November 7, 2025

By Scott BarkleyBaptist PressWASHINGTON (BP) – Faith leaders, including those from the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, are urging the confirmation of Congressman Mark Walker as International Religious Freedom (IRF) ambassador-at-large. A letter to President Trump signed and delivered last week, commends his “steadfast commitment to religious liberty” and his nomination of Walker, a former Southern […]

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November 4, 2025

By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressWASHINGTON (BP) — U.S. President Donald Trump designated Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) Oct. 31 for tolerating religious freedom violations especially against Christians, and threatened sanctions and military force to discourage such persecution. Trump’s Oct. 31 Truth Social announcement naming Nigeria a CPC and his Nov. 1 announcement threatening military […]

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October 31, 2025

By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesBRENTWOOD – The average Southern Baptist church is likely an older, small Southern church. If you want to find a growing congregation, however, you might need to look for a new, larger church – or even one in the Northeast. Recent Lifeway Research analysis of the 2024 Annual Church Profile reveals a […]

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October 29, 2025

By Brandon ElrodNorth American Mission BoardATLANTA – Southern Baptists recognized Student Baptism Sunday Oct. 26 during a season in American religious life when church attendance among young people has been on the rise. “For a few years, I personally witnessed more and more young people coming to faith in Christ when I would preach around […]

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October 27, 2025

By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesBRENTWOOD — Life in rural America has its charms and challenges. Those who pastor in small towns across the United States recognize the trials inherent to those areas but believe God is working in their congregations and communities. A Lifeway Research study of pastors in small towns and rural areas identified […]

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October 24, 2025

By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressNIAMEY, Niger (BP) – An evangelical Christian missionary from the U.S. was kidnapped late Oct. 21 in Niamey, Niger, less than 100 yards from the presidential palace, CBS News reported. Several news outlets, including Crosswalk and the Long War Journal, identified the missionary as Kevin Rideout of Serving in Mission (SIM) International. Rideout […]

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October 21, 2025

By Erin RoachBaptist PressNote: Chapman will be remembered at a memorial service at 2 p.m. Oct. 24 at Triune Baptist Church, located at 8094 Horton Highway in Arrington, Tenn. The memorial service will be livestreamed at Triune Baptist Church’s Facebook page. Crawford Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. NASHVILLE (BP) – Morris H. […]

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October 20, 2025

SEBTS staffWAKE FOREST, N.C. – Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary President Daniel L. Akin announced on Oct. 14 that he will retire from the role at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. His official retirement date is July 31, 2026. Akin, Southeastern’s longest serving president, made the announcement in a chapel service during the SEBTS […]

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October 16, 2025

By Diana ChandlerBaptist PressPHILADELPHIA, Pa. (BP) — Nearly a quarter of U.S. adults think the Bible is “just another book of teachings written by people,” the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2025 State of the Bible. More people are skeptical of the Bible’s teachings than those who think the […]

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October 14, 2025

IMB and NAMB StaffNASHVILLE – Southern Baptists continue to prioritize pushing back lostness through missions, marking another strong year of generous giving to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering® and theAnnie Armstrong Easter Offering®. When the books closed on the SBC’s 2024-25 fiscal year Sept. 30, the Lottie offering totaled $207.2 million, and the Annie offering […]

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October 9, 2025

Baptist Press staffNASHVILLE (BP) – Total Cooperative Program giving for the 2024-2025 fiscal year was $186,091,048.26, which is just over 2% below the budget goal of $190,250,000. “The Cooperative Program continues to provide the primary financial support for state conventions and national entities,” said SBC Executive Committee President and CEO Jeff Iorg. “We are grateful […]

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October 7, 2025

By Aaron EarlsLifeway Christian ResourcesNASHVILLE — U.S. adults are nearly equally divided on how much of a role religion should play in public schools, according to a YouGov poll. A third (34%) say it doesn’t play enough of a role, a quarter (26%) say it’s involved about the right amount, and a quarter (26%) say religion plays too […]

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