the most alive thing you’ve ever found at a funeral home. Born out of North American Mission Board church planter Greg Clark’s passion to reach people who wouldn’t normally go to church, the two-year-old church plant specializes in lost causes.

For example, Alive Church has quickly become a place where recovering addicts have found the power to stay clean and drug-free in a relationship with Christ.

Travis Rymer: Birthplace of Baptists

James Dotson — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 20:48:52 GMT

In 1638 this city birthed the first Baptist church in America. But today, the population of Providence, Rhode Island could almost be classified as an unreached people group. Now church planters Travis Rymer and Kevin McKay are trying to make Providence known once again as a home for new churches. A second video in this missionary focus tells the story of one college student who encountered Christ through the church and its people.

Indy vision tour to highlight lack of SBC churches around Super Bowl site

James Dotson — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 13:45:32 GMT

By Tobin Perry

INDIANAPOLIS – More than 100,000 visitors will likely flood into the area around Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Feb. 5 for America’s most popular sporting event—The Super Bowl. When those visitors come to Indianapolis, local Southern Baptists say they’ll find a growing, diverse population and a thriving commercial area in downtown Indianapolis.

But they won’t find nearly enough Southern Baptist churches.

Currently, Southern Baptists have only two places to worship in the city center, an area of downtown Indianapolis with 19,000 people living in a one-mile radius. One is a new church plant reaching students at Indiana University-Purdue University in Indianapolis (IUPUI). The other, Metro Baptist Center, reaches mostly the homeless population.

Wynn It Counts: Permission to surrender

James Dotson — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:49:18 GMT

By Adam Miller

If you visit Cross Church in Springdale, Ark., on a Sunday morning, chances are you won’t leave without the opportunity of a lifetime.

“In my church you can count on the following four things,” says Pastor Ronnie Floyd. “I will always invite people to come to Christ, I will always offer an opportunity for people to join with Cross Church, I will provide a time for people to respond to a call to full time ministry and we always invite people to pray and seek the Lord.” More >

Wynn It Counts is a new evangelism video series hosted by Larry Wynn, NAMB's vice president of evangelism.

Kirby Woods supporting Las Vegas church planting network

Peter Ward — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 22:05:12 GMT

By Joe Conway

For more than 10 years Kirby Woods Baptist Church in Memphis, Tenn., has been supporting church planting efforts in Las Vegas. The highest profile connection is with Hope Baptist Church, Pastor Vance Pitman and the now 12-year-old plant that was a partnership of First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., the North American Mission Board and the Southern Baptist Convention.

Kirby Woods’ support has expanded to include the church plants of Hope Church and the work of Redemption Baptist Church, including their lay church planting network. But it is the latest role Kirby Woods has assumed that brings new excitement to the church.

NAMB emphasizes church planting in ‘gateway city’

James Dotson — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 14:26:08 GMT

ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Southern Baptists hope a revitalized city may soon be on the horizon. Yet they’re not banking on economics or politics to make it happen.

Instead, they’re banking on the gospel.

“I’m thinking that there can be a faithful gospel presence literally in every community in St. Louis,” said Kenny Petty, a Southern Baptist church planter in St. Louis. “What would that look like? … You’d see crime go down. You’d see the dropout rates lessen. You’d see teen pregnancy go down. … These things are heart issues. And there’s only one thing that can deal with the heart of man and that’s the gospel of Jesus.”

Heart of ministry shows through New England DR assistance

Peter Ward — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:48:27 GMT

By Joe Conway

NORTHBOROUGH, Mass. – In a record-setting year of disasters, the overwhelming urge to meet practical needs while sharing the Gospel spurred New England Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers and leaders to reach out and serve in new avenues. Through it all Baptist Convention of New England assistant DR director Tim Buehner is encouraged by the impact made on lives for Christ.

“All the disaster relief efforts, all the work of the volunteers, gave the people of New England a picture of what Southern Baptists are about and what we care capable of providing in response to needs. In New England that is enormous,” said Buehner.

Unusual January tornadoes hit Alabama, Arkansas

Peter Ward — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 22:12:41 GMT

By Mickey Noah

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers from a half-dozen local associations in central Alabama are responding to three tornadoes that struck the state early on Monday, Jan. 23, including one that raked the northeast Birmingham area, killing two.

The National Weather Service said the tornado that hit the Oak Grove community southwest of Birmingham and ripped northeastward through Center Point, Trussville and Clay was in the EF-3 category, with winds of 150 mph. The two victims were an 81-year-old man in Oak Grove and a 16-year-old girl in Clay.

Videos address challenge of St. Louis

James Dotson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 18:37:30 GMT

It is not the Bible Belt. It is not the East. It is not the West. It is simply St. Louis. In this series of videos, see how God is calling unique people to a unique place; and hear how God is calling many of His people to a unique opportunity.

St. Louis barbershop patrons inspire church plant

James Dotson — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 15:07:12 GMT

By Tobin Perry

ST. LOUIS – You can tell a lot about a community from the inside of a barbershop. Just about everyone, at some time or another, needs a haircut. The barber sees it all.

Yet of all the patrons of Sean and Taquella Boone’s beauty and barbershop in North County, St. Louis, one group stood out to the couple—young African-Americans who wanted no part in the traditional church. The Boones saw them every day. Most wouldn’t have felt comfortable in the aging churches nearby.

But they needed to hear about Jesus.

Missionary Focus: In the driver’s seat

James Dotson — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:58:47 GMT

When he used to live on the streets of Norwich, Connecticut, David Holland used to watch church vans pass by and wonder why they never stopped for people like him. Then and there, he made a promise to himself. At the time, it seemed like an impossible promise to keep; but times change. Now he's driving a van for the church started by missionary Shaun Pillay.

From Alabama to Brooklyn, and loving it

Peter Ward — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 21:56:07 GMT

By Sara Shelton

If someone had told Nathan Tubbs five years ago that God’s call on his life would lead him to put down roots and plant a church in Brooklyn, he wouldn’t have believed it. A born and raised Alabama boy, Nathan had little intention of taking his ministry elsewhere until God’s plan sent him straight to New York City.

“I was literally forced to do an internship in New York City during my time in seminary,” he explains. “To be honest, I wasn’t happy about it at all.”

Tubbs spent one summer serving with the Metropolitan New York Baptist Association and found himself surprised by how much he grew to love the city in just three short months.

Overcoming barriers paves way for church planting in Los Angeles

Peter Ward — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:30:20 GMT

By Joe Conway

“When you don’t have anything you have to rely on God.” That mantra has been a recurring marker for Victor Solorzano. The 29-year-old church planter has overcome multiple barriers to start new congregations.

Solorzano came from El Salvador to California for the first time when he was 5. Less than two years later he was back in El Salvador after a tumultuous trek that saw Solorzano’s parents divorce, his father kidnap him and threaten to kidnap him again if his mother interfered, finally ending in the death of his father when Solorzano was just 7.

Send North America: Cleveland Videos

James Dotson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 18:26:48 GMT

Send North America Cleveland Take a look around in downtown Cleveland and you’ll see lots of churches—large churches, beautiful churches, historic churches. And, for the most part, empty churches. Forty two percent of the people in the county that surrounds

NYC church planters set sights on reaching beyond city limits

James Dotson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:57:04 GMT

By Sara Shelton

NEW YORK – How do you help reach North America—perhaps even the entire world—with the gospel simply starting with one church plant? For church planters Won Kwak and Freddy Wyatt, it was simple: start with New York City.

“I was struck immediately by the strategic nature of planting in New York City,” said Wyatt, pastor of The Gallery Church. “The scope of influence coming out of this city is incredible. When you plant the gospel in New York City, you have the potential unlike any other city to impact the whole world.”

Kwak echoes this sentiment, choosing to plant Maranatha Grace just across the Hudson River from upper Manhattan in Fort Lee, New Jersey.

Birmingham church supporting ‘Send North America: NYC’

James Dotson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:54:49 GMT

By Mickey Noah

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – While dozens of Southern Baptist churches are mobilizing under Send North America: New York City—which launches Sept. 30—to plant new churches in the Big Apple and its greater metro area, the most excited may be Shades Mountain Baptist Church in Birmingham.

Send North America is the North American Mission Board’s strategy to mobilize and assist churches and individuals in hands-on church planting throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Pastored for the last 15 years by Danny Wood, Shades Mountain Baptist is spearheading New York City area church planting under NAMB’s Send North America initiative.

What do hip-hop and church planting have in common?

James Dotson — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 13:51:02 GMT

By Sara Shelton

On a cool fall night in Manhattan, the crowd is overflowing out of APT 78. The newly opened lounge sits in the heart of the Washington Heights neighborhood and the people of this community have come out in droves to support local rapper Andy Mineo as he celebrates the release of his latest album. But for Mineo and his colleague Rich Perez, this gathering is more than just an album release party. The two men are hoping this time in a crowded music venue will serve as an outreach to the people of Washington Heights, the home of their new church plant Christ Crucified Fellowship.

Tennessee church invests in Cleveland church planting

James Dotson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:58:31 GMT

By Tobin Perry

CONCORD, Tenn. – It’s rarely glamorous work. It’s raking leaves, painting and cleaning carpets. Yet Karen Claypool knows she’s serving Jesus by serving Cleveland church planters.

“We’ve done everything from cleaning toilets to cleaning carpets. We’ve done all kinds of things,” said Claypool. “I won’t see the people coming into the building, but I know that by the building being ready that we’re having an impact.”

Claypool has been helping to organize trips to Cleveland from First Baptist Church of Concord, Tenn., for two years. At least two dozen people from the church have made the trek to Cleveland to help local church planters with a variety of projects crucial to the task of reaching the city.

Reluctant planter starts church in ‘church planting graveyard’

James Dotson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:57:00 GMT

By Tobin Perry

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, Ohio – Cleveland Heights might not be the kind of place that attracts some church planters—at least church planters that want an easier road.

“Cleveland Heights has really become a church planting graveyard,” said Zach Weihrauch, who came to the city in 2011 to start a church as a North American Mission Board missionary. “It’s tough, but I really felt God was telling us that if there was a gospel-centered church here, then things would happen in Cleveland.”

Weihrauch is part of a new generation of pioneering Southern Baptist church planters who are re-engaging the major unreached cities of North America, like Cleveland, with the gospel through church planting.

Small Florida association supports Northeast church plants

James Dotson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:42:01 GMT

By Mickey Noah

BONIFAY, Fla. – Four years before Send North America was launched by the North American Mission Board to mobilize existing churches and local associations to plant and support new churches in underserved parts of the United States, Todd Unzicker was down in Holmes County, Fla., doing it.

In 2007, Unzicker, 31 at the time, came to Bonifay, Fla.—located in the Florida panhandle just off I-10, about 50 miles due north of Panama City—as one of the youngest directors of missions ever in the entire Southern Baptist Convention.

Bonifay is the county seat for Holmes County, one of Florida’s most rural and poorest counties. Only some 19,000 residents live in the entire county. At the time, the Holmes Baptist Association consisted of only 29 churches, and 25 of those had bivocational pastors.

Send North America: Cleveland focuses on church planting

James Dotson — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 20:38:54 GMT

By Tobin Perry

CLEVELAND, Ohio – A church planting renaissance is on the horizon in an unlikely locale. Southern Baptists in Cleveland believe they’re on the edge of something big—a church planting movement that could change the city.

But they’ll need Southern Baptist partners from elsewhere to see that movement come to fruition.

“Cleveland needs people who love Jesus,” said Dan Ghramm, a North American Mission Board church planter in West Cleveland. “In the area of 65,000 people in far West Cleveland where I’m at, there has to be less than 300 to 400 people in a gospel-preaching church on Sunday morning.”

NAMB church planting effort noted in New York Times

Peter Ward — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:56:04 GMT

By Staff

ALPHARETTA, Ga.—The North American Mission Board’s Send North America: New York City church planting focus garnered attention from the New York Times over the Christmas holidays.

“Seeing City in Need, Southern Baptists Plan Growth,” the headline stated. The article was posted to the newspaper’s website on Christmas evening and ran in the print edition December 26 on page 25 of Section A.

NAMB launches NYC church-planting initiative

James Dotson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:17:56 GMT

By Sara Shelton

NEW YORK – The world is watching New York City. Home to Broadway, Wall Street, Times Square and Rockefeller Center, it is the epicenter of culture, fashion, media, finance and news in the United States—perhaps even worldwide.

In 2010, Forbes Magazine named New York the city with the largest global impact and influence in the world. With more than 8 million people in New York City and more than 22 million in the metro area, it is the largest city in the U.S., the third largest metro area in the world. Imagine what the nation might look like if its most influential city found its greatest influence in Christ.

This is the motivation driving Southern Baptist church planters to reach New York City for Christ. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is launching its first Send North America city emphasis—Send North America: New York City—on Sept. 30.

Church planting, SBDR among top 10 stories in 2011

James Dotson — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 20:14:57 GMT

By Staff

As we enjoy another Christmas season and prepare the for dawn of a new year, the North American Mission Board looks back on 2011, as it shifted priorities and launched strategic new initiatives to more effectively share the Gospel and plant new evangelistic churches throughout North America—all made possible by Southern Baptists’ generous donations to the Cooperative Program and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering^®.

As you reflect on the stories below and recall the events of the past year, pray for the work God will accomplish through Southern Baptists in 2012. Pray that Southern Baptist churches will mobilize to plant churches to reach all people. Consider how you might join in the work of our Southern Baptist missionaries and do whatever it takes to lead those who need Jesus into His presence.

Fanning the Flame in the Prairie Provinces

Peter Ward — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 17:48:19 GMT

By Adam Miller

Church planter catalyst Gary Smith talks of the embers smoldering in Winnepeg. This city in Manitoba is near where Henry Blackaby stoked a gospel blaze, and this area of Canada’s Prairie Provinces shows signs of life as pastors in the area seek to build church planting leaders.

In Saskatoon, Regina, Calgary, Edmonton and northern Ontario, a dozen or so churches have come on board with a desire to start new churches and raise up leaders.

Call to Prayer: A four-week emphasis

Peter Ward — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 21:11:57 GMT

By Jonathan Wilson

Our church will be participating in the SBC Call to Prayer emphasis in January. This presents an opportunity for us to educate our people on the need for the gospel to be shared locally and around the world, and the part we can play by praying for spiritual awakening. We have decided to dedicate a portion of our worship service each Sunday in January, beginning January 8, to this emphasis. We will open each prayer segment up with a video that introduces the key area of prayer focus for that day/week. Then a staff member will come to the platform to lead in the congregational prayer time. We have developed a family prayer guide/devotional for our members to access at fbca.com/missions.

The Weary in Well Doing

Peter Ward — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 23:48:04 GMT

By Kima Jude

I’m reluctant to admit it, but there are days when my husband and I grow weary of church planting.

Most of the time, being part of a new church energizes. Before New Day ever existed, we dreamed about the church that we would plant. Our leaders spent weeks strategizing. Galvanized by the prospect, we charged into the church plant full scale and full of energy.

I’m grateful we stored up those reserves because we would need them later. Simply put, church planting tires. Like being pregnant, there’s a lot of hard work going on inside the body. Invisible from the outside, it wears you out nonetheless.

Evangelistic events focus of GPS 2012

Peter Ward — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 21:26:11 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Following the inaugural success of GPS (God’s Plan for Sharing) 2010 two years ago, GPS 2012 will focus on attractional evangelism events enabling Southern Baptists to share the Gospel across North America in the days leading up to next Easter and beyond.

In 2010, thousands of Southern Baptists trooped door-to-door in American neighborhoods, placing door-hangers, Gospel tracts and invitations to attend church on front doors. Attractional evangelism in 2012 will include block parties, wild game dinners, sports clinics, antique car shows, golf tournaments and other events, according to Thomas Hammond, the North American Mission Board’s evangelism team leader for the biennial GPS initiative.

High court permits NYC schools to ban churches

James Dotson — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 13:20:06 GMT

The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an evangelical church's plea to overturn New York City's ban on renting public schools for religious worship services, according to a Fox News Radio story by Todd Starnes. “That means the city now has a green light to begin evicting congregations that pay rent to use public school buildings for church services,” the article states.

