Georgia
When COVID-19 prevented Georgia Baptists’ Hispanic church members from in-person visits with their families in Central America, church planter Neftali Coronado, working with two other Georgia Baptist leaders, responded with a solution. Coronado uses popular technological platforms to connect church members with loved ones. Coronado joins in the video calls, praying and presenting the gospel, with many making professions of faith, The Christian Index reported.
Florida
What began with four southwest Florida pastors connecting monthly with one another to encourage other local pastors has developed into an official church relations team in the Royal Palm Baptist Association. The focus of the team is to help plant healthy churches and revitalize hurting ones, the Florida Baptist Witness reported. Team member David Gold, pastor of Crossroads Baptist Church, Fort Meyers, said he is looking forward to being “a resource and source of encouragement to local pastors.”
Louisiana
Holden Matthews, confessed church arsonist, was sentenced to 25 years in federal prison for destroying three historically black churches in Louisiana in a 10-day arson spree in 2019. The sentence was handed down for three counts of intentional damage to religious property, a hate crime under the 1996 Church Arson Prevention Act, and one count of using fire to commit a felony, the Baptist Message reported.
Mississippi
With Hurricane Zeta’s landfall along the Louisiana and Mississippi Gulf Coasts on Oct. 28, Mississippi Baptist Disaster Relief teams are once again aiding those affected — this time in their own state. Trained MBDR assessors have begun surveying the area affected by Zeta, and initial mobilizations are providing chainsaw/debris removal and placement of tarps on damaged roofs, The Baptist Record reported. An estimated 9,300 homes in Mississippi sustained damage.
Tennessee
After paying off a $1.5 million construction loan in September, Mount Carmel Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, began giving 10% of undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program, doubling its longtime annual contribution of 5%, and also increased its annual giving to the Chilhowee Baptist Association from 3% to 5%. Before the church became debt-free, monthly loan payments were $10,000 for the congregation averaging 200 in pre-pandemic Sunday worship, the Baptist and Reflector reported.
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