SBC This Week

In this episode, Laura Erlanson and Brandon Porter talk about Johnny Hunt's appeal of the dismissal of his suit against the SBC, how disaster relief workers are helping those facing loss and devastation in Indiana and the Northwest, the promotion of a Southern Baptist chaplain to high rank in the U.S. Navy, and the future of religion in the U.S. in a discussion with Thomas Kidd.

In this episode, Laura Erlanson and Brandon Porter discuss the dismissal of Johnny Hunt's case against the SBC, how Send Relief is responding to a major earthquake in Colombia, abortion-related ballot initiatives this fall, the case for church membership, the Kickoff Rally for the 2027 SBC Annual Meeting & Pastors' Conference, a new state leader in Alabama, and much more.

Laura Erlanson and Brandon Porter talk about the devastation and relief efforts connected to wildfires in the Pacific Northwest and how GuideStone is encouraging users to beware of a dangerous scam. They also discuss:
- How Cooperative Program giving trended up in July
- A Lifeway Research story on the positive effects of small group participation in spiritual growth
- The time Christian comedian Jerry Clower was left speechless
  

In this episode:
- Send Relief Sunday is August
- Guidestone trustees meet, increase Mission:Dignity honorarium
- Fourth staff member arrested at Pawleys Island Community Church in Myrtle Beach, SC
- Lifeway's Black church week wraps up at Ridgecrest
- College students complete 8 week summer internship with the International Mission Board
- An interview with Shane Pruitt and Shelly Melia on reaching Gen Alpha

A South Carolina abuse-related case shocks Myrtle Beach, SC, as multiple arrests are made, churches and state conventions work together to assist those dealing with flooding across the US, Congress allows funding to Planned Parenthood to resume, a Texas judge dismisses a religious liberty case against Second Houston, an interview with Lifeway Worship's Kirkland and much more in this episode.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson highlight Send Relief's work in Venezuela, remember South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham's Southern Baptist roots, reflect on the reaction to the SBC resolution on antisemitism, hear from new Lifeway President Ryan Blackwell, and learn how a Sunday School student remembered his teacher, Annie Armstrong.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk with Southwestern Seminary President David Dockery, remember how Southern Baptists celebrated the nation's 200th anniversary as we celebrate the 250th, hear about a new DOJ study on religious liberty and celebrate NC Baptists marking 1,000 homes that have been restored following Hurricane Helene.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share how disabilities ministry advocate Joni Eareckson Tada has shared support for the recent SBC disability ministry initiatives, give details on who attended SBC26, highlight DR work and recent storms in Illinois, talk with new ERLC President Evan Lenow and hear how Southern Baptists played an integral role influencing public policy during wartime.

In this episode, Laura Erlanson and Brandon Porter give updates on SBC 26 Annual Meeting stories, talk with Southeastern Seminary President Danny Akin, and remember Explo '72, a youth evangelism event, featuring Bill Bright, Billy Graham, Johnny Cash and more.

In this episode we share the highlights from the SBC Annual Meeting June 9-10 in Orlando.

