FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist minority in the South Caucasus country of Azerbaijan continues to face run-ins with police. In the latest, reported by the Baptist World Alliance April 2, officials charged three Baptists with “illegally spreading Christianity…
Former Baptist pastor indicted on murder charge
WACO, Texas (ABP) — A former pastor of Baptist churches in Texas was indicted March 25 on a charge that he murdered his wife three years ago. A McLennan County grand jury alleged that Matt Dee Baker, 37, "intentionally or…
Former Baptist pastor indicted on murder charge
(Editor's Note: This story was revised Sunday, April 5, to correct and clarify an earlier version published April 3.) Matt Baker was booked under arrest March 26. WACO, Texas (ABP) — A former pastor of Baptist churches in Texas was…
Baptist songwriter William Reynolds dies
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — William Reynolds, long-time Southern Baptist musician and author of popular hymns including “Share His Love” and “People to People,” died March 28. Reynolds, 88, worked 25 years in the church-music department of the Sunday School Board…
Texas textbook decisions on science standards have national implications
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — More than two centuries after his birth and nearly 150 years after his groundbreaking On the Origin of Species was published, Charles Darwin is still a controversial character in Texas. And the latest battle over his…
Coalition takes aim at reducing domestic, global poverty
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than 1,000 faith leaders and activists are expected to descend on Washington this month in what planners say is one of largest and most diverse coalitions ever to fight against domestic and global poverty. Jim Wallis,…
Baptist newspapers adapt to changing industry
DALLAS (ABP) — Hard times have fallen on the newspaper industry, and the Baptist journalism world isn't being spared. Recently the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Convention sent out a letter announcing it is ceasing publication of the Utah-Idaho Southern Baptist Witness,…
Mo. appeals court refuses to rehear convention suit against Windermere
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A Missouri appeals panel announced March 31 that it will not re-hear the Missouri Baptist Convention’s argument against Windermere Baptist Conference Center, nor will it transfer the case to the state’s highest court. Convention officials…
Philip Wise, pastor active in moderate Baptist life, dies
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Philip Wise, a leader in moderate Baptist life who helped pave the way for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's becoming a member of the Baptist World Alliance, died March 30, less than a year after being diagnosed…
Philip Wise, pastor active in moderate Baptist life, dies
Philip Wise, a longtime pastor active in the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist World Alliance, died less than a year after being diagnosed with metastatic melanoma.BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Philip Wise, a leader in moderate Baptist life who helped pave…
Baptist church, pastor minister after shooting at N.C. nursing home
Thomas Herndon is pastor of First Baptist Church in Carthage, N.C., and chaplain of the Carthage Police Department. (PHOTO/Steve DeVane)CARTHAGE, N.C. (ABP) — First Baptist Church in Carthage, N.C., designed its fellowship hall to be used in a disaster. But…
State Dept. reveals predecessors’ designations of freedom violators
WASHINGTON (ABP) — More than two months after George W. Bush left the White House and Condoleezza Rice left the State Department, the agency has revealed its list of the world’s worst religious-freedom violators. The big news is that nothing…