By Bob Allen Coming out of high school touted as heir apparent to Heisman Trophy winner and first overall pick in the 2011 NFL draft Cam Newton, one-time Auburn quarterback Kiehl Frazier has transferred to Ouachita Baptist University, hoping to…
Kazakh Baptists refuse to pay fines
By Bob Allen Two Baptists in Kazakhstan recently served 48 hours in jail after refusing to pay fines handed down in 2013 for worshipping and sharing their faith without the government’s permission. Shoe-repairer Vyacheslav Cherkasov and plumber Zhasulan Alzhanov were sentenced…
Soulforce announces leadership change
By Bob Allen After four years as executive director of Soulforce, a national nonprofit protest group opposed to discrimination against gays in religious groups, Cindi Love is stepping down. Love, former national leader of the of Metropolitan Community Church, will…
Richard Shahan seeks $30,000 bond
By Bob Allen Lawyers for an Alabama Baptist minister arrested while trying to board a flight for Germany on a charge of murdering his wife are asking a judge to set a “reasonable” bond not to exceed $30,000 allowing his…
Gus Reyes to direct Texas Baptist CLC
By Bob Allen Gus Reyes, director of affinity ministries and Hispanic Education Initiative for the Baptist General Convention of Texas, has been named director of the state convention’s Christian Life Commission. Reyes, who has a Ph.D. from Southwestern Baptist Theological…
Florida newspaper names editor
Editor’s note: This story was edited after publishing to correct an error in the last paragraph. By Bob Allen Kevin Bumgarner, editor-in-chief of the Pacific Business News in Honolulu, Hawaii, since 2010, has been named executive editor of the Florida…
Baptists arrested at worship in Belarus
By Bob Allen Authorities in Belarus raided a Baptist church service Dec. 22 and charged three leaders with holding an unauthorized mass public event, according to an international news service that specializes in religious liberty violations around the world. Forum…
Pastor: Church heartbroken by murder, arrest
By Bob Allen The interim pastor of an Alabama church, whose former children’s minister is in jail on charges of murdering his wife, told church members Jan. 12 to rely on their faith amid struggles. “Not a one of us…
Baptists, culture agree about smoking: Stop it
By Bob Allen Under a prevailing Premillennialist theology that holds things on Earth will keep getting worse and worse for believers until Christ returns, coupled with a Calvinism that teaches mankind is totally depraved, it is not unusual to hear…