WICHITA FALLS, Texas (ABP) — Cheryl Ritchie did not wake up one morning and say, “I’m going to collect school supplies for the students.” But she did wake up to the needs of those in her own small city, she…
Blessing Schools: Program makes dreams a reality for poor Texas kids
Ali Piran, a lecturer and laboratory coordinator in the physics department at Stephen F. Austin State University, teaches students about measurement as a part of his life-lessons class. NACOGDOCHES, Texas (ABP) — A church-based program in a poor part of…
Blessing Schools: Baptist mentors seek to change children’s lives
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Joan Porter has 20 grandchildren, but after meeting 9-year-old Jasmin Sherman through Kids Hope USA, she was happy to make that 21. “She calls me grandmother,” Porter said. “She says: ‘You’re not just a mentor…
Torture opponents renew calls for inquest after release of CIA report
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious anti-torture groups said the Aug. 24 release of a partially declassified 2004 CIA report on treatment of terrorism suspects justified their critique of Bush administration policies on detainee treatment. But they also said the decision by…
Virginia youth minister faces additional charges
YORK, Va. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist youth pastor arrested Aug. 13 on sex charges involving a teenage girl now faces more than 30 additional charges involving a second teenager. Police originally charged Jack Duffer, 40, youth minister at Seaford…
Black Baptist group elects new leader
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (ABP) — A New Jersey pastor who formerly worked for American Baptist Churches USA has been chosen to lead one of America's largest black Baptist denominations. Walter Parrish III, senior pastor of Union Baptist Church in Montclair, N.J.,…
Black Baptist group elects new leader
Walter Parrish III takes over Jan. 1 as general secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. MONTCLAIR, N.J. (ABP) — A New Jersey pastor who formerly worked for American Baptist Churches USA has been chosen to lead one of…
Texas governor signs landmark human-trafficking legislation
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Texas has become the first state in the nation to provide assistance to domestic human trafficking victims with a landmark law that Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed into law Aug. 20. Among the groups that helped…
Baylor, Buckner partnership plants seeds of hope in Kenya
Rose Wasilwa, regional director in Kitale for Buckner Kenya; Neal Knighton of Buckner International; and Katy Reynolds participate in the dedication of the Reynolds Center in Kitale, Kenya (Buckner photo). KITALE, Kenya (ABP) — One family’s desire to honor its…
Lutherans open door to gay clergy, agree to disagree on sexuality
MINNEAPOLIS (ABP) — Delegates to the national assembly of America’s largest Lutheran denomination voted by a wide margin Aug. 21 to open the door to allowing clergy in committed same-sex relationships to serve openly. The vote came just two days…
Baptist schools ranked in U.S. News and World Report
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)–Forty-two member institutions of the International Association of Baptist Colleges and Universities have been listed in the 2009 rankings of America's Best Colleges by U.S. News and World Report and Forbes.com. U.S. News and World Report, which began…
Former pastor, sons charged with Ponzi scheme
SULLIVAN, Ind. (ABP) — A former preacher and his three sons are behind bars and charged with stealing millions of dollars from Christians led to believe their investments were being used to build churches. Vaughn Reeves, 65, and sons Chip,…