Churches will have to vacate public schools on Feb. 12, 2012.

About seven of the 220 Southern Baptist churches in the city will be impacted by the decision, according to George Russ, executive director of the New York Metropolitan Baptist Association. "A lot of churches are going to be homeless," he said.

"The odd thing is these [churches] have blessed the schools they've been in," Russ continued. "They all have good relationships with the schools they've been in. They've purchased furniture for the teacher's lounge; they've given video equipment to the schools. They've done so many thank-you kinds of projects."

Russ said churches will now be scrambling to rent hotel space, banquet halls and movie theaters. The cost of renting spaces like these will most certainly be a challenge for these church planters looking to fit this newfound expense in their budgets.

Read full story >>

For more information on helping Southern Baptist church planters and congregations in the New York, visit http://www.namb.net/newyorkcity.

Breaking the surface of inner-city Chicago

James Dotson — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 20:08:13 GMT

By Ann-Margret Hovsepian

On Mother’s Day earlier this year, a brief break after the sermon at Chicago’s City South Church allowed the 30-odd congregants to enjoy a free buffet brunch before splitting into four study groups. This format may seem unusual but so was the venue: City South, a two-year-old church plant, meets in the rear dining area of Connie’s Pizza on South Archer Avenue.

Although not having one’s own building presents challenges, such as having to keep the volume of the music low, not being able to do much with the children and having to pack up and lug around equipment every week, City South has also seen God at work. “It’s exciting to see people’s lives change,” says Eric Arnall, lead pastor and church planter of the new ministry, “to see that God can work in a great way in a pizza place. It’s obviously not about the church clothes, the etiquette or rules. We established a very informal culture that’s serious about the Word.”

Reluctant church planter thought planting in Cleveland was crazy

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:06:15 GMT

Gateway Church West, launched in October 2009, is part of a network of church plants in Cleveland that share everything (from health insurance to mission teams to even their name). This partnership not only helps the churches be more effective in reaching their own neighborhoods but also contribute more to future church planting.

Indianapolis-area church plant growing strong through partnerships

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:02:49 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Out of a job and quickly running out of hope, Daniel Pfeiffer didn’t know where to turn. A neighbor had been after him for some time to join him at a new church, called The Pointe Community Church, which had started in nearby Fishers, Ind. He had attended once, enjoyed it, but couldn’t seem to make it a regular habit.

“I really found myself flailing and I reached out to Charlie Fehrman the pastor [of The Pointe],” Pfieffer said. “I talked to him and attended church one week. He is such a giving person. He’s willing to spend time and energy. He truly lives like a Christian. He just gives, gives and gives. He helped me through that time.”

From 'I’ll never be a pastor' to Vancouver church planter

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:24:38 GMT

By Adam Miller

VANCOUVER, B.C. -- Victor and Candice Thomas landed in Vancouver promising they’d never stay—that was four years ago. They arrived in 2007, so Victor could start a four-month stint as a researcher at Simon Fraser University—what Victor called an extended honeymoon for the newly married couple. But the young entrepreneurs from South Africa found a new calling in Burnaby, a quick train-ride from downtown Vancouver.

Three weeks before they were to return to Cape Town, Thomas walked the Burnaby campus of Simon Fraser, his eyes seeming to open for the first time.

Reaching the world from Flushing, Queens

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:09:18 GMT

By Sara Shelton

Church planter Jae Lee has a vision to reach the world for Christ and he is starting right here in New York City.

“The whole world is represented here,” Lee says. “If we can reach the people of New York City, they in turn can reach the people in the nations they represent.”

The global impact potential of the city is what led Jae to plant Ebenezer Mission Church there 12 years ago. As a Korean man living in the neighborhood of Flushing in Queens, Lee recognized the need for a church plant designed to reach his own people who were now making their home in New York. Though Lee saw success in reaching other first-generation Koreans in Flushing, he quickly realized there was a disconnect when it came to their children and their children’s peers.

What do you do when God calls you to reach football fanatics?

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:07:06 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Worship is everywhere in Madison, Wis. At least it is on Saturday afternoons in the fall, says North American Mission Board missionary Aaron Jozwiak. In fact, people go “all out” for their weekly worship experience. They paint their faces, wear special red clothing, and revolve most of their day around the worship of their god.

Unfortunately, while Wisconsin Badger football rules Saturdays in Madison, most Madison residents give little attention to Jesus

Coffee, cookies—and a place to pray

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:06:10 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Visitors who stroll through Birchwood Mall in Kingsford, Mich., this holiday season will get more than the newest fashion and a carbohydrate-filled meal. Thanks to a local Southern Baptist church plant that meets in the mall, visitors can also get a cup of coffee, a cookie, and a place to rest their weary feet.

And, if the members of Abundant Life Church have their way, these same mall visitors may also find rest for their weary souls.

The church opens its doors on a regular basis for tired shoppers—and provides free coffee, cookies, a place to sit, and someone who’ll pray with them.

How do you reach 48,000 people with the gospel?

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:05:20 GMT

By Sara Shelton

Spend ten minutes talking with Chris High about his desire to reach the people of Hoboken, N.J., in the name of Christ and it will quickly become clear that this is more than just a plan; it is a passion.

“There are 50,000 people in Hoboken and only about 2,000 are regularly in church,” High explains. “That leaves 48,000 people in this city who need to know Christ. Those are the people we are going to reach.”

Planting one for the locals opens doors in Cheyenne

James Dotson — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:04:33 GMT

By Joe Conway

Zach Edwards was sure someone needed to plant churches in the West. He was equally convinced he was not that someone.

“The number of lost people in the West was a concern to me, but I thought church planting there would be tough,” said Zach. “I was sure that was something God wanted someone else to do – not me.”

The son of an evangelist, Zach was almost hardwired with an understanding of the need to share the gospel. How he would live out that conviction took shape while attending

Videos tell story of Send North America: Indianapolis

James Dotson — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 22:13:32 GMT

It's known for speed and for sports. It's not known for churches. In this series of videos, meet church planters God has called to Indianapolis, and learn what you can do to help them change what their town is known for.

NAMB launches Send North America: Indianapolis

Peter Ward — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:41:42 GMT

By Tobin Perry

INDIANAPOLIS – Pastor John Newland said he’d go anywhere—Asia, Africa, the Middle East, wherever the Lord led him. A life-changing mission trip to the Middle East had made him restless to make a difference. He couldn’t help but see the vast pockets of lostness in the cities of the world.

Then news came that some of the International Mission Board missionaries he had worked with on the trip had been killed on the mission field. Newland hit his knees in prayer. Content to stay but willing to go, Newland’s heart turned to the great unreached cities of North America. He started regularly praying for the cities and looking for opportunities to serve in one of them. Soon Fall Creek Baptist Church in Indianapolis called him to serve as its pastor.

Partnerships are sustaining force for Indy church plant

Peter Ward — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 17:40:20 GMT

By Tobin Perry

INDIANAPOLIS – Church planter Tony Manning can do a lot with a church of 60. He can canvass the neighborhood and pray for people door-by-door. He can mobilize his church to share its faith in the community. He and the church can host a “Parents’ Night Out” to help out young families in the area and introduce them to the church.

But strengthening marriages in the church and helping broken marriages outside of it through a marriage conference would have been a tall order for Hamilton Village Church in Fishers, Ind., just outside of Indianapolis.

That’s when one of the church plant’s partners, Highview Baptist Church from Louisville, Ky., pitched in to help.

Disciples: Our Measure of Success

Peter Ward — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 23:06:49 GMT

By Bruce James
We have all heard the Great Commission more times then we can remember. Contained in it is the core principle of our objective in ministry—to “make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). The word “nation” is ethnos, which means “people groups.” So clear and precise is this instruction that I would say it is our measure of success. When the scorecard is tallied, how we did in obeying this commission will reveal if we were busy with the Lord’s work or just busy.

The classic definition of a Christian disciple is “a believer in and a follower of Jesus Christ.” I would go on to say that I don’t think you can be a Christian and not be a disciple. We are disciples if we are believers. Any talk that suggests we are not making disciples is missing the real issue. But here is the challenge: we are making disciples—too often they are not very good ones. The second part of the definition is the key: are the disciples true followers of Jesus Christ?

Bivocational pastors needed for Send North America

James Dotson — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 22:15:30 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – If the North American Mission Board’s Send North America evangelistic church planting initiative is to be a success, it must include the participation of thousands of bivocational pastors who are willing to plant churches.

“We must leverage the laity to plant churches and we need to do it through a bivocational church movement,” said Aaron Coe, NAMB’s vice president of mobilization.

“There are thousands of men sitting in church pews listening to their pastors each week who more than meet the qualifications for being pastors and church planters. We need to mobilize them to be involved in church planting if we’re serious about the Great Commission,” said Coe.

NAMB church planting leaders recently met with members of the SBC-wide Bivocational and Small Church Leadership Network (BSCLN) to talk over ways bivocational pastors can get involved.

What are you thankful for?

Peter Ward — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 01:49:09 GMT

By Kathy Ferguson Litton

Grace.

I am thankful for the grace of God. Unfortunately in the Christian culture it is far too easy to grow numb to the depth and reality of biblical terms. We throw them out casually. Our minds and hearts disconnect to the powerful, very real daily implications. Old words can take on new meaning. Grace has for me.

My late husband in a sermon series some years ago crafted this definition of grace: “The disposition, pursuit and provision of God toward fallen men, whereby He freely offers Himself as a sufficient resource for their every need.” Yes, a mouthful yet a full, rich picture of the grace of God. He is a sufficient resource for every need. God by His grace empowers us to do things we would not otherwise have the strength to do on our own.

NAMB launches church-planting emphasis in Vancouver

James Dotson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:26:16 GMT

By Adam Miller

VANCOUVER, B.C.—Vancouver surprises you. It’s a vertical city; a large garden of high rises at the foot of the mountains and the edge of the Salish Sea. Surf and sail in the morning; snow ski in the afternoon; end the day with a five-star meal—all in Canada’s largest seaport and North America’s most diversity-dense city.

It’s younger than you’d imagine (125 years old), growing into every available space (mostly in high rises) and garnering a reputation for global magnetism. Some 200 language groups are represented among its residents.

Georgia church expands church planting vision to Vancouver

James Dotson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 22:22:59 GMT

By Adam Miller

LYONS, Ga.—Dannie Williams first set foot in Vancouver in 1985, and he never forgot it. He’d taken a trip with his wife, Gwen, starting in Seattle then working their way up the coast. When they reached the city it was as brilliant as it is today, if a little less populous.

The sea glistened, buildings lined up along Coal Harbor and the Strait of George, which they would cross to Victoria, British Columbia’s capital city on Vancouver Island.

God had already started planting a desire in Williams, beginning when Henry Blackaby came to speak in Texas where Williams was serving as pastor at the time.

Videos released for Send North America: Vancouver

James Dotson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 21:42:44 GMT

Buddhists outnumber Baptists; newcomers outnumber old-timers; and "no religion" is the leading religion. Vancouver is beautiful, worldly, and very, very different. In this series of videos, learn the city, meet the church planters God has called to it, and find out how you and your church can help make a lasting difference in Vancouver.

Coming in January: SBC Call to Prayer

James Dotson — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:14:42 GMT

By Joe Conway

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – In January 2012 Southern Baptists are once again being called to a time of prayer and spiritual awakening. The Southern Baptist Convention Call to Prayer is an opportunity to focus on praying missionally.

“I can’t think of a better way for our churches to start the New Year than to be in prayer for our families, our churches, our new church plants and our efforts to reach the un-reached people groups of the world,” said NAMB president Kevin Ezell. “NAMB is pleased to have the privilege to coordinate this effort this year. We want to make it easy for every Southern Baptist pastor to lead his congregation in focused prayer. I can’t think of anything more essential in our efforts to reach North America and the world.”

NAMB will provide resources to assist churches in participating in the prayer emphasis.

Church planting diverse in Philly, cradle of Baptists

James Dotson — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:24:17 GMT

By Mickey Noah

PHILADELPHIA – Philadelphia—the temporary capital of the nation in the 1790s while Washington, D.C. was being built—literally drips with American history.

Downtown, tree-lined streets lead tourists through shady parks and past Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Museum, Betsy Ross’ home and right by the grave of one of Philadelphia’s most famous sons, Benjamin Franklin. And even the roots of Southern Baptists can be traced back to the “City of Brotherly Love.”

Church on the edge suits Community Church @ Anthem

James Dotson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:23:08 GMT

In the Henderson suburb of Las Vegas, identity comes in a name. Everyone knows Hendertucky. Anthem – the same. One word tells you who lives there.

Marty Williams and his family live in the sprawling, single-family home community of Anthem. All houses – about 20,000 of them. No apartments. Two banks. One grocery store. And until Community Church @ Anthem’s launch in January 2011, only one small church.

Community Church had to wait until the first school was built in the area, Wallin Elementary, just to have a place large enough to meet.

“There was nothing out here except houses,” said Williams. “The closest church meant a 30-minute drive and people in Vegas will not do that.”

NAMB partnership focuses on urban engagement, church planting

James Dotson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 17:08:50 GMT

Hip hop may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Southern Baptist partnerships or the work of the North American Mission Board. With The Rebuild Initiative, it may be essential.

In an effort to enhance the reach of the Send North America strategy, NAMB is embarking on a partnership with The Rebuild Initiative. Rebuild, the vision and passion of two urban church planters, has its sights on identifying, equipping and networking urban church planters and leaders.

Chaplain demonstrates Christ’s peace in war zone

James Dotson — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 14:50:32 GMT

By Mickey Noah

KANDAHAR, Afghanistan – U. S. Air Force Chaplain (Capt.) Kevin Humphrey’s last quarterly report to the North American Mission Board’s chaplaincy group in Alpharetta, Ga., reads like the script of a Hollywood blockbuster.

But the combat incidents he reports on are real – true wartime stories of battlefield death, horrific injury, bloodshed, bravery and close calls. If it was a movie – and it could be – it could be titled: “A day in the life of a Southern Baptist chaplain serving in Afghanistan.”

Army chaplain Brent Causey: His hero is wife Susan

Peter Ward — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:20:15 GMT

By Mickey Noah

LIHUE, Hawaii (BP) – Talk to Army Chaplain (Col.) Brent Causey long enough and you’ll learn his ultimate hero is not Gen. David Petraeus, retired commander of forces in Afghanistan, now CIA director and his boss for three years as they both served in the war-torn country – although Causey brims with admiration and respect for the four-star general.

Causey’s real hero is Susan, his wife of 28 years, the mother of his two grown sons – both college graduates -- and until recently, the woman the war separated him from for the past 13 months. When their first son was only six months old, Brent was deployed to Honduras. When his second son was six months old, Brent was serving in the Gulf War.

Missionary Focus: Philadelphia Stories

James Dotson — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 20:36:25 GMT

Hear the stories of three church planters in the City of Brotherly Love, and how God is using their churches to impact Philadelphia with the gospel.

Leadership conference focuses on healthy teams

James Dotson — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 17:00:25 GMT

It’s no coincidence that Vanguard Church’s Multiply Leaders Conference, Nov. 10-11, 2011, will focus on healthy teams, following closely the launch in September of the church’s Frontline Church Planting Center in Colorado Springs.

Only healthy disciples, leaders and churches can reproduce into healthy church planters and start health churches, that’s the driving force in Vanguard’s work to train and send church planters into the western United States and beyond, says Alan Briggs, director of Frontline.

"All this talk of planting churches, but what about making disciples and developing leaders?” asks Briggs. “We believe healthy churches cannot be planted without a culture of discipleship and leadership development.”

Ezell to NAMB trustees: 55,901 SBC congregations by 2020

James Dotson — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 17:55:24 GMT

By Mickey Noah

PHILADELPHIA – North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell has set a goal of 55,901 Southern Baptist congregations by the end of 2020 as part of his Send North America evangelistic church planting strategy. The goal would mean a net gain of 5,112 SBC congregations in less than a decade—more gained than in any decade since 1900.

“This should be the golden age of church planting in the Southern Baptist Convention,” said Ezell.

