Every four years our nation celebrates the inauguration of a new president. The occasion is always marked by ceremony, pomp, and circumstance, as power is transferred to or reinvested in America’s commander in chief. For Christians, bearing witness to another inauguration is a unique reminder of our duty to pray for those in authority. One …
Continue...How are churches responding to the COVID-19 epidemic? How is this crisis affecting services, groups, and ministry to the community, especially vulnerable populations? While we know that each church is unique and each community’s needs are different, we know we can learn from one another. The ERLC recently surveyed a number of church leaders around …
Continue...Note: This article is intended as a starting point for your church as you are planning to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. We will be updating this article as this fast-moving situation progresses. How should churches handle COVID-19? That’s the question congregations around the country are grappling with as the World Health Organization recently declared …
Continue...Life in ministry is often rich and rewarding. But there are challenges and season of struggle, as well. These struggles can take a toll on marriages in particular. At our National Conference, Phillip Bethancourt moderated a panel with Christine Hoover, Nicole Lino, Chris Osborne, and Kevin Ueckert as they discussed strengthening marriage in ministry by …
Continue...A brief look at the the things that are popular in our culture—movies, songs, TV shows, fashion—reveals that we are obsessed with sex. But our culture’s understanding of sex is upside down from what the Bible teaches. At the ERLC’s National Conference, Phillip Bethancourt addresses God’s design for sex, love, and marriage.
Continue...After a 14-year-old girl was groomed by her youth pastor to trust him, he began sexually abusing her. He continually told her she was the cause of his sin and that it was her fault. He said she would never amount to anything, never graduate from college, never be loved, and never be married. He …
Continue...The SBC Sexual Abuse Advisory Group (SAAG) has continued to work diligently throughout the summer. As SBC President J.D. Greear said at the 2019 annual meeting, “Our efforts on abuse don’t end here in Birmingham. This is just the beginning of a long journey together.” In an effort to keep Southern Baptists up to speed on …
Continue...Do you know someone who could be a good fit for the 2020 ERLC Leadership Council? Complete the recommendation form by October 1 to nominate them for consideration. What is the ERLC Leadership Council? The ERLC Leadership Council is a collection of SBC pastors and leaders who receive intentional investment from the ERLC team. During their …
Continue...In response to the revelations of a sexual abuse crisis in American society and recognizing that such abuse has occurred within our Southern Baptist churches, Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) President J. D. Greear commissioned a Sexual Abuse Advisory Group. He tasked the group with considering how Southern Baptists at every level can take discernable action …
Continue...The American church is facing an abuse crisis. Is your church doing all it can to be safe for survivors and safe from abuse? What is the Caring Well Challenge? The Caring Well Challenge (CWC) is a unified call to action on the abuse crisis in the Southern Baptist Convention. The goal is …
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