New promotional resources available for Global Hunger Relief

By Brandon Elrod

ALPHARETTA, Ga. (BP) — Every year, Southern Baptists give an offering for Global Hunger Relief to meet crisis hunger needs around the world through projects aimed at sharing the gospel. Global Hunger Relief released several new resources this month designed to help churches promote the offering and plan for Global Hunger Sunday on August 25.

“I’m inviting churches to empower local churches around the world through Global Hunger Relief,” said Send Relief President Bryant Wright. “On Global Hunger Sunday, Southern Baptist Christians can alleviate hunger in the name of Jesus. Those generous gifts will make an impact all around the world through sustainable, gospel-centered projects.”

There are dozens of ways local churches utilize the funds — from teaching bread-making classes in Venezuela, to providing school lunches in Thailand, to raising chickens in Mozambique. Receipts from the offering are primarily distributed internationally, with 80% used for hunger projects around the world while the remaining 20% are designated for domestic hunger needs.

The resources Send Relief has created include an “International Dish Dash” matching game, ministry curriculum and coloring pages for children. There is also a new seven-day prayer guide, bulletin inserts, posters and other print and digital collateral that churches can use to encourage their people to give to Global Hunger Relief.

To learn more about how churches and individuals can get involved, visit GlobalHungerRelief.org.

ERLC appoints Gregg R. Allison as senior research fellow

By ERLC Staff

NASHVILLE (BP) — The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) has hired Gregg R. Allison to serve as a senior fellow with an emphasis on matters related to marriage and family.

Allison is professor of Christian theology at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (SBTS) in Louisville, Kentucky, and secretary of the Evangelical Theological Society. He holds a doctorate in systematic theology from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School.

He is author of 15 books, including “Historical Theology: An Introduction to Christian Doctrine,” “Sojourners and Strangers: The Doctrine of the Church” (with Andreas Köstenberger), “The Holy Spirit; Roman Catholic Theology and Practice: An Evangelical Assessment” and “Embodiment: Living as Whole People in a Fractured World.” He regularly teaches on these and other topics in churches, conferences and educational institutions.

“Could it be true that gender and sexuality have risen to the most controversial and thus important issues of our day?” Allison said. “As my research and writing interests focus on the nature of women and men, the complementarity of the sexes, human embodiment, transgenderism and the like, I am thrilled to join the ERLC as the senior fellow for these pressing matters. I look forward to working with a great team of colleagues to explore biblical, theological, philosophical and historical foundations that will provide guidance for Christians and churches facing these issues today.”

Allison joins the following senior fellows hired part time by the ERLC: Nathan Finn, focusing on religious liberty; RaShan Frost, focusing on human dignity issues and Jason Thacker, focusing on pro-life and other bioethical issues on the research team.

Allison’s appointment as senior fellow falls in conjunction with the ERLC’s announcement of its incoming cohort of scholars for its Research Institute. The Research Institute provides collaborative space for Southern Baptist researchers and academics, and its members serve as a resource on theological and policy matters in their areas of expertise.

The ERLC Research Institute is composed of experts from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. 

New Fellows include:

• Dan Darling – director of the Land Center for Cultural Engagement for Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (SWBTS)
• Kristen Ferguson – associate dean of educational effectiveness and director of online education for Gateway Seminary
• Matt Martens – partner and co-chair of the Securities Litigation and Enforcement Group at WilmerHale
• Lauren McAfee – founder of Stand for Life
• Brooke Medina – vice president of communications, John Locke Foundation
• Andrew Spencer – associate editor for books at The Gospel Coalition
• Ryan Tucker – senior counsel and director of the Center for Christian Ministries, Alliance Defending Freedom
• Benjamin Quinn – associate professor of theology and history of ideas and director of L. Russ Bush Center for Faith and Culture

“We are thrilled to add a scholar of Dr. Allison’s caliber to our research team as a senior fellow focusing on marriage and family,” said Miles Mullin, ERLC director of research and vice president. “Gregg has a deep and abiding love for Jesus Christ and His church, an unwavering commitment to Baptist beliefs and a phenomenal intellect. Combined with his strong work ethic and sincere humility, these factors have made him one of the best theologians in our convention. Thankfully, he has applied his gifts to engaging questions of gender and sexuality in ways that are biblically faithful and relevant to our current cultural challenges in those arenas. His addition will be both helpful to our work here at the ERLC and to our SBC churches.”

A full list of fellows can be found online.