Videos focus on New York City

James Dotson — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:29:41 GMT

It's the largest city in North America; it's quite possibly the most influential city in North America; and people on its streets call it "the capital of the world". In this package of five videos, see and hear the need of New York City, and see and hear how you can be a part of something big.

MK’s perseverance inspires a struggling city

Peter Ward — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 16:22:48 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Nothing seems to keep teenager Laneeka Bell down long. Even when everyone else around her gets discouraged, the living medical miracle keeps going—and encourages others wither her smile in the process.

That may not seem too out-of-the-ordinary for this happy 13-year-old girl, but considering only three months ago she had half of her brain removed in a dramatic surgery, it’s nearly a miracle in itself.

NAMB commissions 67 new missionaries

James Dotson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:53:44 GMT

By Joe Conway

LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. -- Members and guests at North Metro Baptist Church gathered for a missionary commissioning service witnessed a tangible reminder of the purpose for their celebration when senior pastor Frank Cox opened the evening by baptizing Bianca, a new church member from El Salvador.

The Lawrenceville, Ga., church hosted 67 missionaries and their sending entity, the North American Mission Board, October 2.

FBC Houston raises $175K for disaster relief

James Dotson — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:36:21 GMT

By Mickey Noah

HOUSTON – Sometimes life’s tragedies and losses of loved ones and possessions—as sad as they are—are turned into seeds of blessings for others.

As a result of a sermon and personal appeal by David Self, executive pastor at Houston’s First Baptist Church, $175,000 has been contributed by the church’s members to the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) disaster relief effort. Self is also a member of NAMB’s board of trustees.

Richmond churches using ‘Courageous to reach first responders

Peter Ward — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:22:04 GMT

By Mickey Noah

RICHMOND, Va. – With financial support from the North American Mission Board’s “Love Loud” ministry, a coalition of churches here is using the new movie, “Courageous,” to reach out to local first responders and let them know how much they’re appreciated and admired by metro Richmond citizens.

To date, some 500 first responders – sworn law enforcement officers, certified firefighters and emergency medical personnel – from 16 Richmond metro jurisdictions have claimed their pair of free tickets to see the movie at any of four local movie theaters. The free tickets are available to first responders through Oct. 16.

18 Hispanic council members named

Peter Ward — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 19:57:01 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Members of a Hispanic Advisory Council have been named to work in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee, North American Mission Board and other SBC entities toward "more fully integrating Hispanic Baptist churches into the total fabric of Southern Baptist life and ministry."

The 18-member advisory council will be co-chaired by Daniel Sanchez and Bob Sena.

Sanchez is professor of missions at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, where he also is associate dean of the Roy Fish School of Evangelism and Missions and director of the Scarborough Institute of Church Growth.

Sena is a Hispanic evangelist and conference leader and a retired church planting consultant with the North American Mission Board.

Liberty students respond to SBDR mobilization

James Dotson — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 19:29:26 GMT

By Joe Conway

BINGHAMTON, N.Y – With literally thousands of mud out jobs awaiting volunteers, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has tapped into a new generation of volunteers. In a partnership between Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, Liberty University and SBDR, 200 Liberty students will serve in the Binghamton, N.Y., area in the next two weeks cleaning homes flooded by hurricane-driven rains.

North American Mission Board Disaster Relief coordinator Bruce Poss said there are more than 2,600 homes in the Binghamton area alone damaged by the floods. The goal is for students to complete 260 jobs, a full 10 percent of the need. Poss is encouraged by the engagement of Liberty University as SBDR looks for more ways to involve student volunteers in the future.

Video: Next-Generation DR Volunteers

James Dotson — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 18:43:47 GMT

With thousands of "mud-out" jobs awaiting volunteers in the wake of Hurricane Irene, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has tapped into a new generation of volunteers. In a partnership between Southern Baptist Conservatives of Virginia, Liberty University and SBDR, 200 Liberty students are serving in the Binghamton, N.Y., area cleaning flooded homes. The goal was for students to complete 260 jobs, about 10 percent of the homes flooded in the area.

NAMB Podcast: Send North America Revisited

James Dotson — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 15:05:12 GMT

In September, NAMB launched Send North America: New York City, the first of 27 "send cities" that will focus churches and individuals on a concerted, hands-on effort to start new churches in North America's population centers. In this podcast, NAMB president Kevin Ezell discusses the basics of how Send North America will work and how every Southern Baptist church can be directly involved. A transcript is also included after the jump.

Listen to Podcast (MP3)

Subscribe in iTunes

Baptist men prepare for Courageous movement

James Dotson — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:51:36 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – “Courageous,” the fourth feature film from Sherwood Baptist Church in Albany, Ga., opens in 900 theaters Sept. 30. Seldom has the pathway been so well prepared to help men launch a movement within their churches.

“I believe this is a great tool to gather men together,” said Scott Overby, a men’s ministry leader at Heritage Baptist Church in Montgomery, Ala. “It is full of great, godly ‘man lessons,’ team building, accountability, and most importantly the Gospel. This movie presents the Gospel better than any I have seen.”

Dayton church plant goes public

Peter Ward — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 22:25:44 GMT

Who They Are:

New Day is a simple church centered around “loving God, loving each other, and living our mission” that started in April 2009. They meet weekly for worship at a local recreation center and in small groups that meet in seven homes around the community.

Extreme Church Makeover

James Dotson — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:09:16 GMT

Everyone in West Pawlet, Vermont thought the one church in town had closed its doors for good. But North American missionary Lyandon Warren had other ideas. This is one of a series of missions videos for children.

SBDR volunteers needed for nationwide response

Peter Ward — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 20:33:50 GMT

By Joe Conway

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – More than 2,000 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers are engaged in an ongoing response across North America ministering in a dozen states. In addition, some volunteers remain involved in relief work in Japan and Haiti. Because of the unprecedented number of disasters this year, SBDR leaders have identified a need for more trained volunteers and are offering ongoing training opportunities.

North American Mission Board Disaster Operations Center manager Mike Morgan said training events continue to help bolster the roster of trained DR volunteers. Twenty state conventions currently have units in response to disasters.

NAMB Podcast: A year in review

James Dotson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 21:17:45 GMT

Kevin Ezell was elected president of the North American Mission Board last September with a mandate for change. One year later he looks back at what has been accomplished and shares his vision for how Southern Baptists can set a course for impacting lostness in North America.

Ezell discusses why he has shifted NAMB’s focus to church planting and how each Southern Baptist church can play a hands on role in bringing new churches to under-reached and under-served areas in North America.

Listen to Podcast (MP3)

Subscribe in iTunes

What does it mean to love your neighbor?

James Dotson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 20:57:11 GMT

By Aslam Masih

In 1981, a young Muslim man named Asad came to the U.S. from Iran. He came at a time when all eyes were on Iran because of the tense hostage crisis—when 52 Americans were held hostage in Teheran for 444 days from November 4, 1979 to January 20, 1981. Because of this event, the spirit of animosity toward Iranian Muslims living in the U.S had taken root.

Asad came to the U.S. with a preconceived mind-set that all Americans are Christians. But his perceptions of Americans and Christianity were formed by the lifestyles portrayed by characters in popular American TV shows and films he had seen in Iran.

South Carolina chaplain recalls Ground Zero experience

James Dotson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 15:04:07 GMT

In this report from television station WBTW in Florence, S.C., South Carolina Baptist Convention chaplain consultant Richard Sale recalls his experience working with the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief response at Ground Zero. Sale previously ministered in the aftermath of the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Re-flooding in Northeast slowing DR efforts

James Dotson — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 14:13:42 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief coordinators are being forced to re-calibrate response plans for the Northeast because of a second round of flooding caused by heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee, which has forced the evacuation of as many as 100,000 residents from New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Pennsylvania.

The flooding of the Susquehanna River – expected to crest as high as 41 feet – caused the evacuation of some 100,000 residents in the Wyoming, Valley, Pa., area, including up to 75,000 in Wilkes-Barre. Another 6,000-10,000 evacuated homes in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania’s capital.

Labor Day no holiday for SBDR volunteers

Peter Ward — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 23:14:58 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Labor Day was no picnic or even a day off for the dozens of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers and leaders involved in responses to flooding along the East Coast and in North Dakota, and to raging wildfires across Texas.

And these SBDR responses to fires and floods were in full force even before Tropical Storm Lee dumped up to a foot of rain along the Gulf Coast areas of Louisiana and Mississippi, and then moved northeastward, where it spawned tornadoes in Alabama and Georgia -- damaging dozens of homes and causing flashfloods in the Atlanta metro area. At least two people died and 16,000 customers are without power as a result of Lee, according to Associated Press.

Church plant helps feed LA’s Skid Row

Peter Ward — Tue, 06 Sep 2011 21:32:57 GMT

It takes more than a meal to feed a soul, but a meal is still a good start. See how Ron Thomas and Set Free Church in Los Angeles share Jesus by feeding the hungry, and see how you can do the same by supporting the Southern Baptist World Hunger Fund.

SBDR response needs to Irene coming into focus

Peter Ward — Fri, 02 Sep 2011 16:42:30 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – In its fourth full day of response to Hurricane Irene, 12 Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) feeding units from seven state conventions have already cooked almost 94,000 meals for victims across the 11 states ravaged by last weekend’s Category 1 hurricane. But the work is only beginning.

According to news reports, the death toll from Hurricane Irene now stands at 45, 2 million people up and down the Eastern Seaboard remain without power, and the projected damages from Irene are now estimated to be $10 billion.

N.C. ‘New Church’ rooted in Jacksonville, Fla.

Peter Ward — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 23:02:58 GMT

By Mickey Noah

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – T.J. Ward, a 37-year-old church planting pastor in Winston-Salem, hasn’t had a paycheck since leaving his old church in Jacksonville, Fla., in December 2009, although he will start receiving a salary from New Church this coming January.

Over the last 18 months, he and wife, Wendy,—and their two little girls—have lived only on her Bank of America salary. They traded their dream home in Jacksonville for a “starter” home in Winston-Salem.

Baptists responding in 11 Irene-affected states

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:55:27 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – In the wake of Hurricane Irene – which has now claimed 40 lives --Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) leaders and volunteers are mobilizing quickly to mount the largest response to a natural disaster in the United States since Gulf Coast Hurricanes Ike and Gustav three years ago.

Coordinated by the North American Mission Board’s disaster operations center in Alpharetta, Ga., Southern Baptists are deploying to respond in 11 states up and down the Atlantic Coast –North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont.

SBDR preparing for Hurricane Irene

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:49:07 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – As Hurricane Irene continues to churn northward along the Atlantic Coast, the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief network is already at work, alerting volunteers and planning how and where to deploy its assets even before the hurricane slams into the Eastern Seaboard.

Hurricane Irene is projected to be a Category 3 hurricane with 115 mph winds when it makes landfall somewhere along North Carolina’s eastern coast, up the mid-Atlantic states, and to New York and Long Island sometime Saturday or Sunday.

SBDR set to deploy in wake of Irene

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:48:15 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga.– Ironically, on Aug. 29 -- the sixth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina -- Hurricane Irene has almost ended her 1,500-mile path of destruction from North Carolina to Eastern Canada.

By all accounts, Irene could have been a lot worse. But that’s little consolation for the estimated 65 million people impacted on the Eastern Seaboard – many of whom suffered lost loved ones, flood damage or loss of possessions as a result of the hurricane, which reached a width of 600 miles across. Irene began as a Category 3 hurricane off the coast of eastern North Carolina on Saturday, but wound up as only a Category 1 storm.

9/11 was impetus to SBDR advancement

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 20:46:54 GMT

By Joe Conway

Imagine India’s Yamuna River without the Taj Mahal. Paris without the Eiffel Tower. The loss of the World Trade Center’s twin towers left a similarly unimaginable hole in the American landscape and psyche.

September 11, 2001’s terrorist assaults on the United States changed more than the lower Manhattan skyline. The unprecedented attacks that ended so tragically in Washington, D.C., rural Pennsylvania and New York City also forever changed the face of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

Video: Responding to Hurricane Irene

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 19:56:08 GMT

North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell provides an update on Southern Baptist Disaster Relief efforts ramping up in the wake of Hurricane Irene – and shares how Southern Baptists can support the effort financially.

Will the 9/11 legacy be a church-planting movement?

James Dotson — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 18:10:47 GMT

By Tobin Perry

At 8:45 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2001, Tom Fortner sat down for a quick breakfast. Only five miles from where Fortner blessed his meal, a Boeing 767 commercial airliner navigated by terrorists slammed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center.

Too far from the twin towers to hear the crash, a co-worker told Fortner and others about the mysterious crash. Fortner and his co-workers then looked out the windows and turned their eyes to the largest building in the skyline to watch as the tragic events of the next few minutes unfolded.

In those minutes Fortner got his first opportunity to tell a New Yorker about Jesus.

Ezell to state leaders: We want to see God do even more

James Dotson — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:35:47 GMT

By Adam Miller

ATLANTA, Ga. – Ten months into his role as North American Mission Board president, Kevin Ezell told state Baptist leaders and missionaries he is happy with the progress being made in shifting Southern Baptist mission priorities in North America.

“I’m very encohttp://www.namb.net/WorkArea/edit.aspxuraged about what God is going to do,” Ezell said at the Send North America Regional Conference, July 31-August 3, 2011, in Atlanta. “Great things are happening, and we want to see God do even more.”

Forgiveness that lasts: A café encounter during Ramadan

Peter Ward — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 22:25:21 GMT

By Tobin Perry

It’s an hour after sunset in Dearborn, Mich., outside a small Lebanese café in the heart of the city’s Arab section. Five young Iraqi men sit around a black wire table and discuss the events of the day. As they talk, they sip coffee and smoke three hookah pipes set up around the table. After a long day of fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the men laugh, talk and relax—a popular custom following a celebration of the iftar, or breaking of the fast, with their families at home.

How to pray for Afghan Muslims in North America during Ramadan

James Dotson — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 17:37:09 GMT

By Jason Williams

On Aug. 1, more than 3 million Muslims in North America began the observance of Ramadan—their month of fasting. During Ramadan (one of the five pillars of the Islamic faith), Muslims all over the world fast from food and water from sunrise to sunset. Since Muslims believe they can never be certain that God will accept them on judgment day, they perform a balancing act each day in the hopes they’ll do enough good deeds to outweigh the bad. Followers of Islam believe that during this most holy month, the good deeds that one does are multiplied, so it becomes a time not only of fasting, but of practicing other “good” deeds as well. They are hoping to earn favor with Allah in hopes that he will see their good deeds and be more likely to accept them.

DR work in Minot far from over

James Dotson — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 20:10:21 GMT

By Mickey Noah

MINOT, N.D. – Pastor Ben Pierce, himself a victim of the historic, 150-year flood in Minot, pleads with Southern Baptists to not forget about the needs of the hundreds of flood victims in this north central North Dakota town of 41,000.

“This is going to be a long-term project and ministry,” says Pierce, the pastor of Cross Roads Baptist Church in southern Minot. We’ve cleaned up about a 100 homes out of the list of 400 requests. We’ve only scratched the surface on mud-out, not to mention any long-term rebuild effort,” Pierce said.

Faith, Doubt and the Resurrection of Jesus

James Dotson — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 19:38:10 GMT

By Michael R. Licona, Ph.D.

Each of us has idiosyncrasies. One of mine is I’m a second-guesser. It’s hard for me to purchase a bottle of cologne without wondering before I leave the store whether I should have bought a different one! I seem to question just about everything. I don’t want to make a bad decision, even in some very insignificant matters. So, it just makes sense that I often have doubts pertaining to decisions in significant matters. It’s not an intentional exercise. In fact, it’s downright frustrating to me. But it’s the way I’m wired.

What about my Christian faith? Have I ever experienced doubts? Many times. Have I been brain-washed? Do I hold my beliefs because I was brought up to believe them? What if I’m wrong? And it doesn’t help that our culture is growing increasingly hostile toward the Christian worldview.

Thankfully, a philosophy professor understood where I was because he had also struggled with doubts. I didn’t have Prof. Gary Habermas for a class since he taught in the philosophy department at Liberty University while my graduate work there was in the field of New Testament Studies. But Habermas helped me tremendously in understanding doubt and dealing with it.

