Skip to content
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • The Alabama Baptist
  • The Baptist Paper
  • Log In
  • Subscribe
  • Renew
  • Donate
The Baptist Paper
The Baptist Paper
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your state news
  • Classifieds

Mississippi’s Sexual Abuse Response Team delivers report; messengers reelect Lloyd Sweatt

  • October 25, 2022
  • Mississippi's The Baptist Record
  • Latest News, Mississippi
Brad Eubank (at podium), chairman of the Sexual Abuse Response Team and senior pastor of First Church, Petal, and members of the response team present a preliminary report on their work to messengers attending the first session of the 2022 Mississippi Baptist Convention (MBC) Annual Meeting Oct. 25 at First Church, Jackson. The team’s final report will be issued at the 2023 MBC Annual Meeting.
(Photo courtesy of The Baptist Record)

Mississippi’s Sexual Abuse Response Team delivers report; messengers reelect Lloyd Sweatt

Mississippi Baptist messengers reelected Lloyd Sweatt to a second term as convention president Tuesday (Oct. 25) during the first session of their 186th annual meeting. They also heard a preliminary report from the Sexual Abuse Response Team (SART) that Sweatt had appointed.

Sweatt, pastor of Meadowood Baptist Church, Amory, appointed the response team to review the Guidepost Solutions report and recommendations addressing allegations that the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee mishandled reports of sexual abuse. The team was also assigned the task of bringing its own report and recommendations to Mississippi Baptist messengers gathered for their annual meeting, held at First Baptist Church Jackson.

During the opening session, the response team announced the Mississippi Baptist Convention Board Executive Committee has allotted $250,000 to be used immediately by churches toward membership and training with MinistrySafe. The Texas-based legal ministry provides “a complete child safety system designed to reduce the risk of child sexual abuse,” according to the MinistrySafe website.

Mississippi Baptist churches in cooperation with the MBC can sign up for the $250 per church subsidy at the MinistrySafe website by entering the code MS2022.

Brad Eubank, SART chair and senior pastor of Petal First Baptist Church, told messengers a final report on the team’s work will be issued at the state’s 2023 annual meeting.

The response team is currently issuing special resources that can be used by churches, Eubank said, including a First Steps booklet, poster and card. The resources are not copyrighted and may be reproduced.

The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the SBC also offers the Caring Well Challenge, which is a unified call to action on the abuse crisis. The goal of the challenge, according to the ERLC website, is to “equip churches to be safe for survivors and safe from abuse.” For more information, click here.

Other reports

Messengers also heard reports from Danny Smith, convention board president and pastor of First Baptist Church Tunica, and Johnny Ervin, MBCB transitional director for church planting/revitalization.

Sweatt preached the President’s Address to close out the opening session.

Worship through music was presented by the worship team of Meadowood Baptist Church. Hance Dilbeck, president and CEO of GuideStone Financial Resources, presented a devotional. Jordan Reed, a member of First Baptist Church Bruce, presented the Scripture reading from Exodus 19:1-6.

Click here to watch Wednesday’s sessions on livestream.


EDITOR’S NOTE — This story was written by William Perkins and originally published by The Baptist Record, journal of the Mississippi Baptist Convention.

Share with others:

Facebook
X/Twitter
LinkedIn
Email
Facebook
Twitter
LinkedIn
Email

Latest News

  • First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments
  • Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller
    May 23, 2025/
    0 Comments

Sign up for the Highlights

Get all latest content delivered to your email a few times a month.
Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

Related Posts

First person: ‘Lord, get into my head before I do.’

“Let me tell you something that may not surprise you: my head can be a mess first thing in the morning,” writes Tony Martin, editor of The Baptist Record.

Churches mobilize to serve tornado-stricken communities

Life for Kentuckians in Somerset and London was thrown into chaos after an EF-4 tornado ripped through their communities on May 16, killing 19.

Study: Nearly 1 in 3 Americans consult astrology, tarot cards or fortune teller

With tarot cards showing up on Barnes and Noble shelves, in viral TikToks and in cutesy Jane Austin-themed sets, perhaps it’s no surprise that 30% of U.S. adults consult a fortune teller, tarot cards or astrology on a yearly basis.

Jack Graham picked to serve on Trump’s new Religious Liberty Commission

President Donald Trump has appointed Jack Graham, senior pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, to the advisory board of the newly established Religious Liberty Commission.

Want to receive news highlights throughout the week? Sign up here!

Email is required Email is not valid
Thanks for your subscription.
Failed to subscribe, please contact admin.

About

  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us
  • Our Story
  • Our Team
  • Our Partners
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Contact us

Explore

  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • State-specific news
  • Archive
  • Opinion pieces
  • Sunday School lessons
  • Persecuted Church
  • Podcasts
  • Videos

Submissions

  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy
  • Story suggestions
  • Your Voice/Letter to the Editor
  • Photos / Videos
  • Corrections/other
  • Submission Policy

Subscribe

  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
  • Subscribe
  • Renew subscription
  • Gift a subscription
  • Start a new member subscription
  • Start a new group subscription
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Hosted Church
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Request free trial
The Baptist Paper
Address:
3310 Independence Dr.
Birmingham, AL 35209
Copyright © 2025 TAB Media Group
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ
  • Privacy/Terms of Use
  • Help
  • FAQ

Email:
news@thebaptistpaper.org

About

  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church
  • Our Team
  • Advertise and Promote
  • Classifieds
  • Donate
  • Photo Galleries
  • Contact us
  • Hosted Church

Explore

  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news
  • Latest News
  • Trending
  • Your State News
  • Persecuted Church
  • Editorials
  • Opinions
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Archive
  • Submit your news

Subscribe

  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate
  • Manage your group
  • Manage your account
  • Subscribe
  • Start a new subscription at the group rate

Log Out?

Lost your password?

Log In

Lost your password?

Log in

Become a part of our community!
Forgot your password? Get help
Privacy/Terms of Use

Reset password

Recover your password
A password reset link will be e-mailed to you.
Privacy/Terms of Use
Back to
Login
×
Close Panel