DALLAS (ABP) — A “strong consensus” has developed regarding the appropriate role of religion in public schools, a church-state legal expert said. Oliver Thomas, a constitutional lawyer who helped draft the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, spoke during a recent “Finding…
Another anonymous donor gives multimillion-dollar gift to CBF
ATLANTA (ABP) — An anonymous donor has made a $5 million contribution to the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, designated for global missions. It is the fourth anonymous multimillion-dollar donation to CBF missions in the last three years, and the second this…
Houston megachurch elects pastor after 3-year search
HOUSTON (ABP) — After a three-year search, First Baptist Church of Houston, one of the largest congregations in the country, elected a 33-year-old college minister as pastor. Gregg Matte, who leads a ministry to students at Texas A&M University, was…
Flood can’t damage widow’s faith, courage
PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico (ABP) — As the relentless flood poured through the bedroom windows, Romona Juarez calmed her terrified grandson with the story of Noah's Ark. When she stood in the kitchen sink and the water – thick with silt…
Study suggests evangelical opposition to gays doesn’t extend to amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A landmark study of American evangelical Christians released April 13 determined, among several noteworthy findings, that evangelicals oppose gay marriage but are lukewarm in their support for a constitutional amendment to ban it. The survey of more…
Mexico, Texas Baptists jointly aid victims of Piedras Negras flood
PIEDRAS NEGRAS, Mexico (ABP) — A killer flood shattered the heart of Villa de Fuente Sunday evening, April 4. In the days that followed Mexico and Texas Baptists worked side-by-side in the Piedras Negras neighborhood to get it beating again….
Southwestern elects trustees as deans, plans to open undergraduate college
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have elected two of their own board members as deans and agreed to create an undergraduate college on the Fort Worth campus. During their April 6 meeting, trustees elected their…
Judge won’t amend lawsuit against Missouri agencies
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A Missouri judge, who recently dismissed a lawsuit against five Missouri Baptist agencies, won't allow the plaintiffs to amend the suit. Judge Thomas Brown, who ruled March 11 that the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board…
U.S. behind only China, Iran in executions, report says
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United States ranks third, behind only China and Iran, in reported executions, according to a new report by a human-rights group that opposes the death penalty. Amnesty International's annual report on the death penalty, released April…