(This post includes a five-part video series on evidence for the resurrection.)

Boston hosts church planter network leader training

Peter Ward — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 21:04:58 GMT

By Joe Conway

Church planting leaders from across North America will converge on Boston, September 21-23, to discover the most effective ideas for prayer, strategy development and other essentials for building church-planting networks. The three-day event—led by Gary Irby, a church planting catalyst and church planting director for Seattle Church Planting—is known as the Network Leader School for Church Planting.

The school, co-sponsored by the North American Mission Board, is in part designed for new NAMB church planting strategists to assist them in their new roles.

World Changers in the news

James Dotson — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 20:00:30 GMT

World Changers once again left their mark on communities across the nation this summer as they roofed homes, painted porches and otherwise rehabilitated housing while sharing the hope of Christ.

Visit the links below for just a sampling of local news coverage. And learn more about opportunities for 2012 with World Changers -- now operated by LifeWay Christian Resources in partnership with NAMB -- at the new world-changers.net.

Church leaders can catch a vision of cities’ needs

Peter Ward — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:10:51 GMT

By Carol Pipes

NEW YORK – Ever wondered what it’s like to plant a church in a mostly Russian neighborhood in New York? Or how about in French-speaking Quebec? Now Southern Baptist pastors have a chance to see church planting up close and personal. The North American Mission Board is hosting “Catch the Vision” Tours in four cities this fall as part of the Send North America church planting strategy.

Pastors, mission leaders and church members will have the opportunity to meet “boots-on-the-ground” church planters and hear their vision for reaching a particular people group in their corner of the world.

Missionary Focus: Jesus Loves You

James Dotson — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:38:12 GMT

A little girl, a homeless man, and one simple phrase; see the miracle that came to Skid Row in Los Angeles when a homeless man named Ron Thomas encountered a missionary in miniature.

Finding true community in suburban church planting

Peter Ward — Mon, 15 Aug 2011 23:24:04 GMT

By Jonathan Williams

The small family of native brothers gathered together beneath the leaf roof of the dilapidated hut. A sense of joy filled the family while an equally as real sense of desperation became palpable. The eldest, Timeteo, made decisions on who would fish that day, who would hunt, which brothers would gather fruit, and which ones would work the rice field. In the heart of the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest, a tribal community needed food, and they worked together to meet the need.

Following several hours of hard work, the brothers returned to the village’s central hut to swap food and stories. Coals from the morning fire were still glowing and, therefore, easily ignited. As hog meat and bamboo sticks filled with fish slowly cooked over the fire, the Amarakaeri family began to worship. Praise songs and prayers were offered up in their native dialect while the Christ followers were called to obey the truths of familiar Bible stories.

Al Gilbert to lead NAMB’s Love Loud

Peter Ward — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 16:23:32 GMT

By Joe Conway

ALPHARETTA, Ga. —The North American Mission Board will be giving a makeover to its ministry evangelism emphasis. It will provide new direction, new opportunities and a new executive director. Al Gilbert, senior pastor of Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C., has accepted the new leadership role. NAMB is calling the emphasis “Love Loud.”

“Our Send North America strategy is to penetrate lostness through church planting. That includes planting churches in North America’s inner cities and mobilizing churches and communities to show people God’s love and point them to a relationship with Christ,” NAMB president Kevin Ezell said of the ministry. “We will be intentional in connecting people to new or existing Southern Baptist churches.”

Muslim women and Ramadan

James Dotson — Fri, 12 Aug 2011 13:51:24 GMT

By Cathy Palmer

The day begins at 4 a.m. and ends at midnight. The month-long Ramadan, a Muslim season of fasting and praying, is an intense time for women. As a Mission Service Corps missionary with the North American Mission Board, I work with Muslim, Hindu and Buddhist women in the Refugee Sewing Society in Clarkston, Georgia. My precious Muslim friends try to convince me that they feel no hunger or thirst during Ramadan. But it’s easy to see their distress. Today, a woman from Somalia gave me the true story.

Why evangelistic church planting?

James Dotson — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 18:00:10 GMT

By Aaron Coe

In the early 1800s, there was one Protestant church in the United States for every 875 people in the population. By the beginning of World War I, that ratio was one Christian church for every 430 people in the population. During that 100-year span, church planting efforts significantly outpaced the growth in the population.

After World War I something happened, and church planting slowed significantly. The population began to outpace the growth and planting of new churches.

Role to focus on increased ethnic involvement in SBC

Peter Ward — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:54:19 GMT

By Mike Ebert

ALPHARETTA, Ga. -- A new role created by the North American Mission Board will help the entity maintain a strong focus on minority ministry needs and facilitate leadership opportunities for minorities throughout SBC life.

NAMB president Kevin Ezell created the role of Presidential Ambassador for Ethnic Church Relations shortly after messengers at the Southern Baptist Convention in Phoenix voted to approve a recommendation citing the “need to be proactive and intentional in the inclusion of individuals from all ethnic and racial identities within Southern Baptist life.”

What is Ramadan?

Peter Ward — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:50:29 GMT

We’ve entered Ramadan, the holiest month for the world’s 1.5 billion Muslims. Throughout the month of August you’ll hear from church planters, missionaries and others who work with Muslim people groups on how they respond to individuals who follow Allah. We hope you’ll see how God is using them to influence individual lives and learn how you can reach out to your Muslim friends and neighbors.

Acts 1:8 Challenge celebrates 7 years, looks to the future

James Dotson — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 14:16:28 GMT

By Adam Miller

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – More than two dozen Southern Baptist missions leaders are making plans for the future of the Acts 1:8 Challenge initiative.

Now seven years in the making, the Acts 1:8 Challenge is a grassroots effort designed to mobilize churches to reach their communities, regions, continent and the world with the gospel.

Acts 1:8 state coordinators, state leaders and entity representatives addressed the direction of the Acts 1:8 Challenge at its annual State Coordinators Meeting, July 6-7, 2011, at the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) offices in Alpharetta, Ga.

Mud-out, feeding in full gear in Minot, N.D.

Peter Ward — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 23:19:16 GMT

Mickey Noah

MINOT, N.D. – Twenty state Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) teams are now deployed in Minot, N.D., or en route—eager to assist the thousands of flood victims in this north central North Dakota city of 41,000.

Soon after the sirens blared on June 22—the signal for residents in nine city zones to evacuate their homes due to the quickly rising Souris River, which snakes through a valley running through Minot – floodwaters engulfed the land along the river’s edge. Dozens of homes along tree-lined streets, businesses and entire shopping centers were inundated.

Video: Touched by an Angell

James Dotson — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 14:58:08 GMT

Disaster relief had never appeared on Janet Angell's radar screen—not until disaster came to her backyard. Now, her neighbors in Minot, N.D. have "lost everything", and Janet is a sudden Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteer. See the amazing results God brings when Janet joins disaster relief volunteers in her town.

Audio: Send North America Regional Conference

James Dotson — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 15:49:35 GMT

Download and listen to MP3 audio files from the Send North America Regional Conference, behind held in Atlanta July 31-Aug. 3. This page will be updated as audio files become available.

She is key

James Dotson — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:30:14 GMT

By Kathy Litton

A ministry wife exists in a rare environment. To live and work alongside one’s husband in kingdom work is a precious, unique calling. Yet few career tracks in the marketplace have a dynamic quite like that of being a minister’s wife.

In ministry, a man’s wife is closely associated with and personally connected to his work. In corporate culture, the 40-plus hours a man spends in his workplace has little or nothing to do with his wife. We pastors’ wives are partners in our husbands’ vocations like few others. We serve as supportive companions with varying degrees of intentionality, involvement and energy to extend our pastor husbands’ work and calling. We are a key influence in their effectiveness.

And yet while a pastor’s ministry assignment is clear, the wife’s rarely is.

FIRST-PERSON: 4 steps to encourage a church planter

James Dotson — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 14:28:49 GMT

Diana Davis

INDIANAPOLIS --It can be lonely out there. When a new church is begun, its pastor may sometimes feel isolated, especially during the initial months.

Planting new churches is a high priority for Southern Baptists, who are committed to planting record numbers of them, especially in highly populated, under-reached cities. Your small encouragements could make a huge difference to a church planter in North America.

'Greater Things' happening in Northwest Arkansas

James Dotson — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 19:58:53 GMT

By Mickey Noah

SPRINGDALE, Ark.—Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in Northwest Arkansas, has a three-year vision for “Greater Things.” That’s the name of his ambitious church planting and missions mobilization campaign now under way.

Initially, Floyd challenged the 8,000 attenders of Cross Church to plant 50 new churches over three years and in 2012 alone, mobilize at least 1,000 church members to experience a cross-cultural missions experience outside Northwest Arkansas.

Missionary Focus: Taking Christ to Afghan immigrants

James Dotson — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 14:38:33 GMT

By Adam Miller

FREMONT, Calif. – Among Jason Williams’ friends are Imams of the San Francisco Bay Area mosques—not something the South Carolina Southern Baptist cooked up while other kids were dreaming of being firemen.

A North American Mission Board (NAMB) church planter, Williams more stumbled into the Fremont ministry when he met NAMB missionary Linda Berquist, who was coordinating church planting efforts in the eclectic and secular area.

Even before the Afghan diaspora, the San Francisco Bay area had drawn a motley concoction of cultures. Now add to this array of people 60,000 Afghans who’d fled there from Russian-occupied Kabul in the 1970s.

Read about Jason's ministry to Afghans, and watch The World as I See It, which tells the story of Farid, a Muslim immigrant from Afghanistan now adjusting to life in the United States.

NAMB offers $15M for new church plant loans

James Dotson — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 18:23:21 GMT

As part of its expanding emphasis on church planting, the North American Mission Board’s church finance ministry team has dedicated up to $15 million for financing new church plants across North America. The team will continue to make loans to established, existing churches.

The new church plant loan initiative was approved by NAMB’s board of trustees at their regular meeting on May 11.

“We are serious about planting new churches and giving church planters all the tools and resources they need to be successful,” said NAMB president Kevin Ezell. “The new church plant loan program, recently approved by the trustees, is just another example of that.”

NAMB and its predecessor organization, the Home Mission Board, have been making loans to established churches since 1900. But this marks the first time NAMB has utilized its church loan resources specifically for creating new loan products for church plants, according to Karl Dietz, director of church finance ministry for NAMB in Alpharetta, Ga.

Street Stories: Tanner Turley

James Dotson — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 22:32:21 GMT

What do the Boston Red Sox have to do with church planting? A lot if you're Tanner Turley. In this video, see the unusual circumstances that led Tanner to plant a church in the middle of Red Sox nation.

NAMB sends $950,000 in disaster relief funds to states

James Dotson — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:08:30 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) is sending $950,000 to Baptist conventions in seven states that have been hard-hit this year by natural disasters.

NAMB president Kevin Ezell recently announced that the funds have been distributed back out to the states hardest hit by this spring’s tornadoes and storms, based on a formula prioritizing the states’ needs.

Following is the state breakdown by amount and percentage: Alabama, $494,000 (52 percent); Missouri and Tennessee, $114,000 each (12 percent each); Mississippi, $66,500 (7 percent); Arkansas and Oklahoma, $57,000 each (6 percent each); and Georgia, $47,500 (5 percent).

Stetzer points to sobering stats on SBC church planting

James Dotson — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:07:19 GMT

Ed Stetzer shares some sobering statistics on Southern Baptist church planting rates based on LifeWay Research findings.

"In the NAMB presentation at the SBC annual meeting, NAMB President Kevin Ezell announced that NAMB can say with certainty that 769 churches were planted in the SBC this past year. Since we have 45,727 churches, that means we planted at a rate of 1.68 percent last year. Therefore the SBC is almost a percentage point less than what the Assemblies of God does and about a third of what the BGC does. (Or, put another way, the Baptist General Conference planting rate is more than 300 percent that of the SBC's.) The SBC is below the rate that most scholars think is needed for basic growth, which may contribute to our membership decline.

"In light of the current church planting numbers, it makes little sense to say that "NAMB talks too much about church planting." If anything, all of us should hope to talk about it as much as NAMB.

"We have a long way to catch up with other evangelicals, but that is not my goal. It just helps us to define reality. That reality is that we cannot reach North America (and the world) without a more aggressive church planting engagement."

Read the full article >

God is still in the miracle business

James Dotson — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 20:14:30 GMT

By Tobin Perry

Laneeka Bell is proving established medical wisdom wrong. Doctors expected the 13-year-old daughter of NAMB church planting missionary John Smith to lose the ability to speak for several weeks. But just 48 hours after having half of her brain removed in a surgery last Friday, the young girl can put together short sentences.

As a family friend posted on John Smith’s Facebook page over the weekend, “God is using Laneeka to show the world He is still in the miracle business.”

Century-old church structure repurposed as church plant

James Dotson — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 17:31:13 GMT

There’s a spot in Portland, Ore., as unreached as any in North America. Walk three miles in any direction from that point and only 5 percent of the people you see will be a part of some type of church. That leaves about 190,000 people within a three-mile radius who may not know about Jesus. On that same spot sits a 100-year-old church building.

Imagine that 100-year-old building used by a Southern Baptist church planter who’d give anything to see his hometown come to Christ.

That’s what Keith Evans hopes to see happen in the building he and other church planter strategists are working to refurbish—in one of the most unreached areas of one of the most unreached cities on the west coast. Once the work is completed on the building, it will house a new church start to reach the northeast portion of the city.

Bryant Wright: Don’t miss great movement of God

James Dotson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 18:31:14 GMT

“To see the excitement of what God began in the convention in Phoenix and what can happen in churches all throughout our convention, really is something that seems to be a great movement of the Lord,” said SBC President Bryant Wright in a recent video at www.pray4sbc.com.

World Changers group makes a difference in Alabama

James Dotson — Thu, 14 Jul 2011 15:18:04 GMT

New reports on the 23,000 World Changers making a difference this summer are beginning to roll in, including this one from the Florence, Ala., Times Daily:

Larry Liles isn't one to ask for help. In fact, he's more accustomed to giving than receiving.

So when the World Changers organization approached him about replacing his roof for free, he was somewhat taken aback.

“I'm on a mission team at my church and we help neighbors and those in town who have needs around their homes, but I never expected to be getting a roof myself,” said the east Florence resident. “(The roof is) 26 years old though, so I guess it was time. And boy, am I grateful.”

Read More >>

Baptist chaplains minister to troops, locals in Honduras

James Dotson — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:58:20 GMT

By Mickey Noah

SOTO CANO AIR BASE, Honduras (BP) – While scores of Southern Baptist military chaplains minister to our troops in harm’s way in Iraq or Afghanistan, others are serving just as faithfully in other hot spots around the world – deployed in isolated places you never hear about.

Chaplain (Maj.) Dan Thompson and Chaplain (Capt.) Paul Cartmill serve some 500 soldiers, airmen, marines and sailors as part of Joint Task Force-Bravo, located at Soto Cano Air Base near Comayagua, Honduras. There, in the mountainous heart of Honduras, the four U.S. military branches work together in drug interdiction.

Frequently Asked Questions on NAMB Transition

James Dotson — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 17:54:58 GMT

As transition occurs at the North American Mission Board and across the Southern Baptist Convention, here are some responses to questions that have arisen.

Topics include "Send North America," the role of NAMB-funded associational directors of missions, the partnership with WMU on Royal Ambassadors and Challengers and the partnership with LifeWay on World Changers and PowerPlant.

Nevada church gives to Annie to impact eternity

Peter Ward — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 16:32:00 GMT

By Karen L. Willoughby

CARSON CITY, Nev. —Home mortgages for many of the members of First Baptist Church here are underwater by $60,000 or more, but their giving to North American missions through the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® is over the top.

First Baptist-Carson City gave $59.85 per person in 2010 to the Annie Armstrong offering, and a total of $5,087.06. Southern Baptist Convention-wide per person giving to Annie is $14.78, according to the North American Mission Board.

