Baptist21

Words Have Meanings

Ben Lacey — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 17:07:33 +0000

A Glossary for the Confused, the Concerned, and the Convictional BY BEN LACEY & BEN ROBIN Words are not neutral. They carry ideas and histories, convictions and consequences. To use a word carelessly is not merely an intellectual failure—often, it is a moral one. In the life of an association like the Southern Baptist Convention, imprecise language has fueled unnecessary ...

The post Words Have Meanings first appeared on Baptist21.

Christian, Your Speech May Be Free in America — It’s Just Not Free in Heaven

Ben Lacey — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 15:29:33 +0000

BY BEN LACEY A little over a year ago, I deleted my X account. I told myself it was because of what I was seeing: Christians speaking about other people with contempt. Cruelty dressed up as conviction. Snark masquerading as prophetic boldness. Brothers and sisters reducing image-bearers to objects of public ridicule. Thankfully, my timeline was clean. I never posted ...

The post Christian, Your Speech May Be Free in America — It’s Just Not Free in Heaven  first appeared on Baptist21.

Ben Lacey Named NEW Executive Director of B21

Baptist21 — Tue, 05 May 2026 15:06:07 +0000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wake Forest, NC – May 5, 2026 Baptist21, a voice for Southern Baptists in the 21st century, is pleased to announce the appointment of Pastor Ben Lacey as its next Executive Director, effective May 1, 2026. A trusted and emerging leader within the SBC, Lacey brings the theological clarity, cooperative spirit, and pastoral wisdom needed to help ...

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Next Generation Discipleship from Day One

Guest Writer — Wed, 15 Apr 2026 14:52:00 +0000

By David Michael It was a delightful meeting with two ministry leaders who were six months into the launch of a new church plant. They expressed much excitement about the growth and impact they were experiencing in such a short time. Their team planned to begin children’s ministry in nine months and asked me to help with preparations. This is ...

The post Next Generation Discipleship from Day One first appeared on Baptist21.

B21 Guide to SBC 2025

Kevin Simmons — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 22:12:39 +0000

B21 has you covered for all things related to the 2025 SBC Annual Meeting in Dallas, TX.

The post B21 Guide to SBC 2025 first appeared on Baptist21.

Set the Groundwork for Church Plant Protection from Day 1

Guest Writer — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 15:30:00 +0000

Cody Mankin, Director, GuideStone Agency Sales & Business Development A church plant ushers in an air of excitement and anticipation. Unfamiliar faces transform into meaningful relationships, event calendars begin the framework for fellowship and hope for a community unfolds. What could bring this progress to a halt? An injury. A lawsuit. A fire. A data breach. A proactive approach to ...

The post Set the Groundwork for Church Plant Protection from Day 1 first appeared on Baptist21.

3 High-Risk Property Areas You Must Consider for Church Safety

Kevin Simmons — Wed, 11 Dec 2024 15:17:29 +0000

By Megan Cuzen, Director of Agency Customer Experience at GuideStone Some things don’t mix — wired microphones and baptistries, concrete surfaces and playgrounds, and poor lighting in parking lots. High-risk areas of your church demand extra attention to protect your ministry and people from injuries, crimes and lawsuits. Maximize church safety with a closer look at steps you can take ...

The post 3 High-Risk Property Areas You Must Consider for Church Safety first appeared on Baptist21.

What is Faith-based Investing?

Guest Writer — Wed, 24 Jul 2024 17:43:13 +0000

By Chad Bailey Seven out of 10 Americans say their personal values guide their investment choices.1 More investors are now seeking out investment strategies and products that reflect their values and what’s important to them. God has called us to be good stewards of the resources entrusted to us — including our time, talent and treasure. Since our faith guides how we ...

The post What is Faith-based Investing? first appeared on Baptist21.

B21 Guide to SBC 2024

Baptist21 — Fri, 07 Jun 2024 18:59:38 +0000

B21 has you covered for all things related to the 2024 SBC Annual Meeting in Indianapolis. Note: Our B21 Panel will run the morning of June 11th at the Indiana Roof Ballroom with doors opening at 6:30AM. This event is SOLD OUT.

The post B21 Guide to SBC 2024 first appeared on Baptist21.

Start Well, Stay Well, Finish Well with GuideStone at the SBC

Guest Writer — Thu, 06 Jun 2024 15:09:21 +0000

Gathering together for the SBC Annual Meeting is our big family reunion. And like any good family reunion, we give hugs to those we love and pick up right where we left off. We extend cheery welcomes to the newest family members, explaining all the quirks of certain personalities and traditions. And, of course, we’ll be praying for our time ...

The post Start Well, Stay Well, Finish Well with GuideStone at the SBC first appeared on Baptist21.