First Baptist Church Pastor David Breckenridge (left) and Union University professor and church member Bobby Rogers drive AIDS memorial markers into the church's front lawn following the morning worship service Nov. 22. (First Baptist Church/Skip Howard) MEMPHIS, Tenn (ABP) —…
Abuse charge against worship leader rocks prominent Fla. church
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (ABP) — A Florida Baptist church known for its sometimes-provocative efforts to entice first-time visitors is receiving unwanted attention after the arrest of a staff member on molestation charges. The Coral Springs Police Department arrested Russell Dion…
Raymond Coppenger, legendary Ouachita professor, dies at 100
ARKADELPHIA, Ark. (ABP) — Longtime Ouachita Baptist University philosophy professor Raymond Coppenger died Nov. 24 following a bout with pneumonia, according to the Arkadelphia, Ark., school. He turned 100 in September. Raymond Coppenger Coppenger joined the Ouachita faculty in 1954….
Baptist state conventions feeling effects of economy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Feeling the effects of a bad economy, several Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated state and regional conventions reduced budgets in annual meetings, held in recent weeks across the nation. The Baptist General Convention of Texas, which includes 4,500…
Bucking national trend, Virginia Baptists increase 2010 budget
Outgoing BGAV president Jeff Bloomer leads messengers in voting during the annual meeting. FREDERICKSBURG, Va. (ABP) — Despite a shaky economy, Virginia Baptists in their recent annual meeting adopted a 2010 budget of $14 million — about 1.4 percent larger…
For one Texas woman, love for teaching kindergartners lasts 60 years
DALLAS (ABP) — Some things have changed a bit since 1949 at Park Cities Baptist Church in Dallas. Then, the church met in a house. Today, its 9,000 members fill a mammoth sanctuary in multiple worship services. One thing hasn’t…
Ending hunger statewide by 2015 is subject of Baylor summit
Participants sign a poster as part of the Baylor Hunger Summit (Baylor photo) WACO, Texas (ABP) — Federal, state and local leaders met at a Baptist college Nov. 19 to begin a discussion that they hope will lead to actions…
Advocate believes Christian-run prison would be constitutional
DALLAS (ABP) — A Baptist minister hoping to open the nation's first faith-based prison says he is confident it will pass constitutional muster. Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Nov. 18 saying…
Wiley Drake lifts call for ‘imprecatory prayer’ against President Obama
BUENA PARK, Calif. (ABP) — A former Southern Baptist Convention officer who made headlines in June when he said on national radio that he was praying for Barack Obama to die now says he wants to see the president live…
Group says proposed Okla. Christian prison likely unconstitutional
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group says a faith-based prison being proposed in Oklahoma would likely be unconstitutional. Americans United for Separation of Church and State wrote the Oklahoma Department of Corrections Nov. 18 advising the state not to…
LifeWay’s ‘Bible Navigator X’ reaches out to video gamers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Attention video gamers: The Bible is coming to an Xbox near you. LifeWay Christian Resources recently announced plans to introduce an Xbox 360 application featuring the complete Holman Christian Standard Bible. Due out in December, "Bible…
ACLU sues Tenn. school district for repeatedly promoting religion
ASHLAND CITY, Tenn. (ABP) — Tennessee's chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit Nov. 16 accusing the Cheatham County Board of Education of ignoring more than four decades of court decisions interpreting the separation of church and…