Repainting, Replacing and Restoring in New Mexico

Peter Ward — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 15:17:57 GMT

By Scott Stephens

The rocky, arid landscape of New Mexico was a new scene for the Lucianos. A far cry from the buildings, bustle and busyness of Chicago, this family wasn’t sure what they were getting into. What they would experience during their time at World Changers would make an impact that would last far beyond one week.

World Changers is a ministry of the North American Mission Board that provides students and adults with opportunities to meet the physical and spiritual needs of others. During the week of June 20-25, some 265 students and adults worked on 19 homes in Gallup, N.M.

Missionary Focus: Big E

James Dotson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:55:32 GMT

Take several of your closest friends, climb into a metal trash dumpster and live there for six months. That, according to Navy Chaplain Fred Holcombe, is what it's like to live on an aircraft carrier. In this video and related story, follow Chaplain Holcombe around the USS Enterprise as he shares Jesus with sailors and airmen on board "Big E"

Not hearing, but still sharing the gospel

Peter Ward — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:26:35 GMT

By Scott Stephens

DUNCAN, Okla. (BP) -- With glass breaking, paint scraping and cars passing, D Street was a center of commotion. A group of students had replaced the usual serene sounds of the morning with loud clanging and crashing. Though one student didn’t hear it that way.

James Knottel, the 18-year-old from First Baptist Church West in Lawton, Okla., came to Duncan to take part in a World Changers project with more than 200 other teenagers. Knottel is no ordinary teen. He is deaf. Though this may have been a barrier to communication with other students, Knottel did not let it stop him from changing the world.

NAMB & IMB partnership

Peter Ward — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 16:01:14 GMT

By Erich Bridges

Recently planted seeds of a new partnership between Southern Baptists' two mission boards are already beginning to sprout.

Previously, the International Mission Board and North American Mission Board carefully observed the geographical separation between their two ministry assignments. But national borders no longer define the task of missions in a globalized world marked by the rapid migrations of people groups in need of the Gospel.

Encouragement for pastor's wives

Peter Ward — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:49:26 GMT

Even when she contracted malaria during a mission trip to Africa, and even after learning her brother was killed instantly in a biking accident, Anne Wright was able to experience “influential joy.”

Wright, wife of SBC President Bryant Wright, spoke to a sold-out crowd of more than 800 during the Southern Baptist Ministers’ Wives Conference, underscoring the promise of Psalm 16:11, which says, in part: “You will fill me with joy in your presence.”PHOENIX (BP)—Even when she contracted malaria during a mission trip to Africa, and even after learning her brother was killed instantly in a biking accident, Anne Wright was able to experience “influential joy.”

GPS results in 727 new Christians, 4 new churches in Laredo

Peter Ward — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 15:43:33 GMT

By Keith Manuel

Many times in the darkest and most dangerous places the light of the gospel shines even brighter. Such is the case in Laredo, Texas, stemming from the "GPS 2020" evangelism and church planting initiative of the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention.

The darkness and danger are readily apparent in Laredo. The Mexican drug cartel and the violence attached to the $20 billion illegal enterprise cast an ominous shadow on the border town. Additionally, the satanic influence of "La Santa Muerte," the Saint of Death, and its cult following continues to grow rapidly among the people of Laredo and beyond.  

'Annie' givers receive NAMB’s thanks

Peter Ward — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 17:41:18 GMT

By Tobin Perry

The North American Mission Board honored more than 160 representatives of small and large churches who were among the top givers to the 2010 Annie Armstrong Easter Offering for North American Missions during a luncheon at the Southern Baptist Convention.

NAMB invited the top givers in each Southern Baptist association, in terms of both total and per capita giving.

Send North America and the Southern Baptist Convention

James Dotson — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 14:23:03 GMT

By Aaron Coe

The 2011 Southern Baptist Convention is now in the history books. For the North American Mission Board, we focused our time at the convention on officially launching Send North America to our convention of churches. As I look back over the events of last week, there are a few elements that stand out. Here is my recap:

Chief of Chaplains Carver looks back over career of service

James Dotson — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:49:01 GMT

By Adam Miller

PHOENIX, Ariz. – As Chaplain (Maj. Gen.) Douglas Carver leaves the Army next month, the U.S. Army’s Chief of Chaplains will take with him memories of service men and women and experiences that have helped form and transform him.

He was the first Southern Baptist in more than 50 years to take the role of Army Chief of Chaplains in 2007, and the two-star general will retire after more than 38 years of service. But he wouldn’t refer to it in these terms.

“I don’t use the word retirement,” he says. “This is a transition. God has ordered up something special beyond the Army. I don’t know what it is, but it’s something exciting.”

Send North America shared with pastors

James Dotson — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:37:14 GMT

By Tobin Perry

PHOENIX – The North American Mission Board rolled out its Send North America strategy to a packed house of pastors during a June 13 luncheon at the SBC Pastors' Conference.

At least 1,000 pastors and their wives attended the luncheon, which featured NAB President Kevin Ezell, LifeWay vice president Ed Stetzer and a surprise appearance by Rick Warren.

Bivocational pastors ‘vital’ to reaching North America

James Dotson — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 14:08:26 GMT

By Adam Miller

PHOENIX, Ariz. — Small churches and bivocational pastors are a Great Commission powerhouse in North America, leaders told a group at the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

“Everything that we’re doing is to reposition the North American Mission Board to get behind local churches, because you are the pace setters,” said North American Mission Board (NAMB) Vice President for Mobilization Aaron Coe.

Speaking to several dozen small church and bivocational pastors at the Bivocational Small Church Leadership Network (BSCLN) luncheon held during the Southern Baptist Convention Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Coe said that to reach North America with the gospel Southern Baptists would need a surge of bivocational pastors.

Diversity matters in church planting, Rick Warren says

James Dotson — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 04:29:06 GMT

Rick Warren didn’t let any church off the church-planting hook when he spoke at the SBC Pastor’s Conference in Phoenix last Monday evening. Big churches, small churches, rich churches, and poor churches can all be a part of church planting, he told the pastors.

Warren pastors Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., which he started in 1980 and has grown into one of the largest Southern Baptist churches in the country.

Echoing that theme of church-planting diversity during his message, Warren corrected three misconceptions about church planting – all designed to encourage Southern Baptists to thrive in church-planting diversity.

Crossover brings ‘Living Water’ to Arizona desert

James Dotson — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:46:32 GMT

By Mickey Noah, Joe Conway and Tobin Perry

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Even as Crossover Saturday 2011 wore on into the afternoon – as the scorching temperatures bumped 102 degrees -- thousands of Southern Baptists mobilized to bring the Living Water to the parched deserts of the Urban Corridor of Arizona.

Some 5.2 million people live and work in the Corridor – which includes the Phoenix metro area down to Case Grande and Tucson. Following a week of community evangelism and Crossover’s Saturday events, several hundred of them are new believers in Christ, and yet others re-dedicated as Christians.

Ezell: A new day for church planting

James Dotson — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 18:43:13 GMT

PHOENIX – Missionaries and chaplains, a U.S. Army general, a barber, two tornado victims and a redeemed young man mirrored the work of the North American Mission Board during its report to messengers June 14 at the 2011 SBC annual meeting.

"Knowing there are 318 million people in North America who need to know Jesus Christ stirs our passion as trustees," NAMB trustee chairman Tim Dowdy, senior pastor of Eagles Landing First Baptist Church in McDonough, Ga., told the messengers. "Last year, God led us to the right man, Kevin Ezell. We're starting down the right road. I can't wait to see what God does with us, together impacting the world for Jesus Christ."

(Story includes photo gallery and link to video of full report and presentation.)

View full NAMB report, presentation to SBC

James Dotson — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 00:26:40 GMT

Video of North American Mission Board's complete report and presentation to Southern Baptist Convention messengers in Phoenix June 14, including a commissioning service for new missionaries, is now available for viewing, is now available for viewing at the links below.

Featured videos telling the stories of God's work in the lives of missionaries and through Disaster Relief are also available for download.

Video: Crossover Arizona

James Dotson — Wed, 15 Jun 2011 20:07:35 GMT

When many people think of a Southern Baptist convention, they think of a meeting in a convention center. But after a week of ministry all across the state, people in Arizona will hopefully picture something else when they remember this year's Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting. See what happens when hundreds of volunteers and dozens of churches share the gospel with thousands of people.

Download video from 2011 SBC report and presentation

James Dotson — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 00:22:32 GMT

View, download and share videos included in the North American Mission Board's presentation at the SBC Annual Meeting in Phoenix.

Watch NAMB presentation live from Phoenix

James Dotson — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 23:17:43 GMT

The North American Mission Board will make its presentation at the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix tonight, beginning at 4:50 p.m. local time or 6:50 p.m. Eastern. Please join us to see what God has been doing through our churches and missionaries. Related videos will be available for download after the presentation.

You also can view other live sessions before and after the presentation from the same link.

NAMB RA transfer to WMU off to racing start

Peter Ward — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 16:40:19 GMT

By Joe Conway

PHOENIX – Exactly how do you transition a 103-year-old organization back to its parent? A racecar will do in a pinch.

Woman’s Missionary Union Executive Director/Treasure Wanda Lee accepted the “hand off” of Royal Ambassadors and Challengers from North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell during the Monday (June13) morning session of WMU’s annual meeting complete with an RA Pit Stop racecar.

Documentary shows God’s redemptive work in Angola prison

Peter Ward — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:42:44 GMT

By Adam Miller

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Once known as the bloodiest prison in the country, the Louisiana State Penitentiary (LSP) in Angola, La., is the subject of a hope-filled documentary produced by the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

“A New Hope,” originally produced in 2009 as part of NAMB’s television series On Mission Extra, tells the story of how the vision and devotion of Christ-followers can spur new life among even the most hardened of hearts. Through a special partnership between LSP and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, prison inmates are receiving seminary educations, a model being instituted in other maximum-security prisons throughout the country.

Litton ‘advancing the gospel’ in new NAMB ministry to pastors’ wives

Peter Ward — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:40:35 GMT

By Carol Pipes

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Kathy Ferguson Litton has been chosen by Kevin Ezell, president of the North American Mission Board, to serve as national director of ministry to pastors’ wives. Litton will be working with NAMB’s leadership development team in the area of support and encouragement for ministers’ wives.

“I’m grateful and humbled that God would call me to this task,” Litton said. “And thankful that NAMB would extend to me this opportunity. I definitely have a passion for pouring into ministers’ wives and seeing them step into their calling with passion, freedom and purpose

Disaster Relief Update: Joplin

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:33:17 GMT

From the pile of rubble that was once Harmony Heights Baptist Church in Joplin, Mo., NAMB President Kevin Ezell reports on the Disaster Relief response to the city's record-setting May 21 tornado—and requests prayer and financial support for the effort from Southern Baptists.

'Rebuild Haiti' to help suffering survivors

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:26:25 GMT

The plight of Haitians who survived the Jan. 12, 2010, earthquake is deeply moving and almost beyond comprehension, say Southern Baptist relief leaders who have been to Haiti. The vast majority of their capital, Port-au-Prince, still lies in rubble a year after the magnitude 7.0 quake killed 300,000 people and left more than 1 million homeless.

Read more from Baptist Global Response

DR volunteers respond to Texas wildfires

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:24:41 GMT

Wildfires swept across the Texas Panhandle Feb. 27, charring 25,534 acres that eventually destroyed 70 homes. In less than a week disaster relief volunteers from the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention were sifting through what remained of the material possessions of displaced homeowners, attempting to recover prized possessions as diverse as rings, diamonds, silver, ceramic tile and lava rock before cleaning down to the slabs.

Early reports say West Coast tsunami damage light

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:23:55 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Despite Friday’s devastating 8.9 earthquake in Japan, the resulting tsunamis striking Hawaii and the West Coast have had minimal impact, and may not generate the need for swift Southern Baptist Disaster Relief response.

“We have made contact with all the western conventions – including the Northwest, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii conventions – and everybody has told us that the impact at this point has been minimal,” said Mickey Caison, disaster relief team leader for the North American Mission Board.

Disaster Relief Update: Southern Tornadoes

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:22:18 GMT

North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell challenges Southern Baptists to support Disaster Relief efforts in the wake of deadly tornadoes that swept across the South April 27-28, 2011.

Baptists responding to historic tornado outbreak

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:21:15 GMT

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) volunteers in Alabama are assisting emergency response personnel in an effort to find survivors as the death toll from Wednesday’s devastating tornados continues to rise. By mid-Thursday those dead in Alabama had climbed to 162 and a total of 251 were counted dead across a six Southern states. Officials called it the deadliest outbreak of tornadoes in nearly 40 years.

“Right now, our volunteers have been asked to assist in search and rescue efforts,” said Mel Johnson, director of disaster relief for the Alabama Baptist Convention.“ That’s a first for us.”

A day of worship, amidst heartbreak

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:19:40 GMT

As pastor Allen Murphy stood beneath a giant gash in the roof of Mamre Baptist Church, the sunny blue sky was visible to his standing-room-only congregation. A soft May breeze – so different from the tornado winds four days earlier – gently moved the naked electrical wires, sheetrock and red and yellow insulation hanging down overhead. Murphy leaned on the 50-year-old pulpit moved to the new two-year-old Mamre church from the old Mamre church that -- before last Wednesday’s tornado -- crowned a nearby hill. Now the old church is just a memory -- totally destroyed by the 6:30 p.m. storm.

Behind the tall, gray-haired Murphy was a multi-colored, stained-glass window of Jesus in the baptistry, totally unscathed. After some 100 members sang “Victory in Jesus,” Murphy reminded them, “we’re blessed to have a roof over our heads. We still have a place to come and worship. This is just a building. You people sitting here are The Church.

Disaster relief crews in Alabama in full response mode

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:18:46 GMT

Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has mobilized more than 50 recovery teams throughout Alabama since last Wednesday (Apr. 27), when the deadliest outbreak of tornadoes in 79 years ripped a 200-mile swath across the state from Tuscaloosa to the Georgia state line, killing 249 Alabamians.

In all, the killer tornadoes claimed 350 lives in six states. In addition to Alabama’s fatalities, the death toll from other southern states was 34 in Mississippi, 34 in Tennessee, 15 in Georgia, five in Virginia and 14 in Arkansas.

Alabama DR feeding units are operating in Rainsville, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham, while Kentucky Baptist Convention volunteers arefeeding victims in Henager, Ala., and Florida Baptist volunteers are feeding in Double Springs, Ala. A Texas feeding unit is also deployed in Tuscaloosa, the hardest-hit city in Alabama, and aSouth Carolina kitchen is feeding in Huntsville

Diaster Relief Update Video: May 5, 2011

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:17:20 GMT

A week after devastating tornadoes ripped across the South, North American Mission Board President Kevin Ezell reports on the work of Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers—and the need for donations to support the massive effort.

5,900 volunteers from 10 states respond to Alabama tornadoes

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:16:26 GMT

By Mickey Noah

MONTGOMERY, Ala.—In the two weeks since the deadly Apr. 27 tornadoes ripped across Alabama – killing more than 250 -- Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has mobilized almost 5,900 trained volunteers from 10 state conventions in that state.

Mel Johnson, state disaster relief director for the Alabama State Board of Missions, says Southern Baptist feeding units have prepared more than 162,000 meals, and are still doing mass feeding in Tuscaloosa, Madison, Rainsville, Birmingham, Snead’s Crossroads and Double Springs, Ala.

Video: Picking up the pieces in Alabama

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:09:46 GMT

As members of Mamre Baptist Church and others began picking up the pieces after tornadoes ripped through the Gadsden, Ala., area April 27, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers with chainsaws were there to lend a hand.

Disaster Relief Update: May 13, 2011

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:08:39 GMT

NAMB President Kevin Ezell, visiting Southern Baptist disaster relief locations in Tuscaloosa, Ala., thanks Southern Baptists for their support of the response.

South’s reeling residents find hope amid chaos

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:07:54 GMT

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Armando Sesena’s wife and daughter are safe now staying with family, but their house is gone—swept away three minutes after they ran to their basement.

“Three minutes,” Sesena said. “We were in the basement three minutes then whoosh.”

He pointed to what might be part of a wall he once owned, but it’s hard to tell or care what’s yours in a field like this of upturned lives and spilled-out houses. An EF5 tornado churned up the town on its multi-state path April 27, making a long, belabored cut through downtown Tuscaloosa.