In this episode, Laura Erlanson and Brandon Porter share a preview of the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting, report on May 2026 Cooperative Program giving, discuss the proposed resolutions for the Annual Meeting, highlight the Disability Needs Task Force recommendation and share about Evan Lenow's preparation to lead the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share stories and themes as they head into the SBC Annual Meeting. They highlight a story on understanding the work of the Holy Spirit, discuss the need for digital decluttering, and Laura talks with SBC President Clint Pressley.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson highlight recent interviews with known SBC presidential candidates Willy Rice and Josh Powell, detail Albert Mohler's proposed amendment to the SBC Constitution, learn about a new strategy from the International Mission Board, hear annual meeting plans from SBC Executive Committee President Jeff Iorg and much more.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson interview South Carolina pastor Josh Powell, a potential nominee for president at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson interview Florida pastor Willy Rice, a potential for SBC president at the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share about the recent International Mission Board meeting, share about two potential nominees for 2nd vice president at the SBC Annual Meeting, give an overview of the exhibit halls and meeting at the SBC Annual Meeting, highlight a World Cup evangelistic resource from the North American Mission Board, talk with IMB President Paul Chitwood and much more.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share information and insight related to the 2025 Annual Church Profile report, encourage pastors to take the Guidestone/Lifeway compensation study, share about the recent North American Mission Board meeting, report the April 2026 Cooperative Program giving, and give details on increased baptisms in Wyoming and a sports outreach event in Utah and Idaho. Plus, we get an update on the 2026 SBC Annual Meeting from Jonathan Howe.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson detail a new report from the North American Mission Board with the highest totals of church plants since 2016. We hear about the passage of the Clergy Act in the U.S. House and how the Supreme Court protected a New Jersey pregnancy support center. We also have updates on state convention initiatives, including reaching the FIFA World Cup in Kansas City. Aaron Burgner stops by to highlight the 2026 SBC Pastors' Conference. 

April has been an eventful month for the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), marked by significant leadership changes and essential discussions surrounding child safety. In this post, we'll explore key updates, including the appointment of new entity presidents and the importance of Child Abuse Awareness Month.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk about Evan Lenow's call to lead the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, give updates from New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, report on the announced nomination of Craig Carlisle as 1st vice president at the SBC Annual Meeting and details about the 2026 SBC Pastors' Conference. Plus, we interview poet and author Malcolm Guite about imaginative apologetics. 

In this Easter weekend episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk about the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's candidate Evan Lenow, new initiatives at Midwestern Seminary, Baptist journalism changes in Mississippi and Arizona, Lee Merck's appointment to lead Dakota Baptists and a discussion with pastor and BP writer David Roach on the importance of Christ's ascension.

In this episode, we learn about the nomination of Stephen Pace to be the next president of Southeastern Seminary, receive an update from the recent Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission trustees' meeting, reflect on the faithfulness of Steve Gaines, discuss an upswing in Bible sales, and hear an interview with scientist Stephen Meyer about his new film The Story of Everything.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson highlight Church Planting Sunday and recent efforts to encourage African Americans to serve on the mission field, they discuss a religious liberty case between the city of Chicago and Moody Bible Institute, David Manner's retirement announcement at the Kansas0-Nebraska Baptist Convention (Church Forward) and they talk with a Kentucky pastor who is serving his church, lawmakers and legislative staff in Kentucky's General Assembly.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share how Memphis pastor Steve Gaines has entered hospice care in the midst of a battle with cancer, the search committee for the Woman's President Union presidential candidate, the 2026 SBC Resolutions Committee, a story on sports gambling as March Madness gears up, an interview on marriage with Steven Curtis and Mary Beth Chapman and how the 1960's hit song Hey, Paula! has roots to a Baptist college in Texas.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson cover the recent war between the U.S., Israel and Iran, the theological considerations of just war, the Annie Armstrong Easter Offering being underway, and Feb. 2026 Cooperative Program giving. Plus, a nostalgic look at SBC history with a fun story about 1963 bumper stickers.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk about the recent Forces for Good Summit aimed at equipping leaders in sexual abuse prevention and response, the recent Lifeway trustees meeting, state-level legislation aimed at protecting religious freedoms and limiting gender transition surgeries, and how the International Mission Board led efforts to take the Gospel to the Winter Olympics. 

