Good News for Today

In 1914 Louisville, when Blacks and whites lived in communities segregated by a city ordinance signed May 11 of that year, Black and white Baptists formed a community partnership that survives to this day.

Only five decades since the Civil War and 46 years after the passage of the 14th Amendment, the partnership was born amid exacerbated racial disparities.

“It was kind of unheard of when you think about it,” partnership leader Matthew Smyzer Jr. told Baptist Press, “when Black folk and white folk in 1914 – when I’m sure racial tensions were so much higher than they are right now – were able to set those aside for the cause of Christ, to offer holistic ministry from a mission perspective.

Today, a center to reach poor neighbors is the central focus of the ministry work together.

The facility sustained significant damage during a recent EF-1 tornado in Louisville. Thanks to community partners and friends from across Kentucky, work is underway to repair the center as a new school year is just around corner.

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In recent months, a series of natural disasters including Gulf Coast hurricanes, California wildfires, and severe Midwest storms have severely impacted communities nationwide. These events, coupled with skyrocketing construction costs following the COVID-19 pandemic, have left the insurance industry struggling to cope.

Specialized insurers like Church Mutual, GuideOne, and Brotherhood Mutual, known for insuring churches, report dwindling reserves. As a result, they've been forced to drop coverage for churches deemed high-risk, a move aimed at mitigating financial losses.

The repercussions are being keenly felt in Texas, where churches are grappling with the fallout. Many have been compelled to scale back programs and postpone essential building improvements due to financial constraints. Ironically, these upgrades could enhance insurability in the future.

For churches navigating these challenges, the impact is profound, affecting their ability to maintain operations and prepare for the future.

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In a Baptist Press Toolbox, Scott McConnell shares some tips for asking busy people to serve in church ministry.

1.    Ask your congregation to step away from commitments to other “good” things next year to make room for a commitment of time to God and to ask Him what that activity should be.

2.    Give people examples of ministry opportunities your church is planning to do over the next year so they can be specific with their time commitment. Otherwise, other things will creep in and take that time.

3.    Ask people to write down their commitment to remind themselves and to share this commitment with you and others. This can start a conversation about preparing for that area of service. Their early willingness may motivate others to make similar plans.

McConnell offers several more you can find in the full article at Baptist Press.

Christians engaged in Scripture place the highest premiums on civic advocacy and engagement, the American Bible Society (ABS) said in its latest release from the 2024 State of the Bible.

Falling in a presidential election year, the study shows Scripture-engaged Christians place more importance than others on being aware of civic and government issues, advocating for civic and government policies and submitting to government leaders.

Specifically, 66 percent of Scripture Engaged Christians said it is important or very important to maintain awareness of civic and government issues, 48 percent placed the same importance on advocating for civic and government policies, and 42 percent said the same of submitting to government leaders.

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Aaron Brooks, an Olympic wrestler, encountered scrutiny for publicly embracing his Christian faith during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Despite facing criticism, Brooks stood steadfast in his beliefs, using his platform to openly share his faith and inspire others. He expressed gratitude for the opportunity to compete and represent his country while also staying true to his religious convictions. Brooks' unwavering commitment to both his sport and his faith has highlighted his resilience and dedication. By maintaining his integrity amidst challenges, his trainers say he has exemplified the importance of staying true to one's values even in the face of opposition. 

Brooks punched his ticket to the Paris Olympics by upsetting reigning Olympic gold medalist David Taylor in the 86-kilogram class. His interview remarks were nothing new for Brooks, who after winning his third straight NCAA title in 2023 earned criticism for his comments.

The Olympics games begin in Paris on July 26.

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God calls on believers to meditate on His Word. Kie Bowman writes about the command in the Baptist Press Toolbox.

“What is meditating on Scripture? To meditate is to move from intellectually understanding the passage to spiritually and prayerfully experiencing the passage. “

How does one meditate on God’s Word? “The late Tim Keller wrote an entire chapter about meditation in his book Prayer. Among many other things, he wrote, “Many of us have a devotional life in which we jump from fairly academic study of the Bible into prayer. There is a ‘middle ground’ however, between prayer and Bible study, a kind of bridge between the two. While deep experiences of the presence and power of God can happen in innumerable ways, the ordinary way for going deeper spiritually into prayer is through meditation on Scripture.”