Disaster Relief teams responding to Joplin tornado

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:06:43 GMT

(AP Photo/Mike Gullett)

Much of Joplin, Mo., sits in ruins today after a deadly tornado steamrolled through the town of 50,000 around 5:30 p.m. Sunday, May 22. Rescue workers continue to comb through destroyed neighborhoods looking for victims of the killer tornado.

With 116 confirmed dead Missouri-wide and more than 1,000 injured, Southern Baptists are praying for a city in great distress.

Southern Baptists have already begun to respond to the needs of Joplin residents. A DR Incident Command Center was set up May 23 at the Baptist Student Union of Missouri Southern State University. Disaster relief assessment teams have been called to action while other response teams have been placed on standby.

Read this account from The Pathway, the state paper of the Missouri Baptist Convention.

Relief effort expands as weather clears in Joplin

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:05:48 GMT

JOPLIN, Mo. – The unrelenting rain and strong thunderstorms that challenged rescue and cleanup efforts yesterday in the city of Joplin gave way to dreary skies today. Undaunted by reports of more bad weather on its way, rescue crews continue to dig through collapsed homes and businesses searching for victims of Sunday’s tornado.

The death toll in Joplin reached 117 on Tuesday and is expected to climb. Around 1,500 people are still unaccounted for after a monster EF-4 tornado, at least a half a mile wide and covering a distance of over six miles in length, tore through the Midwest city on Sunday, leaving a path of destruction in its wake.

“People are still in shock,” said Rick Seaton, Missouri Baptist Convention Disaster Relief (DR) director. “But they are so appreciative of the encouragement they are receiving.”

Disaster response continues in Midwest, South, Northeast

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:04:15 GMT

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – Even as search and rescue teams continue work in devastated Joplin, Mo., Oklahoma recovers from tornadoes that hit in mostly rural and suburban areas near Oklahoma City last night.

Eight people have been reported killed by last night’s storm and Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) of Oklahoma has deployed feeding units to serve affected areas. DR coordinators do not anticipate a call for help from outside units given that most damage is in lightly populated areas.

Spirit of resolute hope inspires Joplin DR volunteers

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 21:02:33 GMT

JOPLIN, Mo. – The sky over Joplin, Mo., continued to spit light rain and clouds threatened on the horizon four days after one of the nation’s deadliest tornadoes plowed through the heart of the city. Search and rescue teams continued their hopeful trek through miles of debris.

And through it all, a spirit of resolute hope spurred on this city of 50,000. In the middle of the work clearing rubble were Southern Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers by the score.

(This story includes a gallery of downloadable high-resolution photos from Joplin.)

Disaster Relief Update: Joplin Tornado

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:12:19 GMT

Deadly tornadoes, flooding...now hurricane season

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:11:15 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – As if Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams haven’t faced enough challenges because of a spate of deadly tornadoes in the South and Midwest over the past month, June 1 marked the official start of the 2011 North Atlantic hurricane season.

SBDR operations are winding down in the Joplin, Mo., area, where at least 134 people died as a result of last week’s EF-5 tornado that devastated as much as one-third of the city of 50,000.

“We’re getting a lot done,” says Rick Seaton, director of men’s missions and ministry for the Missouri Baptist Convention. “But most of our feeding, chainsaw and chaplain operations are phasing out over the weekend. Childcare is shutting down on Friday. After Sunday, we’ll have only one feeding unit and one chainsaw unit operating.”

SBDR responding to Mass. tornados, Vermont floods

James Dotson — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 18:10:02 GMT

By Mickey Noah

BRIMFIELD, Mass. /WILLISTON, Vt – Southern Baptist Disaster Relief is ramping up here, a week after three tornadoes – two EF1s and an EF3 – ripped across western Massachusetts from Springfield to Brimfield on June 1, killing four and impacting 19 communities.

The EF3 tornado that severely damaged Springfield remained on the ground for 40 miles or an estimated 70 minutes, with wind speeds clocked at almost 160 miles an hour.

Some 30 SBDR volunteers from Kentucky, Tennessee, Pennsylvania/ South Jersey, New York, Connecticut, North Carolina, Maine and the North American Mission Board, Alpharetta, Ga., are now on the scene.

NAMB commissions 85 summer missionaries

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:53:16 GMT

By Carol Pipes

ALPHARETTA, Ga.,– A chorus of student voices singing “send us out, Lord” filled the auditorium as 85 student missionaries and their families gathered at the North American Mission Board for the “Great Send Off” commissioning service June 8.

After two weeks of preparation and training the students will now travel across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico to provide leadership and logistics support at World Changers and PowerPlant projects this summer.

My eight-month review and a look at the future

Mike Montgomery — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 19:14:31 GMT

By Kevin Ezell

It’s been eight months since I stepped into the role of president here at the North American Mission Board. I’d like to thank you, Southern Baptists, for allowing me a few months to get a better understanding of how we do what we do. I appreciate your patience and your prayers. My hope is that I can clearly communicate our direction in the midst of a very complex transition.

You have been more than gracious and please know I am striving to bring a sense of strategic focus and efficiency to our North American missions efforts. I have listed below several areas that many have expressed interest in these past few months. Thank you for your prayers.

Missionary Focus: Left for Dead

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:25:28 GMT

(1 Comment)

"Don't go there at night." That's what everyone in Worcester, Mass., used to say about Pleasant Street. But North American missionaries Noel and Shelley Williamson and Matthew and Kathryn Nunnelley planted themselves there anyway – in a neighborhood and a church many people had left for dead. This is the story of what happened when they did.

FIRST-PERSON: Gauge yourself

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:22:12 GMT

Many people who run out of gas admit they simply forgot to check their gas gauge. Even a quick look at that vital indicator can fend off hours of waiting or walking for help

NAMB Podcast Episode 4: Military Chaplains and 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:21:16 GMT

Keith Travis and Dave Mullis of the North American Mission Board share how the military’s repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” might impact military chaplains and how Christians can minister to a pray for chaplains and members of the military.

NAMB Podcast Episode 3: World Changers Update

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:20:23 GMT

John Baily and Clark Logan of the North American Mission Board share how World Changers helps students make a difference in thousands of lives each year and possible new partnerships with LifeWay Christian Resources.

NAMB Podcast Episode 2: State Convention Partnerships

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:19:47 GMT

In the second episode of the NAMB Podcast, Kevin Ezell discusses the positive discussions he has been having with state convention leaders and plans for the next meeting of NAMB trustees in February.

NAMB missionaries revitalize dying church

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:18:29 GMT

(3 Comments)

This is how North American Mission Board missionary Noel Williamson describes nearly every aspect of his journey to Pleasant Street Baptist Church in Worchester, Mass. The challenges of a move from the Southeast to New England for Williamson and his family were many, ranging from church issues and safety concerns all the way to the frigidly cold weather and abundance of snowfall. Yet despite the obstacles, the call remained strong on Williamson’s heart.

Children's groups boost church attendance, interest in missions

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:17:36 GMT

Priscilla “Cookie” Collins didn’t set out to increase the attendance at First Baptist Church in Albion, Illinois. Nor did she plan to renew the interest of both children and adults in the church about missions. But both outcomes resulted after Collins helped begin Girls in Action and Royal Ambassadors programs at First Baptist, according to a report from Woman's missionary Union . Read More >

$9 million more to missionaries

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:16:39 GMT

(9 Comments)

By Kevin Ezell

I am grateful that Southern Baptists have a passion for missions and a heart for seeing people come to Christ. When I became NAMB president last September, one of my first priorities was to find a way—quickly—to put more money on the field for the work of our missionaries. We’re making some good progress on that. Here’s how and how much:

Still meeting in a theater, church now starts other churches

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:16:06 GMT

(1 Comment)

By Adam Miller

It’s been 10 years since Riverside Community Church launched, and they’re still meeting in rented space at the Regal 22 Cinemas in Warrington, Penn. A half-hour north of Philly, this suburban church was started in 2000 by then 26-year-old Nehemiah Church Planter Aaron Harvie and a core group of believers.

Over the years, the vision of Riverside Community Church has shifted from becoming established in a traditional brick and mortar sense to establishing itself as a light to its community and as a resource, mentorship and training hub for other churches and church planters who want to reach the city with the gospel.

Missionary Focus: Kung Fu Connection

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:14:40 GMT

As a child, Ron Wilson dreamed about one day growing up to be a martial arts instructor. What began as a simple interest in learning to defend himself against bullies developed into a deep-rooted passion for the skill and practice behind martial arts.

After he accepted Christ, his two passions came together as a unique outreach ministry -- and eventually a huge aspect of his church plant, The Connection.

I’ve Got No Excuses

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:12:54 GMT

(19 Comments)

By Justin Fisher

Before Sunday school several months back a friend announced a mission trip our church was organizing to Stamford, Connecticut. My church, Valleydale Baptist in Birmingham, had partnered with Encounter Church, a new work to reach New York City’s influencers.

As I heard the details, I knew God was calling me to join the team; but I knew it wouldn’t be easy.

I was born with a neurological disorder that affects my muscle coordination. All my movements appear to be in slow motion. It’s like I have to tell my leg, “Move this way.” Telling my hands to grip tighter on a can opener may result in my legs stiffening. Flexing my calf muscles might cause my teeth and jaws to clench tightly shut. It’s a little like a short circuit in the wiring between my brain and muscles. God saw fit to bless me with this disability called Cerebral Palsy.

I truly believe that my disability has taught me a dependence upon God that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.

New Churches: The Foundry, Philadelphia

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:11:35 GMT

Church: The Foundry Church, Philadelphia, Pa.

Pastor: Chuck Kieffer

Who they are: A three-campus church seeking to reach arts, collegiate, Jewish and multi-ethnic communities in the greater Philly area. “People don’t think ‘church’ up here,” says Kieffer. “We’re reaching a generation who never went to Sunday School, whose parents never went to Sunday School, and whose grandparents never went to Sunday School.”

'Focusing our North American Mission': Reaction from Texas

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:11:03 GMT

Gary Ledbetter, editor of the Southern Baptist Texas, affirms the recent organizational changes at NAMB – and points out challenges that remain – in a recent post on the paper's website

"In the short time that Kevin Ezell has led the North American Mission Board he has skidded Southern Baptists' largest bureaucracy into a turn few thought it could make. I'm optimistic that the organizational changes and priorities he has staked out will give our denomination a mission board that makes a difference in North America." Read the full article | Comment

Did I misunderstand God’s calling?

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:09:36 GMT

By Kim Feldner

I had never been more certain of my calling in life than when I boarded the plane to spend a semester studying abroad in the East African country of Tanzania. I was 19 when I took my first trip out of the U.S. to serve with a collegiate ministry team in India. By the time that trip was over, my life turned upside down and I committed myself with certainty to a life of serving God in international missions.

Where do we start?

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:08:37 GMT

When someone tells you to “Start Here,” the person is helping you begin a journey that leads to a specific destination. For Christians, the journey that starts first in the heart by faith will someday culminate in heaven where our faith will be sight.

The task we have to share our faith with others so that they may also embark on this journey with us can at times seem overwhelming. The sheer volume of people who claim no relationship with Christ – 259 million in North America – prompts us to ask the question, “Where do we start?”

Video: Hindus and High Schools

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:07:50 GMT

They would seem to have very little in common. But in Chino Hills, Calif., Hindus and high school students share a few very important things: a new church, a North American missionary named Kevin Nguyen, and the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering^®. In this video, see how your gifts to Annie Armstrong reach Hindus and High Schools in California.

Offering still critical to reaching North America

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:06:39 GMT

The North America Mission Board has undergone some radical changes in recent months, but more than ever the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® and Week of Prayer for North American Missions – observed in most SBC churches beginning this Sunday – is critical to its success.

Every penny of Annie gifts will continue to go straight to field-based missionaries and their work. And as Send North America becomes the lens through which we view everything we do, you and your church can know the work will be more focused than ever on helping churches like yours participate in evangelistic church planting.

Reaching kids in Memphis - before the gangs get to them

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:04:46 GMT

"As I return the kids to their homes, they scream not wanting to go inside. They lay on the ground and cry. All I can do is get in the car, praying I’ll see them in the morning and again be able to reassure them “I love you. And God loves you, too.”

In this article originally published in On Mission magazine, Jessica Trott tells the powerful story of her experiences as a Sojourner missionary in the Brinkley Heights area of Memphis.

“I appreciate what you are doing,” a gang member told me once. “I hope you’re able to get to these kids before we do.”

Sojourners are high school students serving as summer missionaries.

Bryant Wright highlights importance of Annie offering

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:02:49 GMT

SBC President Bryant Wright spoke with NAMB President Kevin Ezell about the agency's new direction and the importance of the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® during his monthly video for pastors at Pray4SBC.com. Wright noted during the interview that this year his church—Johnson Ferry Baptist—is giving its largest gift to Annie in the church's history.

"We so believe in what NAMB is doing when it comes to church planting," he said. "So I want to challenge pastors from churches all around our convention, knowing how important the Annie Armstrong offering is, and with Easter fast approaching, may you pray about how to challenge your church. And realizing very specifically now what Annie Armstrong is going towards, that we hope to have thousands more churches throughout our convention that are great lighthouses for Christ all around this country."

Follow the link to watch the full video.

Rendering Righteousness

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:02:14 GMT

By Nathan Garnett

Modern technology has provided us with some amazing movie scenes made with computer generated (CG) graphics. You may be familiar with movies such as The Dark Knight, All About Steve, Pirates of the Caribbean, Ghost Rider, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Because of Winn Dixie, and The Aviator. The scenes in these movies are so realistic that it’s hard to believe some of them involve CG animations.

Have you ever thought about how much is demanded from a computer in order to create such complex graphics?

Celebrate the Cooperative Program next Sunday

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 15:00:34 GMT

By Carol Pipes

Sunday, April 10, is designated as Cooperative Program Day across the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). Through the Cooperative Program, every SBC church has the opportunity to make a kingdom impact here in North America and around the world.

Since its launch in 1925, the effectiveness of the Cooperative Program has been dependent upon individuals, churches, state conventions and SBC entities cooperating— working toward a common goal of sharing the gospel with every person on the planet.

Missionary Focus: Video prompts action by Oregon church

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:59:48 GMT

For one Oregon church, it wasn't enough to give money to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. God – and a Week of Prayer video about Luis Rodriguez and his church plant in Coamo, Puerto Rico – moved them to act. See how an established church and a new church 4,000 miles away have matched needs with skills.

Reaching internationals in Vancouver

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:58:54 GMT

When God called my family to plant a church in Vancouver, initially I resisted. The spiritual darkness across the city made success seem impossible. Of the 85,000 people living downtown, 96 percent are unchurched and 42 percent claim no religious affiliation at all. Growing a church out of such rocky soil was difficult for me to imagine.

Today God is at work in this city, having taken our family on an incredible journey that has exceeded the expectations we brought in our hearts from Mississippi. We came to Vancouver with a plan for reaching primarily Canadian nationals. However, we quickly discovered an urgent need to reach internationals living in the city.

How can we best help planters?

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:58:13 GMT

By Kevin Ezell

Hopefully by now, you know I have a heart for church planters and I want to see the SBC start more Southern Baptist churches. We’ve done several things in my first few months at NAMB to help give church planting a boost. Budget cuts and staff downsizing are allowing us to put $9 million extra on the field for church planting this year. Next year, I hope it will be $15 million.

In one of my first trips as NAMB president, I visited some of our church planting missionaries in New England. These guys have such a passion and dedication for reaching that part of our nation for Christ. The problem is, just when they start making some progress with their church start, NAMB’s funding runs out.

So one change we are making right away is to give our church planting missionaries a longer “on ramp” as they are starting their church—especially in parts of North America where starting a church is so difficult. That means in some areas we’ll be extending our funding from two years to four years.

Missionary Focus: The Prodigal's Church

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:56:40 GMT

The irony didn’t escape John Smith. When he stepped in front of the small, assembled crowd at Pontiac Central High School in July of 2008, it had been 22 years since he had been expelled from the school for selling drugs at the age of 14.