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson report on the SBC Executive Committee meeting Feb. 16-17 in Nashville as they recommended a CP allocation budget update, approved recommendations from the Disability Ministry Task Force, launched a new trustee training course, and heard the results of a recent survey on the Cooperative Program. They also share the names of three potential candidates to serve as SBC registration secretary and a talk about a new role for Vance Pitman at the North American Mission Board.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk about how Southern Baptists are making an impact at the Olympics in Italy. They share details of the Lord's blessing on the church's work in unexpected places and reports on the North American Mission Board's growth from their recent trustee meeting. They also pay tribute to outspoken pastor Wiley Drake, a beloved figure at SBC Annual Meetings for decades, and discuss a unique way one Southern Baptist leader chose to honor his wife.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share about the IMB Sending Celebration and trustees' meeting, leadership processes at the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission and Truett McConnell University, and the announcement of Josh Powell's potential nomination for SBC president, and an interview with South Carolina pastor Hunter Clamp as he intentionally serves in a rural context.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson discuss the deep impact of Winter Storm Fern and how Southern Baptist Disaster Relief has responded, the International Mission Board's Missions College, the North American Mission Board's women's evangelism conference in Puerto Rico, how believers stood against expanded gambling in West Memphis and they talk with Tara Dew about finding peace in Psalm 23.

This week, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's Miles Mullin about the Jan. 18 disruption at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn., related to immigration law enforcement in the Minneapolis area. They share how persecution continues in Nigeria, give updates from the Woman's Missionary Union board meeting, talk about the kickoff of a new seminary semester, and discuss how Southern Baptists' views on abortion have shifted since the 1970s.

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson are back to talk about how Minneapolis churches are facing tensions around immigration and deportation, how two U.S. Supreme Court cases could great affect male and female athletics, a Lifeway Research report on how many churches opened and closed in 2024, SBC leadership transitions, an AI powered app from the North American Mission Board that trains people to share the Gospel and how generosity rings true for one Southern Baptist woman. 

Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson highlight the case against the SBC heard this week in Tennessee's Supreme Court, how Cooperative Program giving slightly declined in December 2025, the method the International Mission Board uses to assess unreached people groups, and how demand is up for Lifeway camps in 2026. Plus we hear from author and speaker Jen Wilkin on a new study in the book of Joshua and tips for studying the Bible in a new year.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson recap the top 10 stories across the SBC in 2025, talk with Southern Seminary's Thomas Schreiner about the Christmas story and share a heartwarming story about a family reunited after being torn apart.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share how 1,000 pastors received a unique view of Israel, a summary of seminary graduations, a special grand marshal at a recent North Carolina Christmas parade and Southwestern Seminary's Joe Crider shares about the history of well-known Christmas carols.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson give convention related financial and legal updates, learn about the generosity of churchgoers during the Christmas season, talk about dealing with grief and hear about the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering from IMB President Paul Chitwood.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson celebrate thousands of salvations at a Harvest Crusade near the site of Charlie Kirk's assassination in Utah, discuss Lifeway Research's 2025 State of Theology reports, consider how churches can compassionately communicate their benevolence policy, get a report on Gateway Seminary's impact in the western U.S., reveal the latest ultrasound placement in the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission's Across State Lines project and hear about a Southern Baptist leader who made a lasting impact on race relations.

In this episode of SBC This Week, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson talk about recent leadership changes at Lifeway Worship, the retirement announcement of New Orleans pastor Fred Luter, recent public policy initiatives by the ERLC, the upcoming Deaflympics in Tokyo, pro-life initiatives, the opening of IMB Missions College registration, the ETC celebration of the anniversary of the Nicene Creed, disaster relief efforts in Jamaica, and the significance of state conventions and the Cooperative Program.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson discuss Send Relief’s aid to Jamaica following a devastating hurricane, how churches are evaluating their discipleship efforts, a flurry of state convention meetings, a Veterans Day interview with a retired military leader, and a history moment focusing on a prisoner of war who turned to his faith in the midst of hardship.

In this episode, Brandon Porter and Laura Erlanson share how Send Relief is helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Melissa, they discuss Lifeway Research's finding based on the 2025 Annual Church Profile, IMB's Sending Celebration in Texas, Willy Rice's announcement as a potential candidate for SBC president at the 2026 Annual Meeting, the opening of registration for Crossover Orlando, the nomination portal are open for the lead post at Lifeway and Southeastern Seminary and how a Southern Baptist musician impacted the White House and and the nation in 1980. Thanks for listening!