MINA, Nigeria (ABP) — Easter Sunday turned violent in two cities in Nigeria’s northern state of Niger, when young people presumed to be fundamentalist Muslims burned churches in Gwada, while Christian young people in the state capital of Mina defended…
Former SBC president Franklin Paschall dies
Franklin Paschall was pastor of First Baptist Church in Nashville 1956-1983 and SBC president 1966-68. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Two past presidents of the Southern Baptist Convention paid tribute to a third — Franklin Paschall, longtime pastor of First Baptist…
Deadly tornadoes mar Easter weekend in Tennessee, Arkansas
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) — Mother Nature cast a pall over Easter weekend in Mena, Ark., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., two towns wracked by violent thunderstorms. On April 13 the National Weather Service upgraded Murfreesboro's Good Friday tornado that killed two and…
Deadly tornadoes mar Easter weekend in Tennessee, Arkansas
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) — Mother Nature cast a pall over Easter weekend in Mena, Ark., and Murfreesboro, Tenn., two towns wracked by severe weather. On April 13, the National Weather Service upgraded the Good Friday tornado that had killed two…
County judge dismisses second suit against Missouri Baptist institution
CAMDENTON, Mo. (ABP) — A county judge has dismissed a Missouri Baptist Convention lawsuit against Windermere Baptist Conference Center and several financial institutions and individuals. The move comes just weeks after another blow to the convention’s efforts to regain control over…
Bond reduced for former Baptist pastor charged with wife’s murder
WACO, Texas (ABP) — A Waco judge on April 9 agreed to reduce bail to $250,000 for a former Texas Baptist minister charged with the 2006 murder of his wife. Determined to avoid a media circus surrounding the pending trial…
Bond reduced for former Baptist pastor charged with wife’s murder
WACO, Texas (ABP) — A former Texas Baptist minister charged with the 2006 murder of his wife was released from jail April 10 on $250,000 bond. A Waco judge on April 9 agreed to reduce bail from $500,000. Determined to…
Alliance of Baptists streamlines staff
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Alliance of Baptists has restructured its staff to cut costs and adjust to a leadership change. The Alliance's April 17-19 convocation in Charlotte, N.C., will feature a farewell banquet for Stan Hastey, who retires June 30…
Alabama Baptist pastor found dead in church
Pastor Rodney Bowling (center) celebrated paying off money borrowed for church property with a note-burning ceremony. (Gracepointbaptist.org)SOMERVILLE, Ala. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist pastor was found dead April 7 in his Alabama church, apparently after suffering a heart attack. According…
Rick Warren says he did not campaign for Proposition 8
{youtube}7o4QqGbQmU0{/youtube} LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — Rick Warren is drawing heat for telling CNN's Larry King in an April 7 broadcast that he did not endorse Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage that California voters approved last year. The appearance was…
Reconciliation, justice among Baptist Border Crossing themes
LIBERTY — Speakers challenged nearly 1,000 ministers and laypeople from several Baptist denominations and midwestern states to become agents of reconciliation, collaboration and justice during the Baptist Border Crossing, April 2-4 at Pleasant Valley Baptist Church in Liberty. David Coffey,…
Vermont first state to approve gay marriage legislatively
MONTPELIER, Vt. (ABP) — On April 7, Vermont became the first jurisdiction in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage through legislative means. The decision comes less than five days after the Iowa Supreme Court unanimously overturned a law banning…