Now two decades later, he was starting a church at that very school.

“I used to sow a different kind of message at Pontiac Central,” Smith said. “God let me come back. [Now my message is] restoration and redemption.”

We must prepare the next generation to defend the faith

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:49:59 GMT

By Mike Licona

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – I have a confession: I failed as a parent to prepare my children to defend their Christian faith. My failure is especially embarrassing because I'm a Christian apologist.

Since apologetics is a rational defense of the Christian faith, I travel around North America and sometimes outside it sharing the remarkable historical, scientific and philosophical evidence supporting the truth of the Christian faith. I equip Christians with evidence so they may have a strengthened faith they can share confidently with others. Through lectures and public debates I also challenge seekers of truth to give the evidence a fair look and become a Christ follower.

NAMB and B21 to host luncheons at 2011 SBC

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:47:01 GMT

By Aaron Coe

We've got lunch covered in Phoenix (at least for two days). During this year's annual SBC Pastors' Conference and Annual Meeting, the North American Mission Board and Baptist 21 will be hosting luncheons. In an effort to work together, the leaders of both groups have determined to get the word out about both events. Here are the details.

Serving Your Community Sunday, July 17

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Jun 2011 14:46:23 GMT

Imagine what could happen if every Southern Baptist church from across North America focused on loving its community in practical ways on the same day. That’s the prayer behind this year’s first-ever Serving Your Community Sunday on July 17.

The North American Mission Board is challenging churches to participate in some kind of community ministry project on July 17.

40 attend NAMB Ethnic Leadership Summit

Peter Ward — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 03:37:43 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – “We all came over on different ships, but now we’re all in the same boat.”

That’s what Chris McNairy, a leader on the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) multiethnic mobilization team, told about 40 pastors and leaders at the 2011 Ethnic Leadership Summit, May 23-24, at NAMB’s offices in Alpharetta, Ga.

The 27 Southern Baptist Convention ethnic fellowships and networks include leaders representing African, African American, Cambodian, Chinese, Deaf, Filipino, Greek, Ghanian, Haitian, Hispanic, Hmong, Hungarian, Japanese, Korean, Laotian, Middle Eastern, Messianic, Multiethnic, Native American, Polish, Brazilian, Romanian, Slavic, Ukrainian and Vietnamese people groups. Most were represented at the two-day summit at NAMB.

NAMB trustees re-focus vision

James Dotson — Tue, 31 May 2011 15:18:42 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – In a major bid to simplify and re-focus its ministry assignments – as directed by the Southern Baptist Convention last summer in Orlando –North American Mission Board trustees adopted a six-item mission statement at their May 11 meeting in Alpharetta.

The new mission statement reflects NAMB’s priority shift to church planting.

“The North American Mission Board exists to work with churches, associations and state conventions in mobilizing Southern Baptists as a missional force to impact North America with the gospel of Jesus Christ through evangelism and church planting. . .” read the trustee-approved, revised ministry mission statement.

Missionary Focus: Big E (previous)

James Dotson — Thu, 26 May 2011 20:48:29 GMT

Take several of your closest friends, climb into a metal trash dumpster and live there for six months. That, according to Navy Chaplain Fred Holcombe, is what it's like to live on an aircraft carrier. In this video follow Chaplain Holcombe around the USS Enterprise as he shares Jesus with sailors and airmen on board "Big E"

NAMB, Timothy Barnabas to partner

James Dotson — Thu, 26 May 2011 04:01:09 GMT

By Adam Miller

WOODSTOCK, Ga. — Southern Baptist pastors will be the beneficiaries of a new leadership development partnership between the North American Mission Board (NAMB) and the Timothy Barnabas ministry.

"One thing we hear consistently is that in addition to starting new churches, Southern Baptists need to do a better job taking care of existing churches," said NAMB president Kevin Ezell. "Leadership development for pastors is one of the ways we can do that. My hope is to see the Timothy Barnabas conference become an equipping and growing place for pastors, but also a place where they can come and relax and be appreciated. That's what we want to do."

NAMB signs letter of ‘concern’ to chiefs of chaplains

Peter Ward — Tue, 24 May 2011 22:13:16 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board’s head of chaplaincy ministry, Chaplain (Col.) Keith Travis, (U.S. Army Retired), is one of 22 denominational chaplain-endorsing agents to sign a May 23 letter to the Army, Navy and Air Force chiefs of chaplains, voicing their concerns over recent policy changes toward homosexuals in the military.

The two-page letter went to Chaplain Douglas L. Carver (Maj. Gen.), chief of chaplains for the U.S. Army; Chaplain Cecil R. Richardson (Maj. Gen.), chief of chaplains for the U.S. Air Force; and Chaplain Mark Tidd (Rear Adm.), chief of chaplains for the U.S. Navy.

The letter was issued in response to an April 13 memo issued by Tidd in which he granted permission to Navy chaplains to conduct same-gender marriages in Navy base chapels. Tidd then reversed course on May 10 by rescinding his April 13 decision.

New Church Planting Emphasis impacting Canada

Peter Ward — Thu, 12 May 2011 02:18:39 GMT

By Adam Miller

MONTREAL, Quebec — It’s still possible to visit 1,000 Quebec communities and never see an Evangelical church—a staggering fact Canadian church planting leaders face as they gather momentum for the Send Montreal church planting effort.

Baptist leaders from Canada and the United States met April 14-15 to discuss plans for Send Montreal. This was the first of many city coalition gatherings to convene around the national church planting strategy Send North America, an initiative launched this year by the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Stan Albright, Micah Millican join NAMB in key roles

Peter Ward — Thu, 12 May 2011 01:31:38 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – While North American Mission Board trustees approved the nomination of Steve Bass as West Region vice president during their May 11 meeting, NAMB president Kevin Ezell also announced two other key appointments.

Ezell named Stan Albright as NAMB’s national director for associations and Micah Millican as director of church planter relations at the mission entity in Alpharetta, Ga. Both posts are effective June 1

Missionary Focus: Duck Lake or Bust

James Dotson — Tue, 03 May 2011 21:53:06 GMT

By Jami Beacher

After a week-long mission trip to Duck Lake, Saskatchewan, Karla Johnson wondered aloud what would happen to the kids who had accepted Christ. Her concern? There was no church to disciple them. “God will raise somebody up,” replied her husband, Jason, who at the time was the missions pastor at First Baptist Church of Odessa, Texas.

“It’s us isn’t it?” Karla realized.

The Johnsons had felt God leading them to the mission field for several years, but the trip to Saskatchewan cemented where He wanted them to serve.

“After a week of praying, we jumped in with both feet,” Jason said. “Regardless of how it happened we were going.”

Ezell to present Arizona’s Bass as NAMB West region VP

James Dotson — Tue, 03 May 2011 15:11:50 GMT

Steve Bass, 54, state missionary for the Arizona Southern Baptist Convention will be presented as the candidate for West Region vice president for the North American Mission Board. NAMB President Kevin Ezell placed Bass’ name before the board of trustees April 30. The board will consider the nomination during their May 10-11 meeting in Alpharetta, Ga.

Bass, who has served as the ASBC’s top administrative leader since 1996, expressed enthusiasm about his nomination. But the prospect of witnessing something monumental truly captured Bass’ imagination.

Ezell, Elliff discuss how NAMB, IMB can work together

James Dotson — Mon, 02 May 2011 16:03:49 GMT

NAMB President Kevin Ezell met with International Mission Board leaders April 25 to brainstorm ideas for realizing their shared vision of mobilizing churches to to evangelize the lost, make disciples and plant new congregations.

Ezell and IMB President Tom Elliff talked about “dozens” of ideas, according to Elliff. Both men stated that this is a starting point of discussions, which they described as exploratory. But they indicated potential projects could include missionary training, sharing church-planting strategies — and joint initiatives aimed at engaging members of unreached people groups living in North America.

“We put a lot of things on the table,” Ezell said. “To me it would be foolish of the North American Mission Board not to use the expertise of the International Mission Board in helping us when significant percentages of the ethnic groups in our major cities are largely unreached."

‘Send North America’ NAMB’s message for SBC Phoenix

Peter Ward — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 20:02:01 GMT

By Mickey Noah

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – The North American Mission Board’s overarching strategic initiative -- “Send North America”-- will be the heart of its annual presentation, exhibit, luncheons and other events during the week of June 13 at the 2011 Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting at the Phoenix Convention Center in downtown Phoenix.

Southern Baptists last held their annual meeting in Phoenix – famous for its sweltering 100 degree-plus heat in June -- in 2003.

And for the first time in many years of conventions, NAMB will commission some 20 new missionaries – church planters and chaplains -- during the annual meeting itself on Tuesday, June 14, following the traditional NAMB annual report to the SBC messengers.

First Fairbanks exemplifies missions

Peter Ward — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 23:18:52 GMT

FAIRBANKS, Alaska– “Prayer is not a fire-and-forget weapon, and neither is our work with missions or the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering,” says Mark Howdeshell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Fairbanks.

Howdeshell knows about weapons. He spent 21 years in the Army, retiring in 2006 as a Chief Warrant Officer 3 at Fort Wainwright Army Base in Fairbanks.

“You’ve got to be prepared,” Howdeshell said. “God blesses our praying and our giving, but often expects much more. The job is not done once we’ve said ‘Amen’ or have written the check. It’s often just begun.

Southern Baptists respond quickly to tornado victims

Peter Ward — Tue, 19 Apr 2011 19:15:07 GMT

By Mickey Noah

BOONE’S CHAPEL, Ala. – More than 50 people died across 14 states—from Oklahoma to Virginia—after some 250 killer tornadoes ripped across the South last Friday and Saturday, according to news reports. It was the largest rash of tornadoes to spawn such death and destruction in recent memory.

After the last of the deadly tornadoes moved through the South late Saturday, Southern Baptist Disaster Relief teams in the hardest-hit states of North Carolina, Mississippi and Alabama wasted no time in mobilizing volunteers and resources.

Former police officer commissioned as chaplain at NAMB

James Dotson — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 13:01:47 GMT

The North American Mission Board building in Alpharetta, Ga., was the scene of a chaplaincy commissioning ceremony April 14, as Russell (Russ) Woody took the oath and was commissioned as a first lieutenant and chaplain in the U.S. Army.

Woody, 39, served 12 years as a police officer in Alpharetta and Atlanta prior to his calling to become an Army chaplain. He currently pastor of Mt. Hope Community Church in Jasper, Ga., and has served as pastor of North Canton Baptist Church, Canton, Ga., and Haw Creek Baptist Church in Cumming. A native of Rome, Ga., Woody was endorsed by NAMB as a chaplain last November. Following chaplains training school in Fort Jackson, S.C., he will be stationed at Fort Stewart, Ga., with the 3rd Infantry Division.

In this photo, Dave Mullis (center), military chaplaincy coordinator for the North American Mission Board, prays for Woody (left). Capt. David Burris, a member of the Georgia National Guard and an associate pastor at First Baptist Church, Woodstock, Ga., administered the oath.

Missouri church musters for missions

James Dotson — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 20:40:59 GMT

(3 Comments)

Frederick Boulevard Baptist Church once thought of missions and evangelism as separate emphases. Their pastor, Micah Fries, now believe that is an unhealthy division. "Our behavior is the same wherever we are," Fries said. "Evangelism is not distinct from missions, here or there, across the street or across the world.” Frederick Boulevard has church plants and church partners in California, North Dakota and Wisconsin.

SBC leaders issue Annie Offering challenge

James Dotson — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 19:27:08 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Easter Sunday 2011 comes later this year – on Apr. 24 – than any other Easter since Apr. 25, 1943. The next time Easter falls so late on the calendar will be on Apr. 25, 2038.

But regardless of when Easter falls, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® is always vital to the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) never-ending work of sharing the gospel throughout the United States and Canada.

Some 5,000 Southern Baptist missionaries in the United States and Canada count on their support from the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering. The 2011 offering’s goal is $70 million, 100 percent of which goes to support missionaries.

“As Christ-followers, we should have a consuming passion to reach our homeland for Jesus Christ,” says Ronnie Floyd, senior pastor of Cross Church in Springdale, Ark. “With 233 million lost people in the United States and 258 million lost people in all of North America, we need to give financially to further the work of Christ, penetrating the darkness of lostness."

SBDR veterans deployed to Japan to survey damage

Peter Ward — Thu, 07 Apr 2011 18:54:20 GMT

ADAMSVILLE, Ala./FRESNO, Calif. – On his recent 10-day trip to survey the earthquake and tsunami damage in northeast Japan, John Hayes saw Japanese citizens surviving on one piece of bread, a can of tuna and a serving of noodles a day, doled out by the government.

All he could think of were the Southern Baptist Disaster Relief (SBDR) feeding units back home in the United States, capable of feeding hot meals to the thousands of impacted Japanese people.

When international disasters strike – like last month’s earthquake and tsunami in Japan – the Baptist Global Response (BGR) team turns to experienced disaster relief volunteers and personnel from the SBDR network to travel to the site and assist BGR in assessing damages and developing a strategic response.

Does Anchorage Need Another Church?

Peter Ward — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:08:44 GMT

In the story of the Good Samaritan, True North Church in Anchorage does not see themselves as the Good Samaritan, or the religious elite who passed by, but as the wounded man, in need of a Savior, Jesus Christ.

“We are convinced that Anchorage does not need another church. However, Anchorage still needs grace … it needs a group of people who will stand in and communicate grace,” says pastor Brent Williams.

Make church planters ‘heroes,’ Stetzer tells NAMB

James Dotson — Thu, 31 Mar 2011 01:03:45 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – Speaking to 180 North American Mission Board employees on March 15, Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research in Nashville, exhorted his audience to “be known as the (SBC) entity that stands with young church planters – even when they make stupid mistakes.”

At the personal invitation of NAMB president Kevin Ezell, Stetzer came to the missions entity to discuss his most recent book, Viral Churches: Helping Church Planters Become Movement Makers, co-authored by Stetzer and Warren Bird, research director at the Dallas, Texas-based Leadership Network.

Stetzer, formerly director of research at NAMB, characteristically pulled no punches during his three-hour presentation.

Missionaries’ sacrifices noted at commissioning

Peter Ward — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 18:01:10 GMT

BRANDON, Fla – The North American Mission Board (NAMB) commissioned 81 new missionaries and chaplains at a special commissioning service attended by some 800 at First Baptist Church in Brandon, Fla., on Sunday, March 20.

In his first-ever missionary commissioning sermon, Larry Wynn, NAMB’s new vice president for evangelism, drew the crowd’s applause when he looked out over the pews of missionaries and told them that “you are the real heroes.

“You are sacrificing to go where God is calling you. You’re leaving family, friends, familiar surroundings, your comfort zone and the things you love to go and make a difference. We’re going to reach North America because of men and women like you,” Wynn said.

Southern Baptists prepare for Crossover 2011

Peter Ward — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 22:20:33 GMT

PHOENIX, Ariz. – Southern Baptists braving the Phoenix heat for Crossover 2011 Saturday, June 11, will encounter an oasis of local churches ready to slake spiritual thirst in their communities.

Crossover, now in its 23rd year, is an evangelistic outreach event held the weekend before the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting, June 14-15.

Rural church leads La. in AAEO giving

James Dotson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:49:40 GMT

COUSHATTA, La. – A look at the Haynesville, La., oil shale map shows that Coushatta is located on the southeast edge of what some say is “one of the largest discoveries of natural gas in the history of the Ark-La-Tex,” referring to a connecting portion of Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas.

Landowners’ mineral rights have been sold at successively higher prices to wildcatting companies since word leaked about the find in 2008, and Fairview Baptist Church – located in a rural area near Coushatta – has received the tithes and offerings of people who want to bless the Lord as He has blessed them, said pastor Matt Endris.

With this financial windfall, Fairview gave $106,090 to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Missions in 2009, making it the largest giver to the AAEO in Louisiana. At $558.36 given for each of the 190 people who regularly participate in Fairview’s Sunday morning worship, the church represents the largest per-capita giving to the AAEO in the nation.

