“Hurt” and “anger” have met with prayer in troubled Charlotte, N.C., where Southern Baptist pastors are praying and encouraging peace and reason amid violent protests and a declared state of emergency after the police killing of Keith Lamont Scott.

What appeared to local believers to be a physical resurrection from the dead among an unengaged, unreached people group in Southeast Asia has opened a door for gospel witness and highlighted what International Mission Board President David Platt called “God’s power to supernaturally save sinners.”

Four state conventions would gain representation on the Southern Baptist Convention's Executive Committee (EC) under a recommendation adopted for presentation at the SBC annual meeting in 2017. The recommendation would amend SBC Bylaw 18 to exempt conventions from the requirement that territories have 15,000 members in cooperating Baptist churches to qualify for representation.

The Kentucky Baptist Convention will not do business with hotels that fail to train employees to recognize and report human trafficking, KBC Executive Director Paul Chitwood announced Sept. 21. Chitwood set forth the convention’s position in a letter to potential vendors and listed several resources for free training.

The Missouri Supreme Court declined to hear the foundation’s appeal of an appeals court decision ordering its return to governance by convention-elected trustees. By letting a ruling by the Missouri Court of Appeals stand, the state Supreme Court ended years of litigation that began after the foundation’s board broke away from the convention.

Cherokee Hills Baptist Church is investing in Putnam City High School as families “adopt” players on the Pirates’ football team by going to home games and cheering them on. The idea happened as pastor Mike Keahbone was looking for ways the Oklahoma City church could have a community presence.

A Baptist missionary’s appeal of a judgment against him for teaching a Bible study in his home in Russia, was postponed in the middle of proceedings when the judge said additional witnesses were needed. Donald Ossewaarde said his attorney believes the postponement is a delay tactic designed to sidestep justice.

Evangelical leaders debated the appropriateness of a vote for Donald Trump during an event at the National Press Club sponsored by the National Religious Broadcasters. Two supporters of the Republican nominee traded opinions with two of his opponents as a divisive campaign moves toward the Nov. 8 election.

The Executive Committee has voted to update its media policy, prompted by the proliferation and ease of use of social media. In addition to news media, the policy now encompasses any individuals in attendance at EC meetings, including Executive Committee members themselves. The new policy received a unanimous vote.

Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee (EC) President and CEO Frank S. Page thanked God at the September EC meeting for His work among Southern Baptists, citing increased financial giving and a renewed commitment to the Great Commission. “I’m grateful for what God is doing in our churches ... [and] in our mission boards,” Page said.

Religious liberty as Americans have known it will suffer a critical setback if a new report by the country’s top civil rights panel is followed. The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights declared protections to ensure nondiscrimination “are of preeminent importance in American jurisprudence” and religious exemptions “significantly infringe upon” those civil rights guarantees.

Midweek services for several Southern Baptist churches in the Charlotte area will feature focused times of prayer for the city amid controversy and overnight violence sparked by the shooting death of a black man at the hands of law enforcement officials Sept. 20.

Amid controversy over North Carolina’s controversial transgender restroom law, Southern Baptist Convention leaders estimate they’re less than two weeks away from finalizing contracts to hold the 2023 SBC annual meeting in Charlotte. And they say they’re glad to support the state for its moral stand on gender and sexuality.

The Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission has named one of its own – international justice and religious freedom advocate Travis Wussow – to direct its Washington, D.C., office. ERLC President Russell Moore announced Wussow’s appointment as the new vice president for public policy, as well as general counsel.

Spiritual awakening, soul winning and stewardship will be the three-pronged emphasis of Steve Gaines’ Southern Baptist Convention presidency, he told the SBC Executive Committee. Addressing the committee via video, Gaines said America’s morally deteriorating culture evidences the need for revival and awakening. He asked Southern Baptists to pray for revival.