Like everyone else, Bob Hurd remembers where he was when he heard Donald Trump had been shot on Saturday afternoon. Hurd was at a wedding reception about 20 minutes away from the Trump rally in Butler, Pa., where Hurd is pastor of Whitestown Road Church and lives across the road from the Butler Farm Showgrounds, cite of the assassination attempt. 

Hurd said he led his church to pray for the country on Sunday morning following the tragedy that left one rally attendee dead and several wounded.

Southern Baptist Convention president Clint Pressley encourages believers to pray for healing, especially for Bible-believing churches that we would be part of the gospel solution, bringing down the talk of violence, hatred and pointing people to the goodness of God that is found in Jesus.”

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Five days after Hurricane Beryl swept across southeast Texas, large parts of Houston remain dark. Traffic lights, restaurants, homes all lack power in many places. Internet service is sporadic.

But the temperature is hot, as well, with the typical 95 degrees and high Houston humidity.

An electricity of frustration fills the air like the oppressive heat. People are on edge. It’s like having your wallet stolen, replacing your driver’s license and credit cards only to have the wallet taken again.

Waking up before dawn each morning, a group of Texans on Mission and church volunteers are ushering in a refreshing breeze of hope.

First they cooked 6,000 meals. The next day they did 7,500. Then 8,500. Soon, it’ll be 10,000 meals delivered across the city.

In other places across the region, Texans on Mission chainsaw teams are cutting up fallen trees and limbs. They’re making it possible for people to enter their homes again.

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Georgia church leader P.J. Dunn believes churches can reach young adults. 

He writes, “The first issue with defining young adults is that “young” is relative. Young is not age; it’s a mindset. Using it as a term to reach an age group quickly becomes problematic. While the generally accepted use of the term “young adult” is considered late teens and 20s, a person in that group rarely identifies as young. Only those outside of the group identify them as such.

The term “young adults” is hardly used on search engines, as people don’t type it in to find people like themselves. They use age and life stage words like married or single to self-identify and find community. Rather than define a people group, ask people questions about how they identify themselves so you can better shape language to connect with them.

Use specific, not general, language if you’re trying to define a life stage to communicate within your church and community. If you need to identify young adults, use married, single, gender, and age, not “young adult.”

2. See young adults

He says that data reveals young adults may be college students or emerging adults, but they may also be single, never married”, married, divorced or single parents. 

Read the full piece from Dunn to get insights on who young adults are and how your church can connect with them.

With Good News for Today, I’m Brandon Porter.

The Republican National Convention kicks off today in Milwaukee. While the convention is set on Donald Trump as its nominee for president in the November election, there are still many watching the convention’s recent development concerning pro-life policy.

Last week, the convention’s platform committee voted to propose a platform that some thought softened the party’s stance on abortion. Specifically, delegating the work of passing abortion bans to state legislatures.

The move comes two years after the Supreme Court overturned Roe vs. Wade, but it is a significant shift from the work toward a federal abortion ban by the party that dates back to the early 1980s.

Republican leaders like Donald Trump and J.D. Vance have indicated that a softening of the party’s position might be needed to persuade independent voters to cast their ballot for Trump in the fall election.

While the party’s platform held strong on many of their valuing of human life, some ethics leaders and even Vice President Mike Pence expressed disappointment over the party’s proposed platfrom.

Baptist Press will be following the convention.

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Artificial intelligence could organize worship music sets, plan church budgets and perform administrative tasks as well as or better than humans, half or more of Christians said in new research from Barna Group and Gloo.

Reaching online audiences and creating online content for outreach are also prime areas for AI contributions, Christians told researchers.

But sermon planning and writing, and spiritual and mental health counseling are best left to humans, Christians said in Barna’s “Faith and AI” research conducted in partnership with Gloo.

