GARLAND, Texas (ABP) — Sylvia Vaughan began teaching a first-grade Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, in 1952, and she’s never looked back. “I’ve never thought of stopping. I never get frustrated with it. Even on the…
Layman’s vision enables church to provide ministerial internship
MONT BELVIEU, Texas (ABP) — Twenty-five years ago, Frank Phillips felt God burdened his heart with desire to make it a little easier for people who feel a call to ministry to see it become reality. About five years ago,…
Unsung Heroes
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — Tapping passion and giftedness—and an understanding of every job as ministry— may be the best way to find willing workers to fill those unglamorous and least-recognized posts in church life. A passionate beginning Passion springs from…
Custodian keeps church neat and clean for four decades
PADUCAH, Texas (ABP) — If cleanliness is next to godliness, Gilbert Mercado wants First Baptist Church in Paducah, Texas, to be the most godly church around. He’s been the custodian there more than 40 years. Mercado started cleaning the church…
Computer system works behind the scenes to help churches meet needs
DALLAS (ABP) — Dallas Baptist Association recently improved its online CityServe system to link community needs, church resources and volunteers. Congregations and individuals who use the upgraded online resource may appreciate the way the association has made it easier to…
Former Gardner-Webb prof acquitted of prostitution charge
KINGS MOUNTAIN, N.C. (ABP) – A Baptist pastor and former Gardner-Webb University professor was found not guilty of misdemeanor solicitation of prostitution July 14. Clinton Feemster Clinton Feemster, 59, pastor of Mount Zion Baptist Church in Kings Mountain, N.C., who…
Nigerian Baptist head says government unable to control radical sect
IBADAN, Nigeria (ABP) – The head of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said July 13 that the government is losing credibility over its inability to control a militant Islamic group responsible for bombings of public buildings including police stations and Christian…
Wallis, Land disagree about deficit causes
WASHINGTON (ABP) – Jim Wallis of Sojourners and Richard Land of the Southern Baptist Convention disagreed about causes of the deficit in an online video debating morality of the federal budget. In a video posted at bloggingheads.tv, Wallis voiced principles…
Church faces ouster for allowing pro-gay group to meet
OWENSBORO, Ky. (ABP) – A Kentucky Baptist church faces ouster from its local association for providing meeting space for a group opposed to discrimination against gays. The credentials committee of Daviess-McLean Baptist Association is recommending expulsion of the Journey Fellowship…