Beirut blast prompts prayer from Messianic believers
BEIRUT (BP)—Southern Baptist Messianic believers expressed heartbreak after unexplained explosions at a Beirut port warehouse Tuesday, Aug. 4, killed at least 100, injured more than 4,000 and devastated much of the city. Leaders of the Southern Baptist Messianic Fellowship (SBMF), a group of about 350 Jewish believers, said they are praying and looking for a reputable humanitarian aid group to channel help for the injured and...
2021 SBC Annual Meeting preparations and planning underway
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP)—After the cancellation of the 2020 Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) Annual Meeting in Orlando, preparations are underway for the 2021 meeting to be held in Nashville at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center. SBC Executive Committee President Ronnie Floyd is hosting a video conference call Aug. 11 with pastors to share more about the event and encourage as many churches as possible to send messengers...
Report: In China ‘there is no longer a safe place to be a Christian’
SILVER SPRING, Md. (BP)—China persecutes Christians to gain leverage in future diplomatic relations with the U.S., a Christian seeking U.S. asylum claimed in a video released Wednesday, July 22, alongside a new report by International Christian Concern (ICC). Liao Qiang, a member of Early Rain Covenant Church in Chengdu, further claimed in the ICC video that the Chinese Communist Party (CPC), “makes you think that they are...
Harry Dodd, former Falls Creek leader, dies
On July 22, former Falls Creek Baptist Assembly Director Harry Dodd died. Dodd was a well-known and beloved Oklahoma Baptist, having served at Falls Creek from 1979-1993. “Harry Dodd’s smiling face brightened up the camp and impacted the lives of those fortunate enough to have attended during that time,” said an article previously published by the Baptist Messenger. Dodd, a United States military veteran, served in a number of...
Petersen hired as OBU dean of students and VP of campus life
SHAWNEE—Brandon Petersen, Oklahoma Baptist University (OBU) alumnus and director of consulting at JM2 Capital in Oklahoma City, has been hired as the dean of students and vice president of campus life at OBU. He will begin his duties on Bison Hill effective July 20. In his role, Petersen will be responsible for developing, cultivating and overseeing the transformational student experience on Bison Hill through leadership of campus...
High court delivers 2 religious liberty wins
WASHINGTON, D.C. (BP)—The U.S. Supreme Court reaffirmed in two 7-2 rulings Wednesday, July 8 that churches and religious organizations are free to make employment and health insurance decisions based on their convictions. In one ruling, the justices reiterated their support for a “ministerial exception” that enables churches and other religious bodies to hire and fire based on their beliefs. They had ruled unanimously in...
