NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Nearly half of more than 1,000 Protestant churches polled by LifeWay Research in September indicated they are using Facebook as a ministry tool. The research arm of the Southern Baptist Convention publisher LifeWay Christian Resources said…
Pastors serve inner-city community on MLK holiday
DALLAS—About 20 Dallas-area pastors used the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday to minister to an inner-city neighborhood. Pastors helped distribute 2,000 bowls of chili during a Martin Luther King holiday mission emphasis in inner-city Dallas. (PHOTOS/Courtesy of Dallas Baptist Association)…
ABP managing editor departs
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Rob Marus has left his position as managing editor of Associated Baptist Press. David Wilkinson, ABP's executive director, said Marus' departure, effective Jan. 15, was an outgrowth of a "rigorous assessment" of the news organization's priorities…
Baptists work for peace, relief amid ethnic violence in India
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptist leaders called for global prayer for peacemaking efforts and for churches and communities affected by ethnic strife in northeast India. According to the Baptist World Alliance, the Garo Baptist Convention mobilized relief efforts to…
Seminary moving forward with plans to evict association
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has indicated in a second letter that it intends to pursue its claim to office space currently used by Tarrant Baptist Association, apparently because the association retains as a member a…
Westboro spokeswoman: Message, not messenger, the issue
NEW YORK (ABP) — A spokeswoman for Westboro Baptist Church said on national radio Jan. 17 that people should be less concerned about the group's presence near funerals of fallen soldiers than with their message that America faces God's judgment…
Church gives away new home
DEXTER, Mo. (ABP) — As the area's economy continued to decline, Missouri Baptist pastor Steve Easterwood asked himself, "What can our church do to help?" The church where Easterwood is senior pastor, responded, "Let's give away a house." First Baptist…
Tireless retirees help burned-out church rise from ashes
ATHENS, Texas (ABP) — One year after Lake Athens Baptist Church lost its building to arson — and the same week two young men received life sentences for burning a string of East Texas churches — —more than 30 Texas…
CBF leaders join in CCT response to King’s jail letter
ATLANTA (ABP) — Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal and Moderator-elect Colleen Burroughs have issued a historic letter in response to Martin Luther King Jr.’s 1963 “Letter from Birmingham Jail.” The statement responding to King’s letter emerged from the…
BJC’s Walker recognized for advancing religious liberty
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Baptist Joint Committee Executive Director J. Brent Walker was recognized Jan. 13 for his work advancing freedom of conscience and basic human rights for people of all faiths, traditions and cultures. BJC executive director Brent Walker…
Missouri Baptists begin search for new leader
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board met in special session on Jan. 14 and appointed a subcommittee that will recommend members of an executive director search committee. The information was released in a press statement following…
Seminary gives association six months to vacate property
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary notified Tarrant Baptist Association before Christmas it had six months to vacate its offices on the edge of the seminary campus. The seminary asserted the association was in violation of its…