By Amber Van Schooneveld, posted January 6, 2020 in Compassion Blog My name is Collins, and I am from southwest Uganda. I grew up in a family of six people: my mom and my five siblings. I recall that I was a little boy with no shoes. My dad passed away from yellow fever when I was 5 years old. I … Read More
Southern Baptists see baptisms, giving rebound in 2021
By Carol Pipes, posted May 12, 2022 in SBC News NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist congregations saw a rebound in the number of baptisms and an increase of $304 million in overall giving in 2021, both hopeful signs congregations are recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic. Southern Baptist congregations baptized 154,701 in 2021, a 26 percent increase from 123,160 reported in 2020, according to the Annual … Read More
MTSBC Executive Board Responds to the Guidepost Solutions Report on Sexual Abuse
Last week, Guidepost Solutions released their report on the SBC Executive Committee’s handling of reports of sexual abuse in Southern Baptist churches and ministries. You can read the full report here, https://static1.squarespace.com/static/6108172d83d55d3c9db4dd67/t/628bfccb599a375bece1f66c/1653341391218/Guidepost+Solutions+Independent+Investigation+Report_.pdf. The extensive report documents numerous failures in how the SBC Executive Committee responded to claims of sexual abuse and efforts to help Southern Baptist churches prevent sexual abuse … Read More
A Self-Fulfilling Prophecy
As you look out on your congregation, what do you see? Do you see an abundance of potential resources, co-laborers, and disciple makers? Or, do you view your church family through the lens of scarcity? There really isn’t much there to work with, is there? What you believe about them is what you will see in them. Think about that … Read More
What Happens If Roe V. Wade Is Overturned?
As many of you know, a case with the potential of overturning Roe v. Wade was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court in December. This case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, is challenging Mississippi’s Gestational Age Act, which limits abortions after 15 weeks (except in cases of medical emergencies and severe fetal abnormalities). Mississippi is asking the U.S. Supreme … Read More
This Is God’s Mercy Flight
SAMARITAN’S PURSE DC-8 FLIGHT CARRIES UKRAINIANS TO A NEW LIFE IN CANADA. On Sunday, May 15, our DC-8 cargo jet left Poland on a special mission to bring 28 Ukrainian refugees to Toronto where they will be able to reunite with family, friends, and other sponsors arranged by Samaritan’s Purse. These families fled from the horror of the conflict continuing … Read More
What’s the Difference between Shepherding & Disciple Making?
Clarity breeds brevity. Lack of clarity leads to lots of words. Our churches today lack clarity on disciple making. That confusion is evident by the long list of words used interchangeably such as discipleship, coaching, mentoring, disciple making, and shepherding. Unfortunately, these words aren’t synonyms. Instead of clarifying the call to make disciples, they complicate and confuse. In the past … Read More
What Will Next Winter Be Like?
Yes, you read that right. I’m asking you to consider what winter will be like before we’ve even gotten through summer. This isn’t only a question we can ask about the weather. It’s also a question we can ask about the church. When it comes to your church, what you do now can have a huge impact on how you … Read More
The Disciple Maker Card
In any discipleship process, relationships are essential. A disciple maker is seeking to engage the heart of a new believer, or a disciple partner, with spiritual truths that lead to life transformation. These spiritual conversations have a high view of Scripture and emphasize our response to the Holy Spirit. What is God saying? What are you going to do about it? Discipleship can be … Read More
406 Day of Prayer and Fasting
BIG SUCCESS & A SIGN OF SPIRITUAL HUNGER What a blessing it was to be a part of the first ever, online, all-state prayer meeting for Montana. Approximately 75 people representing 19 different churches united in heartfelt, passionate prayer on the date represented by our area code, April 6 (4/06). Online, there were churches gathered in homes, and fellowship halls. … Read More