Next month, the Baptist Messenger will celebrate its 107th anniversary, or “birthday,” if you will.

12, contained stories about the work of the Foreign and Home Mission Boards, Christian education, teaching about Christian doctrine and theology, and the Oklahoma Baptist Orphans’ Home.”

So much has changed in the world since 1912. Yet in so many ways, the mission and focal points of that first issue remains the very same today, with new names and people that God is using to build His Kingdom and do Jesus ministry.

As the Baptist Messenger’s birthday nears, we want to remember Jesus Christ in all we do. As Easter/Resurrection Sunday nears, we also are reminded to keep our news focus on the Good News of Jesus, who came to seek and save the lost (Luke 19:10). Our role as a news publication, the flagship communications outlet of the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma, then is to point people to Christ and the work of His Church.

The famous British writer G.K. Chesterton was reported to have said it like this: “We do not want a newspaper to give us a vision of the world made perfect; we want a Church for that. We do not want a newspaper to give us good news; we want a Gospel for that. We want a newspaper to give us true news; not elevating news or improving news.”

In this digital age, as fake news and angry social media pundits abound, you can count on your Baptist Messenger to serve a positive role that is Christ-honoring.

And now is a great time for Oklahoma Baptists and others to connect with the Baptist Messenger. Whether you are 8 years old or 80—or any age—there are more ways than ever to engage with the Messenger including:

—Our semi-monthly (twice per month) print publication
—The breaking-news website
(www.BaptistMessenger.com)
—The free Messenger Go mobile app
(available in the Apple and Google Play stores)
—The Messenger Insight podcast program on iTunes
—Our El Mensajero Bautista Spanish insert
—The www.WordSlingersOK.com blog
—The Baptist Messenger social media channels on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and more!

At our 107th birthday—and beyond—we pray that we will continue to faithfully advance the Good News of Jesus Christ in Oklahoma and beyond.

Thank you for connecting with the Baptist Messenger!