NAMB trustees approve sweeping changes

James Dotson — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 20:35:39 GMT

(61 Comments)

Trustees of the North American Mission Board approved sweeping changes Wednesday, Feb. 9, that will dramatically alter the focus, strategy, leadership and organizational structure of the entity. The changes come almost five months to the day after trustees voted Sep. 14, 2010, to approve Kevin Ezell as NAMB’s president.

The package of changes approved by trustees involves four primary areas: NAMB’s national strategy, a regional approach to how NAMB will do its work, an organizational restructuring that will align NAMB’s staff chart with its new strategy and four new vice presidents who will give leadership to key ministry areas.

Week of Prayer Day 8: Vickie Stewart

Peter Ward — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:21:52 GMT

College freshman Shemaiah Strickland suffered with horrible nightmares when she first came to Morgan State University in Baltimore.

Adjusting to being away from her home in Atlanta for the first time, she said she just wanted to belong. Strickland attended a university organization fair and met North American Mission Board missionary Vickie Stewart, who was staffing a booth with fellow campus chaplains for The University Memorial Chapel.

Week of Prayer Day 7: Jim and Karen Turnbo

Peter Ward — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 03:14:07 GMT

“When I am watching my pastors be effective for the Lord, and they’re drawing attention to the Lord and nobody knows who Jim Turnbo is, but they see God blessing in that church, that’s what gets me going like nothing else.” So says Jim Turnbo.

His humility and servant-spirit notwithstanding, Turnbo’s “people” – the Native American, Hispanic, African American and Anglo Southern Baptists of western New Mexico – know who Jim Turnbo is and what he is about.

Week of Prayer Day 6: Howard and Tina Burkhart

Peter Ward — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 02:10:08 GMT

Attending a beginning sign language course as part of the deaf ministry at 38^th Avenue Baptist Church in Hattiesburg, Miss., in 1979, Howard Burkhart III liked his teacher so much he married her.

Because of Tina McMillan (Burkhart) and her attentive pupil, Howard – both students at the University of Southern Mississippi at the time -- untold hundreds of the hearing and hearing-impaired from Mississippi to California have not only been taught how to communicate, but how to accept Christ as their Savior.

Today, the Burkharts’ ministry – based in Benicia, Calif., just north of San Francisco -- extends far beyond the deaf community, although that remains their first love. Howard, 52, is a church planting strategist in the San Francisco Bay and San Diego areas and a missionary for the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

Week of Prayer Day 5: Jacques and Martine Avakian

James Dotson — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 05:27:39 GMT

In describing the spiritual condition of the people of Quebec, where he has been overseeing church planting since January 2009, North American Mission Board (NAMB) church planter Jacques Avakian calls to mind the boat crew in the story of Jonah.

“People in Quebec are spiritual and they’re seeking something, but they’re not seeking the right spirit,” he says. “The people Jonah met on the boat were spiritual but they didn’t know the right God because no one was sharing the truth with them.”

Week of Prayer Day 4: Tom and Marla Polak

James Dotson — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 04:43:51 GMT

A 62-year-old, tall, slender African American, Robert foraged the sidewalks, curbs and streets of Indianapolis, pocketing lost coins – picking up a penny here, a nickel or dime there. His painstaking work – all on foot -- would add up to a sacrificial $25 contribution to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering®. By the way, Robert was homeless.

Poor in the pocketbook but not in spirit, Robert is a former heroin addict who liked to fight. He served five different sentences in an Indiana penitentiary. He slept under bridges and interstate overpasses. But through the ministry of North American Mission Board missionary Tom Polak, Robert was redeemed by the Lord.

Week of Prayer Day 3: Paulette and Greg DeHart

Peter Ward — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 00:06:54 GMT

Yearly, thousands of immigrants come to the Atlanta metro area – fleeing poverty, famine, disease, civil war, persecution and even death. If Paulette DeHart has her way, they’ll learn English and meet Jesus Christ – not always in that order.

DeHart is a North American Mission Board (NAMB) missionary and has served as the Georgia Baptist Convention’s Literacy Missions Consultant since 2003.

Week of Prayer Day 2: Doug and Brenda Lee

James Dotson — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 06:03:09 GMT

There are local Southern Baptist associations and then there is Oregon Trail Baptist Association in Nebraska, where North American Mission Board missionary Doug Lee works to plant new churches. His association takes up the whole western half of Nebraska.

For the last 12 years, 58-year-old Doug – supported by his wife, Brenda – has served as director of missions for the vast association, based in North Platte, Neb. Geographically, the Oregon Trail Association is huge – spanning 400 miles by 200 miles.

Week of Prayer Day 1: Chuy and Maria Avila

James Dotson — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 15:37:02 GMT

Among all the hundreds of places North American Mission Board church planting missionaries work and minister across the United States and Canada, none is more dangerous than Laredo in south Texas, where Chuy and Maria Avila live and serve.

Laredo – with a population of 300,000 in the city proper – sits on the north bank of the Rio Grande, right across the river from Nuevo Laredo in Mexico. It’s a mecca of cold-blooded murder, drugs and chaos.

Plans announced for WMU Royal Ambassadors partnership

James Dotson — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:33:29 GMT

ALPHARETTA, Ga. — North American Mission Board (NAMB) leaders announced Tuesday they plan to partner with Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) for day-to-day operations of the Royal Ambassador’s organization.

This announcement follows NAMB’s recent organizational restructuring made to support the entity’s “Send North America” strategy to assist Southern Baptists in reaching North America through mobilizing and equipping churches and missionaries for evangelistic church planting.

Ezell: ‘New day' for NAMB, states and ADOMs

James Dotson — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:32:29 GMT

ATLANTA – Speaking to more than 400 associational directors of missions and church planting missionaries from all over North America on Feb. 23, North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell said, “it’s a new day at NAMB ... we’re not just moving the deck chairs around.”

Ezell spoke during NAMB’s 2011 Associational Directors of Missions Forum, Feb. 21-23, and the Church Planting Missionary Forum, Feb. 23-25, at the Westin Atlanta Airport Hotel in Atlanta.

Laying out NAMB’s new “Send North America” evangelistic church planting strategy, Ezell said the missions entity intends to change the conversation on church planting across the Southern Baptist Convention.

“We want to send a message to the SBC that our focus is on church planting and that we’re trying to get our act together,” Ezell said, adding that while church planting is NAMB’s No. 1 priority, “it’s not the only thing we do. We are not gutting evangelism. We will continue to do evangelism, because you can’t do church planting without evangelism. The purpose of everything we do is to bring people to Christ and penetrate lostness."

NAMB, LifeWay to partner on World Changers, PowerPlant

James Dotson — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:34:44 GMT

The North American Mission Board and LifeWay Christian Resources today (Feb. 24) jointly announced a new partnership under which LifeWay will assume day-to-day operations of World Changers and PowerPlant -- NAMB’s long-time student mobilization initiatives.

The shift in day-to-day responsibility for World Changers and PowerPlant from NAMB to LifeWay is scheduled to be completed in time for 2012, and will not affect the 2011 summer projects.

World Changers making difference, one student at a time

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:39:53 GMT

(1 Comment)

How do you change the world? One student at a time, according to John Bailey, NAMB’s team leader for Student Volunteer Mobilization. “That’s a 20-year-old statement, but we still see that it’s true, probably even more so with this generation.

Ezell announces $54.3 million offering, discusses NAMB changes

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:32:15 GMT

(1 Comment)

Southern Baptists gave $54.3 million to the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering® for North American Mission in 2010 -- a $2.3 million or four percent decline compared to the 2009 total of $56.6 million. The amount for 2010 is not yet audited.

Ezell to share strategy, new VPs at trustee meeting

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:19:02 GMT

(9 Comments)

North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell will propose new strategy, new vice presidents and a staff re-organization when he meets with NAMB trustees at a board meeting scheduled for Feb. 9 in Alpharetta. The meeting comes almost exactly five months after trustees voted to call Ezell as the entity’s president last Sept. 14.

Ezell to present Wynn, Coe for VP vote

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:11:36 GMT

(1 Comment)

North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell released a statement Monday, Feb. 7, announcing that he will ask his entity’s trustees to approve Larry Wynn and Aaron Coe as vice presidents. Following is Ezell’s full statement:

Indiana exec to lead NAMB's Midwest Region

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:08:27 GMT

(5 Comments)

Stephen P. Davis, 61, has been approved by North American Mission Board trustees as vice president – Midwest Region. Davis will be based in Indianapolis, Ind., as part of a regional restructuring by the North American Mission Board. Davis has been executive director of the State Convention of Baptists in Indiana since 2003.

NYC church planter to lead NAMB moblization efforts

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:06:21 GMT

(2 Comments)

Aaron B. Coe, 34, has been appointed to the new position of vice president-mobilization, to be based in Alpharetta, Ga., as part of a restructuring by the North American Mission Board.

Coe served from 2003 to 2008 as a NAMB church planting missionary pastor in New York City, where he helped plant the Gallery Church in 2006. His mobilization initiatives -- with local volunteers through City Uprising and churches nationally through SendNYC -- were key factors in his appointment to the national role.

Native church planter to lead NAMB work in Canada

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:04:22 GMT

(1 Comment)

Jeff Christopherson, 46, has been appointed vice president – Canadian Region, based in Toronto, as part of a regional restructuring by the North American Mission Board.

Chistopherson, a native Canadian, has been a church planter in Canada since 1995, and since 2009 has served as National Church Starting Team Leader for the Canadian National Baptist Convention.

Metro Atlanta pastor tapped to lead evangelism efforts

James Dotson — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 14:01:49 GMT

(14 Comments)

North American Mission Board trustees have approved the appointment of 57-year-old Larry Wynn – senior pastor of Hebron Baptist Church in Dacula, Ga., for the past 33 years – as the mission entity’s new vice president of evangelism.

“Evangelism is not just a job for Larry—it’s his lifestyle,” said NAMB president Kevin Ezell. “In the 32 years Larry has been pastor of Hebron, the church has baptized more than 10,000 people.”

Thawing fertile ground in Connecticut

James Dotson — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 19:06:32 GMT

By Adam Miller

Snow plows block several side streets as I make my way to meet Shaun Pillay, a church planter reaching Norwich, Conn., and whose church in the frozen northeast is thawing fertile ground in a town of 41,000.

Started in the fall of 2008, Cornerstone International Church is in a location prominent enough to attract all kinds of people passing by. Drug dealers, prostitutes and internationals all have entered the building at one time or another over the past two years.

Sometimes a miracle appears, as it did with a guy named David, a former drug dealer on the streets of Norwich. He’d come to clean the carpets at the church, and Pillay presented the gospel.

99 leaving NAMB as part of downsizing

James Dotson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 18:33:22 GMT

One-third of the North American Mission Board’s Alpharetta staff will be leaving at the end of the year as a result of retirement incentives and other downsizing efforts. On Friday, Dec. 10, NAMB recognized NAMB retirees who are taking advantage of incentives offered at the beginning of October.

GGBTS president: ‘church planting my life’s high point’

James Dotson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:11:18 GMT

Including his current stint as president of Golden Gate Baptist Theological Seminary, Jeff Iorg figures he’s heard God’s call on his life five times in his 52 years. But he says he believes God’s call 20 years ago to plant a church to be his highest calling.

Raney scholarships to be awarded by KALEO Network

James Dotson — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 15:08:37 GMT

Members of the KALEO Network attending a Southern Baptist college or seminary with an eye toward career missions or ministry will now be eligible for one of four new Raney Memorial Scholarships, funded by Howard and Josephine Raney of Brevard County, Fla.

The KALEO Network since 2003 has been preparing and equipping future ministry and missions leaders.

Rose Parade ministry now in 15th year

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:43:03 GMT

More than 225 Southern Baptist volunteers from the Los Angeles Southern Baptist Association and several states will participate in ministry centered around the 122nd annual Rose Parade in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.

Three NAMB vice presidents retiring

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:41:25 GMT

Richard Harris, 62, vice president of the Sending Missionaries Group and NAMB’s interim president from August 2009 until mid-September 2010, and Harry Lewis, vice president of Partnership Missions and Mobilization, will retire Dec. 31. David Meacham, NAMB’s vice president of Associational Strategies, retired Oct. 31.

NAMB Podcast Episode 1: Ezell discusses progress of transition

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:40:36 GMT

Since his election as president of the North American Mission Board on Sept. 14, Kevin Ezell has been working to determine how the entity will reshape itself in order to shift more resources and personnel to under-reached and under-served parts of North America. Ezell sat down Dec. 6 with Mike Ebert, NAMB's vice president for communications, to discuss the status of the transition for the first episode of the NAMB Podcast.

Ezell commits: 'We are going to work together'

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:39:39 GMT

North American Mission Board president Kevin Ezell said that as he charts changes for NAMB he is working closely with executive leaders from state Southern Baptist conventions. ³We are going to work together better. I promise you,² he told a meeting of directors of evangelism.

Season of Grace

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:37:56 GMT

Want your church to have a holiday impact? Then find out where people need help and get involved. What better time to do this than during the Thanksgiving and Christmas seasons?

First Person: Embracing the Unknown

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:37:03 GMT

The past few months have brought more change and transition than my family and I ever thought we'd be facing at this time in our lives. Just a few short weeks ago, we packed up everything in our home and made the move from Louisville to Atlanta.

Report features refugee ministry of MSC missionaries

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:36:11 GMT

Fox 8 News in High Point, N.C. recently featured the work of Mission Service Corps missionaries Tim and Jody Cross, who have helped find sponsors for more than 50 refugee families through Open Arms Refugee Ministry.

Pregnancy care center volunteer leads new mother to Christ

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:26:51 GMT

Serving as a volunteer at the Pregnancy Resource Center of Gwinnett for the past six years, Christine Hobafcovich has seen hundreds of women in need come through the doors of the center outside Atlanta since her first night on the job.

Zingkhai ministers to variety of Bay Area immigrants

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:24:18 GMT

North American Mission Board church planting missionary Rufus Zingkhai is living proof that missionaries are always on duty and subject to the mysterious workings of God – regardless of time, place or circumstance.

Mega-church means business when it comes to missions

James Dotson — Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:22:53 GMT

Bell Shoals Baptist Church, a mega-church with about 3,200 people participating in worship each week, multiplies itself missionally because it gives leadership away as directed in Ephesians 4:12, says its missions pastor, Ted Badger.

NAMB retiree leaves 46-year legacy

James Dotson — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:29:17 GMT

In 1964 Brenda Hendrickson stepped from her mom’s car to the streets of Atlanta for her first day at the Southern Baptist Convention’s Home Mission Board, now the North American Mission Board.

Dialogue of small church, bi-vocational pastors spurs 'missional initiative'

Peter Ward — Fri, 03 Dec 2010 14:45:09 GMT

Two dozen church and denominational leaders grappled with the challenges and opportunities smaller Southern Baptist churches might embrace to reach their communities with the gospel at the Small Church and Bi-vocational Pastors Missional Initiative Dialogue, Oct. 21-22 at the North American Mission Board (NAMB).

NAMB commissions 36 at Texas service

Peter Ward — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:12:43 GMT

Rich and Melissa Sivernell are learning that even though Denver, Colo., is less than a thousand miles from Flower Mound, Texas (near Dallas), it’s a very different world.

Athletes find new life in Lake Placid

Peter Ward — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:10:56 GMT

Lake Placid is full of people going places and at great speeds. The resort town was made famous by movies, high rollers, Olympic events and now by highly skilled winter athletes plying their trade on its bobsled tracks and ice rinks.

Parachute Project: Students prepare soil for church planters

Peter Ward — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:08:52 GMT

When six Appalachian State University students signed up for the Parachute Project last summer in Los Angeles, none of them were sure what to expect. Looking back now, they see an indelible mark left by the experience—not only in their own lives but in the lives of people they encountered during the trip.

Read more abou the Los Angeles project from On Mission magazine

Read about a similar project this past summer in Portland, Ore.

Learn more about The Parachute Project

Students take lesson back home

Peter Ward — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 23:04:00 GMT

More than 300 students saturated the city of Birmingham to help reduce sub-standard housing throughout North Birmingham. During this time, middle school, high school, college students and their adult leaders painted houses, re-shingled roofs and built handicap ramps.