OSLO, Norway (ABP) – Police in Azerbaijan raided a Baptist church in June in the port city of Sumgait, and a judge warned the congregation’s leader that he would be fined for a second offense of meeting for worship without…
U.S. Baptists provide funds for drought-ravaged East Africa
ATLANTA (ABP) – Baptist groups in the United States have sent funds to provide food for drought victims in East Africa. The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship sent an initial $5,000 to aid programs for refugees pouring into Kenya from Somalia. Food…
BWA expresses solidarity with Baptists in Norway
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) – The head of the Baptist World Alliance has sent a letter of solidarity to Baptists in Norway in response to recent mass killings in that country that claimed at least 76 lives. Neville Callam, general…
Some troubled by ‘Christian’ label for Norwegian shooter
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (ABP) – Religious conservatives in the United States went on the defensive after media described the suspect in last week’s shooting rampage in Norway as a Christian fundamentalist. Christian Broadcasting Network veteran Dale Hurd called usage of…
Former British Baptist pastor sentenced for sexual abuse
FAIRFAX, Va. (ABP) – A former British Baptist pastor was sentenced July 22 to eight years in prison for sexually abusing two boys while visiting a family friend in the United States. Robert Dando, former senior minister at Worcester Park…
SBC leader criticizes Senate Democrats
WASHINGTON (ABP) – A Southern Baptist policy expert criticized a July 22 Senate vote rejecting a House bill to cut spending and require a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution. Senators voted 51-46 along party lines against a “cut, cap and…
China Christian Council confirms continued ties with Virginia Baptists
SHANGHAI, China (ABP) — A leader of the China Christian Council — the official organization of Protestant churches in China — affirmed the group’s continuing commitment to strong ties with the Baptist General Association of Virginia during a meeting with…
US Baptists building bridges in China through basketball clinics
XI’AN, China (ABP) — Coordinating their efforts through the Virginia Baptist Mission Board and the local YMCA, a group from Virginia and both Carolinas led basketball clinics in July for youth in the central Chinese city of Xi’an (pronounced She-awn)….
Hall announces retirement; Reyes named Buckner CEO
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Ken Hall, chief executive officer of Buckner International since 1994, announced his retirement from the Dallas-based organization during a July 22 meeting of the board of trustees. His retirement is effective April 30, 2012, when President…