“It’s no surprise that most Christian adults believe ministry tasks requiring a personal touch should be done by humans,” Steele Billings, head of AI at Gloo, said July 9 upon the data’s release. “But what may be surprising to most ministry leaders is that many Christians are optimistic about using AI beyond just everyday administrative tasks.”

Specifically:

• 53 percent of Christians believe AI could organize music sets as well as or better than humans; 41 percent would leave the work to humans, and 6 percent aren’t sure.
• 50 percent believe AI could give financial advice in church budgeting, 39 percent believe humans are best, and 10 percent are uncertain.
• 67 percent believe AI could perform just as well as or better than humans in administrative tasks such as scheduling and planning, 28 percent would prefer a human’s hand, and 4 percent are unsure.

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In a Lifeway Bible Study, Jeff Iorg writes, “Jeremiah promised a new covenant was coming. The new covenant was going to be different than former covenants in significant ways. But it was also a continuation of God’s historic work among His people. This covenant was unlike previous covenants, yet it built on those previous covenants.

“In the past, God’s covenants were focused on external symbols and requirements. God’s new covenant was devoid of external symbols or requirements. He declared, “I will put my teaching within them and write it on their hearts” (v. 33). The new covenant focused on internal change.

God still wants changed behavior, but only when motivated by inner transformation.

“A new covenant was coming, and God would establish it through the death of Jesus. Under the new covenant, we live in forgiveness, fully committed to God in heart and mind.”

Disaster Relief (SBDR) units have deployed in and around Houston up into Texarkana in response to Hurricane Beryl, which made landfall early Monday morning, July 8. Units with the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention (SBTC), Texans on Mission, Arkansas and Alabama are providing meals, showers and chainsaw work to survivors.

Scottie Stice, SBDR director for the SBTC, shared through email that they are continuing to discover needs through their assessments as they work “to match needs to resources” while volunteers from both inside and outside the state have already begun their efforts.

Through Wednesday, a feeding unit was providing up to 5,000 meals and showers in Wharton, southwest of Houston, while Texans on Mission (formerly Texas Baptist Men) has a 15,000-meal-a-day feeding unit set up in Houston to prepare meals for those without electricity.

While Texas received the brunt of the storm’s initial impact, Beryl destroyed Beulah Baptist Church in Mansfield, La., and has brought heavy rain and severe storms as it has trekked across the United States, creating potential for flash flooding and tornadoes in New England and New York.

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In a remarkable journey from retirement to the Olympic stage, Ginger Gibson's story is one of unwavering faith and determination. Initially retiring after a successful career in synchronized swimming, Gibson found herself drawn back to the sport she loved. Motivated by a deep faith in God's guidance, she resumed training despite the challenges of age and physical demands.

Her return to competitive synchronized swimming was met with skepticism and doubt from many quarters, yet Gibson persevered, trusting in God's purpose for her journey. With the support of her family and a renewed passion, she qualified for the Olympics once again, showcasing her resilience and inspiring others with her story.

Ginger Gibson's odyssey from retirement to the Paris Olympics is a testament to faith, perseverance, and the belief that God's plans are always greater than our own. Her story encourages us all to embrace challenges with courage, trusting that every step of the journey has a divine purpose.

The 2024 Olympic Games begin July 26. 

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Youth ministry leaders say they wouldn’t call it a revival just yet, but there is definitely a wave of salvations across college campuses in America. Ben Beck, a campus minister at Purdue University, says campus ministry is the best he’s ever seen…and he’s been reaching the campus for more than 20 years.

Beck and other leaders say students are hungry for authentic relationship, truthful discussion…even on hard topics…and the call to follow something greater than themselves. That can be found in Jesus Christ.

Devon Faulkner knows about bumpy rides.

“Our small Cessna bobbled lower and lower until its wheels made contact with the gravel runway, slicing through its many puddles,” Faulkner wrote in a blog entry. After deplaning, Faulkner and his partner walked off the landing strip and into the jungle...the Amazon jungle.

