Lawrence Smith (left) communications director for the Kentucky Baptist Convention, talks with IMB President Paul Chitwood about what the new CP Allocation Budget will mean for the IMB.
By Scott Barkley, posted July 6, 2026 in Cooperative Program, International Mission Board, SBC Annual Meetings NASHVILLE (BP) – Southern Baptist efforts to spread the Gospel worldwide are receiving boosts from the Cooperative Program reallocation as well as new partnerships, International Mission Board President Paul Chitwood said during the recent SBC Annual Meeting.
Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri with daughter Grace Jin Drexel
By Diana Chandler, posted July 6, 2026 in International News, Persecution LOS ANGELES (BP) – Wrongfully imprisoned Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri arrived safely in Los Angeles July 4 after China freed him in what is described as a ‘goodwill gesture’ coinciding with America’s Independence Day, ChinaAid and others announced.
Sixty percent of the families attending Grand View Baptist Church in Beulah, Colo., lost their homes in recent fires.
By Karen L. Willoughby, posted July 6, 2026 in Disaster Relief PUEBLO, Colo. – The Aspen Acres fire increased in size by 2,000 acres on Sunday, July 5, bringing the total to more than 89,000 blackened acres affecting three Southern Baptist churches near the San Isabel National Forest southwest of Pueblo, in Beulah, Rye and Colorado City. Evacuations affected about 11,000 area residents – 3,800 homes – before Sunday’s additional evacuations were announced for Coal Creek, Williamsburg and Rockvale.
By BP Staff, posted July 6, 2026 in Cooperative Program NASHVILLE (BP) – Cooperative Program giving for June was below the budget goal for the month. Total giving remains a little more than 3 percent under budget for the year. In actual dollars, year-to-date giving ($140,927,408.94) is close to the amount given through June of last year ($141,224,321.92) – a difference of .21 percent.
By Scott Barkley, posted July 6, 2026 in SBC News HOUSTON (BP) – Robert Sloan, Jr., president of Houston Christian University, died on the morning of July 4, the school announced in a press release that day.
