Church-based dairy distribution produces Gospel results
A United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) funded food distribution program, which was established during the Coronavirus pandemic, is helping Oklahoma Baptist churches meet needs and advance the Gospel. The USDA program Farmers to Families has committed to purchase $3 billion in fresh produce, dairy and meat products from American producers of all sizes. The products are packaged into family-sized boxes, then transported to...
Church-school connection: Oklahoma Baptists provide homework space, school supplies and more for students
With the 2020-2021 school year beginning while the Coronavirus is still looming, some Oklahoma schools have not been able to fully open their doors to students. The State Board of Education protocols requires pupils to attend classes virtually or through a combination of in-person and virtual meetings. The quarantine rules have left some families scrambling for how to provide for the educational needs of their children. Parents who...
Americans hold complex, conflicting religious beliefs, according to latest State of Theology study
NASHVILLE (BP)—More than half of Americans say religious beliefs are a matter of personal opinion, not objective facts. And that’s made clear by examining the varying, and sometimes contradictory, theological doctrines they hold. The biennial State of Theology study from Nashville-based LifeWay Research explores the religious and cultural beliefs of U.S. adults. For 54 percent of Americans, theological beliefs are not a matter of...
Metro churches partner to address racial unity
BETHANY—Two Oklahoma City metro area churches have formed a partnership in recent weeks to address the country’s race issue. Bethany, Council Road and Oklahoma City, Bethlehem Star are seeking advancement together in racial unity. “We may not be able to solve all the racial problems in Oklahoma City, but we CAN make a difference,” declared Pastor Rodney Payne of Bethlehem Star, while speaking with Pastor Rick Thompson at Council Road...
New hiring guide to help churches prevent abuse
NASHVILLE (BP)—A manual providing guidance on hiring staff members and selecting volunteers is the latest Southern Baptist resource designed to help churches prevent sexual abuse. The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC)—in cooperation with the Sexual Abuse Advisory Group—released the “Caring Well Hiring Guide” Aug. 31 as part of the Southern Baptist Convention’s ongoing effort to equip congregations to thwart sex abuse...
Christian groups prepare parents to homeschool as inquiries soar amid COVID-19
PURCEVILLE, Va. (BP)—Parents across the U.S. and in many foreign countries are exploring homeschooling their children for the first time this fall as schools navigate reopening amid COVID-19 dangers and uncertainties. Christian groups and churches are among those preparing parents to meet the challenge and to navigate homeschooling regulations that not only vary among the states, but are changing amid the pandemic. Membership in...