Faulkner serves as a Project 3000 missionary explorer with the International Mission Board. As an explorer, Faulkner and his ministry partner, Rhett Clarke, seek out and research unengaged and unreached Indigenous people groups in remote areas of the Amazon, bringing with them the world’s most important message – the Gospel. 

After a short walk, they met a man who invited them into his home. Faulkner describes how, over an open flame made a meal for them. Both the husband and wife listened intently as Faulkner and Clarke shared the story of Jesus calming the storm. During their two and a half weeks in the area, they visited the couple four times and shared more than 10 Bible stories and a Gospel presentation.

They later learned the family practiced withcraft. The explorers say it startled them at first, but the family’s zeal for hearing the Good News helped them overcome their fear. 

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More than 1,000 churches from across North Carolina have pledged to take part in a statewide initiative in early August that calls on church members to serve their local communities.

The “ServeNC” initiative, scheduled for Aug. 3-10, asks churches to meet the needs of their surrounding neighborhoods throughout that week. 

Participating churches can be found in 89 of North Carolina’s 100 counties. They have been encouraged to participate in service projects that meet specific needs in their local communities. 

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As the Republican National Convention kicks off next week in Milwaukee and the Democratic convention happens in August…some believers may be wrestling with their approach to the election cycle.

Tony Martin writes, “Our identity in Christ should shape every other aspect of our lives, including how we engage with our nation.

Be concerned. Yes, it’s important to be aware of what’s happening in the world and to care about justice, peace, and the well-being of others. But let’s not allow these concerns to eclipse our faith. It’s easy to get caught up in the news cycle, social media debates, and the latest controversies. However, we must remember that our ultimate hope does not lie in any human institution or leader but in God.

Be patriotic. Love your country, pray for its leaders, and strive to make it a better place. But remember, our earthly nations are temporary.

Be passionate. It’s okay to have strong opinions and to advocate for what you believe is right. But let’s do so with grace and humility.

Above all, be God’s. Our primary allegiance is to our Heavenly Father. When we keep our eyes on the eternal, we gain perspective on the temporal. We are reminded that our true home is not here but in heaven, and our ultimate goal is not to build a perfect society but to bring glory to God.

Disaster relief workers from Texas and across the US are responding to Hurricane Beryl's aftermath, which killed at least seven people in Texas and Louisiana and left millions without power in intense heat. You can support recovery efforts at Send Relief.org. Meanwhile, 73 Hispanic chaplains graduated from a training program in Florida, fulfilling a vision by Marc Johnston and Misael Castillo to assist migrant workers and first responders. Yoenis Leindens, one of the graduates, looks forward to sharing the Gospel in various settings. Additionally, Scott Hildreth emphasizes the importance of partnership and process in short-term mission trips, reminding volunteers to align their goals with those of long-term missionaries and national partners.

Disaster Relief workers are responding to those affected by Hurricane Beryl in Texas, where the storm caused significant damage and power outages. The Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has called on both major political parties to prioritize pro-life policies in their upcoming platforms. Nathan Lorick, a Texas church leader, encourages believers to use the summer for rest, spiritual growth, and family time, emphasizing the importance of intentional relaxation and reflection.

An Oklahoma middle school student avoids using school bathrooms, fearing encounters with biological males identifying as female. IMB Missionaries Matt and Audrey Chism, inspired by their work with Middle Eastern refugees, now encourage others to share the gospel with these communities. Lastly, Ken Braddy of Lifeway Christian Resources urges church leaders to support their group leaders with well-planned fall training sessions to ensure their success.

Brian Wuotis, a high school teacher and pastor, and his wife in Willmington, VT, had their foster care license revoked due to their Christian beliefs on gender, prompting a federal lawsuit filed through Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF). The case challenges Vermont’s policy on foster parents supporting children's gender identities and sexual orientations. Meanwhile, Bruce Jennings, a youth minister in South Carolina, has reenacted the Battle of Cowpens for 30 years, using his role to share the gospel and emphasize the freedom to evangelize. Lastly, Mark McDonald from Lifeway Research gives 5 steps for creating a crisis communication plan for your church.