ARLINGTON—Family and friends of Pastor Clint Dobson choose not to dwell on the circumstances of his death. Instead, they celebrate a life well-lived and remember a man whose actions demonstrated an unswerving love for God and people. Dobson, 29, was…
Pastor’s son killed in miniature train wreck
GAFFNEY, S.C. (ABP) — A Saturday children's outing turned to tragedy March 19 for a Baptist church in South Carolina when a miniature train at a park derailed, killing the 6-year-old son of its pastor and injuring several others. Benjamin…
SBC Pastors’ Conference slate raises ire
LAS VEGAS (ABP) — The president of the 2011 Southern Baptist Pastors’ Conference defended a program he’s put together for June 12-13 in Phoenix, Ariz., saying critics who find it outside the convention’s mainstream hold too narrow a worldview. Vance…
CBF budget cuts total $1.1 million
ATLANTA (ABP) — Deep staff cuts announced in January will help reduce the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's budget shortfall in the 2010-2011 fiscal year by more than $1.1 million, officials said in response to questions by Associated Baptist Press. The loss…
Mohler critiques new book as ‘Velvet Hell’
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist seminary president suggested that Rob Bell's new book Love Wins could have been alternately titled "Velvet Hell," a play on Bell's 2005 book Velvet Elvis that offered "a fresh take on Jesus" by…
Sanctity of life bigger than one issue, Gushee says
BELTON, Texas (ABP) — Sanctity of human life transcends politics and reaches far beyond one or two hot-button issues, Christian ethicist David Gushee told students and faculty at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Christian ethicist David Gushee addresses sanctity of…
New IMB chief insists he has ‘no intention of being an interim’
DALLAS (ABP) — The 67-year-year old former pastor elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board says that despite his age, he has no intention of functioning as an interim successor to retired IMB head Jerry Rankin. Tom…
Baptist leader says 3/11 will be Japan’s 9/11
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Japanese Baptist leader predicted the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster would leave its mark on Japan the same way that America was changed after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. "3/11 will be etched on our…
Trustees elect Elliff president of IMB
DALLAS (ABP) — International Mission Board trustees have elected as president of the missions agency Tom Elliff — a longtime Oklahoma pastor, one-time missionary and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Elliff, 67, received a unanimous vote at the…