Sword & trowel: What’s new for 2020
For more than 100 years, the Baptist Messenger has been informing and inspiring Oklahoma Baptists, as we advance the Gospel together. For 2020, all the existing reader favorites, like Walker Moore’s column and the crossword puzzle, continue as great as ever. Also for 2020, we are rolling out some new features and offerings I wanted to highlight. More Church News The Messenger has long published a “People and Church News” section. From...
29th Annual Rose Day set for Feb. 5 at State Capitol: Former Planned Parenthood worker to share testimony of conversion
Each year, pro-life Oklahomans gather inside the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City for the annual Rose Day Pro-Life Indoor Rally. The 2020 Rose Day Pro-Life Rally is set for Wed., Feb. 5 and is expected to draw more than 1,000 supporters from across the state. Rose Day, now in its 29th year, is organized by Oklahoma Baptists and other pro-life organizations, who are asking pastors and church members from across the state to...
Sword & trowel: Him for the holidays
Do you recall the classic scene in “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” in which beloved Peanuts’ character Charlie Brown emphatically asks, “Isn’t there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?” Viewers everywhere are moved to hear Linus beautifully quote, from memory, the Gospel account of Luke about Christ’s birth. From the time this animated classic debuted to today, each generation continues to struggle with what Christmas is all...
Peter, Paul… and Mary
I once heard the following conversation in a children’s class in an Evangelical church. Teacher: “Children, since it’s December and Christmas is drawing close, we want to talk about a lady who is very important this time of year. This lady is so important that each of you needs to know about her.” Child: “Is it Mary?” Teacher: “Well, no. [Pause] Mary’s important, but I’m talking about Lottie Moon.” The children then heard the amazing...
Lifeline: Pastors, churches equipped to promote Sanctity of Human Life Sunday
Since 1984, pro-life Christians and churches have sought to protect unborn lives by taking part of the annual Sanctity of Human Life (SOHL) Sunday emphasis each January. The 2020 SOHL Sunday is set for Jan. 19, and in the month of December, Oklahoma Baptists and Oklahoma Baptist Homes for Children (OBHC) recently partnered in sending to all Oklahoma pastors, churches and associations in the state a resource packet to help observe SOHL...
