Newly branded this year as “Amplify,” the retreat sought to continue delivering “same richness” of teaching, worship, fellowship and competition as in years past, noted the Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania/South Jersey.
Following the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, First Baptist Church leaders felt it was a good time to alter its tradition. “We decided to take our fall festival on the road,” said Craig Mintz, a pastor at FBC Sevierville, Tennessee.
Although the Ford Motor Company is slowing down its production schedule at BlueOval City, there are no plans to pump the brakes on the evangelism efforts in that region.
“Pastors have a unique, God-given responsibility: faithfully proclaim God’s Word. But with that, it’s helping people see its relevance in their lives. So they’ll listen!” writes church communication expert Mark MacDonald.
Not many people have had even one front-row seat to watch history unfolding before their eyes. Retired Col. Jerry Whiteside, U.S. Army, 87, has had two notable ones.
The path James Perkins has taken to become an International Mission Board missionary is not your typical story. He’s been a soldier, during which time he served a one-year deployment in Afghanistan, then has owned a grocery store. But …