2021 VBS archaeology theme leads kids to unearth truth about Jesus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—Next summer, kids will roll up their sleeves and grab excavation gear as they head to archaeological sites of present-day Israel with “Destination Dig,” the 2021 Vacation Bible School theme from LifeWay Christian Resources. In “Destination Dig,” kids will take the role of junior archaeologists as they embark on an adventure to study pieces of the past to learn the truth about who Jesus is...
Pressing forward: Oklahoma Baptists’ board revises budget, introduces new church planting strategy
The first Oklahoma Baptists’ Board of Directors meeting in 2020 took place March 10, just before COVID-19 was announced to be a global pandemic. On June 25, board members met for the second time this year at the Baptist Building. The Board reviewed what had occurred since the previous meeting, shared time in prayer and fellowship and pressed forward with ministry plans, a revised budget and a new church planting strategy. Dilbeck...
Messenger Insight 384 – Coronavirus and the Cooperative Program
Willie McLaurin, VP for Great Commission Relations and Mobilization at the SBC Executive Committee talks about the impact of COVID-19 on the Cooperative Program. https://media.blubrry.com/messengerinsight/p/cdn.baptistmessenger.com/2020/06/25134417/Messenger-Insight-384-Willie-McLaurin.mp3Podcast: Play in new window | Download (19.6MB) Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Android | Google Podcasts | Stitcher | TuneIn | Spotify |...
Falls Creek hits the open road: Regional events to share the Gospel across the state
The Falls Creek “Road Show” is travelling across Oklahoma this summer. Because Falls Creek summer youth weeks were cancelled, regional and virtual events are now being offered. The Baptist Messenger recently sat down with Falls Creek Program Director Todd Sanders to talk about the upcoming plans for 2020. Baptist Messenger: For the Falls Creek Road Show, which will take place in multiple venues across the state, what will that...
Over the bus: Oklahoma bus driver advances the Gospel in NYC amid pandemic
Don Laughlin has many bus driving experiences. He currently drives buses for Village Tours, but he previously served 23 years in church bus ministry. Now Laughlin’s ministry involves driving buses to different parts of the country. That includes driving medical staff in New York City in the heightened weeks of the COVID-19 pandemic, earlier this year. Through an arrangement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Village Tours...
Giving in a crisis: McLaurin’s advice to churches on declined giving due to COVID-19
With the outbreak of the Coronavirus, an estimated 40 percent of churches in Oklahoma have experienced a decline in giving. The reasons for the decline are attributed to the inability for churches to gather for in-person worship services to take up offerings, church members who are not accustomed to online giving and members experiencing their own decline in income due to businesses being shut down during the pandemic. Willie...
