Hello BRN Family it is good to be with you today!

Last week’s annual meeting of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) shaped up to be one of great celebration. I want to share a quick snapshot of the things reported to our 47,000 SBC churches:

There were more than 1,000 salvations reported from this year’s Crossover evangelistic outreaches in Orlando. In total, 554 churches participated in Crossover, whether by hosting events, serving as volunteers, or praying for the churches and others involved.

Southern Baptists have planted 12,000 churches since 2010. In four of the last five years, they have planted or replanted more than 700 churches each year!

SBC now supports 3,500 international missionaries through the IMB. 63 of these missionaries participated in a Sending Celebration at the SBC meeting.

Messengers approved giving 51 percent of national CP receipts to the International Mission Board, which is expected to fuel an additional $2 million toward global missions next year.

Based on enrollment, all 6 SBC seminaries are among the top 10 seminaries in the United States, enrolling more than 25,000 students last year alone!

According to the SBC Annual Church Profile, there were 260,000 baptisms in churches in 2025, marking a 5 percent increase from the previous year as well as 30,000 baptisms missionaries reported abroad.

Church attendance increased by 3.6 percent, with nearly 4.5 million people worshiping in Southern Baptist churches each week, and Bible study increased by about 3.2 percent, attracting more than 2.6 million weekly.

In other news, Florida pastor Willy Rice was elected president with 57 percent of the vote over South Carolina pastor Josh Powell.

Al Mohler’s proposed SBC constitutional amendment received the first of two required approvals. It would limit friendly cooperation to churches where only men serve as pastors and preach to the gathered church.

Resolutions addressed Southern Baptists’ commitment to the sanctity of life through opposing euthanasia and assisted suicide and emphasized the importance of in-person church amid the growth of technology.

Other resolutions affirmed the enforcement of borders, the dignity of immigrants, the importance of bi-vocational pastors, and encouragement for all ministers to finish well.

SBC President Clint Pressley urged messengers to live with doctrinal clarity, Gospel conviction, humility, patience and unity, saying Southern Baptists must “walk worthy” of the calling they have received if they are to remain faithful to the mission before them.

He also urged messengers to fight pride, practice self-control, show patience, and love one another in a way consistent with the Gospel.

All in all, what I loved best about the SBC annual meeting in Orlando was when I met with many of you to hear your hearts for God and your ministry. Know I am praying for you, and I look forward to seeing all God will do in our SBC and in your church.

Thanks for listening in today, and may God bless you!