Alabama joined a lineup of the world’s most notorious human rights violators by being the first state to use nitrogen gas to execute a condemned prisoner who suffered intense pain before dying. “The death penalty is a violation of human…
Historic First Baptist Austin commits to stay downtown with the help of partners
It has taken a pandemic and roughly two years of discussion, but First Baptist Church in Austin, Texas, is beginning to see how it might downsize without having to abandon its campus, while simultaneously expanding its downtown ministries. Senior Pastor…
Report highlights the good and bad of Biden administration’s immigration record
Amid the backdrop of a historically turbulent period of hemispheric and global migration, President Joe Biden has issued more orders on immigration since taking office than Donald Trump did during his entire presidency, according to a new report. “By taking…
Alabama legislator seeks to duplicate Texas law on school ‘chaplains’ even as resistance grows in Texas
The campaign against a new Texas law permitting school districts to hire unlicensed chaplains is gaining momentum just as Alabama legislators prepare to debate an identical measure in their upcoming session. The Texas statute went into effect in September and…
New report highlights most dangerous countries for Christians and churches
The world is becoming increasingly perilous for Christians and churches as violence against members of the faith continues to surge, Open Doors International reported in its new World Watch List. Based on information gathered from October 2022 to September 2023,…
Bubba-Doo’s makes the big time, now available as a book
Charles Qualls said his goal was to be at times pastoral and always authentic when he launched his popular Bubba-Doo’s column series for Baptist News Global in 2021. And he also wanted to use humor in the series set in…
How Colombia Became South America’s Hardest Country to Be a Christian
Rodrigo is a Christian fisherman who lives with his wife in the department of Chocó, a jungle region near the border Colombia shares with Panama and one of the wettest places on earth.
Condemning Alabama for using an experimental drug to execute a prisoner misses the point, author warns
Justified condemnations of Alabama’s plan to execute a convicted killer Jan. 25 using an untested gas serve as a distraction from the ultimate need to end the death penalty altogether, Katie Owens-Murphy said during a webinar hosted by Equal Justice…
Fellowship Southwest joins bridge walk to draw attention to broken asylum system
A procession of ecumenical walkers supporting asylum rights offered prayers and solidarity for migrants and a shot in the arm for weary immigration advocates last weekend at the Texas-Mexico border. “It was encouraging to my faith and to my work…
Governors of 15 states opt out of summer food program for children
Governors of 15 U.S. states are putting politics ahead of the needs of hungry children by opting out of a new federal food assistance program that launches this year, critics say. The U.S. Department of Agriculture recently announced the remaining…
Look to Scripture for immigration principles, evangelical panel urges presidential candidates
U.S. evangelical leaders are urging presidential candidates to consult Scripture before finalizing their positions on immigration ahead of the 2024 election. Filtering campaign rhetoric through the Bible would inspire policies that balance the needs of border security and compassionate care…
‘Border control cannot be achieved at the border alone,’ study shows, calling for partnership and reform
The tide of migrants seeking entry into the United States cannot be stemmed with border security measures alone, the Migration Policy Institute reported in a new study. Migrant encounters at the United States’ southern border reached a record 2.5 million…