WASHINGTON (ABP) — At least seven Baptists are among Time magazine's list of the 25 most influential evangelicals in America. The magazine devotes the cover of its Feb. 7 issue to the subject of evangelical Protestants in America and their…
California Baptists assist victims of floods, mudslides
LOS ANGELES (ABP) — California Baptist disaster-relief teams were busy in January aiding flood and mudslide victims after three back-to-back rainstorms soaked normally dry Southern California. For more than a week, a disaster-relief crew worked out of a kitchen site…
Baptist family describes life as undocumented aliens
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Ernesto serves as a deacon at a Hispanic Baptist church in Austin. His wife, Maria, works in various ministries at the church. And like 1.1 million other people in Texas and more than 9.3 million in…
To churches, immigration is about more than policy
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Immigration is not just a political issue — it's about churches and ministry, said Suzii Paynter, director of citizenship and public policy for the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission. “So many of our…
What can churches do legally to help illegal immigrants?
Q. Can a church get in trouble for helping an undocumented immigrant? A. It depends on the kind of help offered. A church is free to provide basic benevolence services — food, clothing, shelter and medical help — to anyone….
Dallas Willard says false gospel leads to nominal Christians
IRVING, Texas (ABP) — By teaching forgiveness without discipleship, many churches are distorting Christ's message and creating “nominal Christians,” according to author and professor Dallas Willard. Pastors are preaching alternative “gospels” that do not reflect the true meaning of Christ's…
Millard Fuller fired from Habitat as dispute with board re-erupts
AMERICUS, Ga. (ABP) — Millard and Linda Fuller were immediately dismissed Jan. 31 from their jobs with Habitat for Humanity International, the worldwide Christian housing ministry they founded and led for 29 years. The organization's executive committee charged the Fullers…
U.N. report blames Sudan government for Darfur crisis, calls for prosecution
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While stopping short of labeling the humanitarian crisis in the Sudan's Darfur region “genocide,” a long-awaited United Nations report lays blame on the Sudanese government for creating the crisis. The report, released Jan. 31 by a five-member…
Black Baptists hold historic meeting, unite on social, political issues
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Leaders of four historically black Baptist denominations closed a landmark joint meeting Jan. 28 by issuing a statement on several social and political issues affecting the African-American community. Meeting in Nashville over a four-day period, officials of…