WASHINGTON (RNS)—Americans trust the military and the police significantly more than the church and organized religion, a new Gallup Poll reveals. Only 46 percent of respondents said they had either a “great deal” or “quite a lot” of confidence in…
FAITH DIGEST
Polluted lower Jordan River an endangered site. The lower portion of the Jordan River is so polluted, the World Monuments Fund has designated it an “Endangered Cultural Heritage Site.” The international body for the protection of monuments recently placed the…
Future of missions: What about career missionaries?
As churches and individual Christians demand more hands-on, practical connection to missions, some Baptists are questioning whether a missions-by-proxy approach—churches supporting professional career missionaries sent by large denominational agencies— has a future. Count Ken Hall, president of Buckner International, among…
Future of Missions: Technology changes the way missionaries work
NEW YORK (ABP)—Most Baptist missions leaders agree technology has changed the face of missions. What they don't agree on is what it has changed the most. Some claim centralized integration of information has radically reshaped the mission process. Others think…
Cries of anguish: BWA leaders worship at slave fort
ACCRA, Ghana—Cape Coast Castle. It sounds like an attraction at Disney World. But for the millions of African slaves who were processed and imprisoned within its walls, there was nothing attractive about it. The suffering of mind and body was…
North American Baptists meet in Ghana
ACCRA, Ghana—Like the other regions represented in the Baptist World Alliance, the North American Baptist Fellowship met July 4 in Ghana as part of the BWA annual gathering. The Fellowship, headed by its executive director Alan Stanford, is a network…
BWA celebrates freedom in Ghana
ACCRA, Ghana (ABP)—Representatives attending the Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering in Accra, Ghana, celebrated freedom during a plenary session July 4. BWA President David Coffey of England noted the near-concurrence of America's Independence Day, Ghana's Republic Day (July 1), and…
BWA promotes unity theme during meeting
ACCRA, Ghana – “Mu, mu, mu!” they sang—“Well done, well done, well done!” The Baptist World Alliance Annual Gathering got off to a rousing start July 2 as more than 500 participants joined a choir from Calvary Baptist Church in…
CBF considers U.N. campaign to fight poverty, hunger, disease
WASHINGTON (ABP)—The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship at its general assembly took the first step toward joining the United Nations' campaign against global poverty and disease, called the Millennium Development goals. In a break from business-as-usual during the Fellowship's national meeting, participants…
CBF moderator says God’s covenant gives responsibility
WASHINGTON (ABP)—God's covenant with Christians “places the responsibility for being the presence of Christ squarely on our shoulders,” Emmanuel McCall told participants at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly. God is a covenant-keeping God, insisted McCall, the Fellowship's moderator and…
BAPTIST BRIEFS
Buckner International, BGCT forge immigration ministry. The Baptist General Convention of Texas and Buckner International are partnering to create the first nationwide effort for local, church-based ministry to help immigrants become U.S. citizens. Through their new Immigration Service and Aid…
Baptist papers, ABP create new media venture
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) —The Religious Herald has joined three other Baptist communication organizations to form a new media venture that will collaborate on expansive websites, print publications and other media options for Baptists. The partnership, tentatively called NeoVox, currently includes…