| We were excited to announce last week that the Baptist Times is resuming publication. The Global Independent Baptist Fellowship made an overwhelming show of support at the recent February meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, by committing the funds necessary to restart the magazine and provide the resources to make it more useful than ever. When I resigned as editor, I had lost neither passion nor vision for the publication. Bible Baptist Church in Stillwater, Oklahoma, was subsidizing most of the labor, but the needs of our church and the impact on my health required a change. After going without the magazine for the last year, the leadership of Moderator Billy Ingram and the willingness of so many pastors created a fresh path forward once again.
I want to both ask and encourage you to consider resuming your bundle subscription, if you haven’t already. You will notice a moderate inflationary increase, but I trust you will find the benefits well worth the cost. Here are the benefits you are funding through bundles:Guests: The Baptist Times can demonstrate to guests who visit your church that you are part of something more significant than they ever imagined. They will discover the vibrant work of like-minded churches all over America and have to admit that you are far from being an isolated island. Quality: Presentation is a significant factor in our culture. Many think that our kinds of churches are outdated and backward. The Baptist Times will prove that our timeless message is fully relevant today by being a first-class publication in both appearance and in spirit. The Elijah Syndrome: God encouraged a depressed prophet by informing him there were 7,000 like him who had not bowed the knee to Baal. Pastors and members of churches like ours often feel like an extreme minority in their communities. The Baptist Times can remind them they are not alone and that countless others still take the same stand. Heartland News: Every issue will contain a section dedicated to keeping you up-to-date on what is happening at Heartland Baptist Bible College. Reports from meetings such as the Church Planting Conference and the Graduation Preaching Conference, as well as summaries of how God is using alumni around the world, will only increase our burden and excitement about all that God is doing at Heartland. Documenting Our History: The coming generations need to know at what price the faith came to them. The Baptist Times is our best chance to have a written record of our generation so we can document the unbroken chain of contenders for the faith. Digital Expansion: The core of the Baptist Times remains a printed publication. A movement whose identity is in a printed book from which we read and preach will benefit from keeping its flagship publication in the same form. We recognize, though, that there are benefits to expanding our digital presence, including the possibility of an app and podcasts. These will only be added as financial support allows. Church Planting: We desire to make the Baptist Times the premier church planting magazine in America. Much is happening in church planting in our movement, and these pioneers need our support. We want to be an informative resource for what is happening in these baby churches and report on church planting conferences around the nation, such as the one at Heartland Baptist Bible College. A Missions Cause: By subscribing to bundles, you are providing a resource that helps accomplish each benefit listed above, not only for your church but for pastors, missionaries, and church members around the world. Few missions investments will reach into more places than the Baptist Times. Would you consider resubscribing to the Baptist Times? This is done by paying a monthly amount to receive six issues per year. The link below will show you the bundle prices and how to receive them. You can also use the link to let me know what would make the Baptist Times most useful to you and your church.
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