GWERU, Zimbabwe (ABP) — The principal of the Baptist Theological Seminary of Zimbabwe — who has taught at Baptist divinity schools in Virginia and North Carolina — has been fired for refusing to accept changes made to the school’s governing…
Women in ministry pioneer seeks glimpses of holy as prison chaplain
ASHEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — When Nancy Sehested finished her powerful sermon at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina state meeting in March, people were moved both by the message and to ask, “Where has she been?” As one of…
BWA expresses solidarity with Baptists in Norway after terror acts
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — The head of the Baptist World Alliance has sent a letter of solidarity to Baptists in Norway in response to recent mass killings in that country that claimed at least 76 lives. Neville Callam, general…
Seeing America from across the seas
By David Gushee This is my first column in two months. My absence stems from many weeks on the road. I am still processing these experiences. With my daughter Marie, I spent two weeks in Cape Town, South Africa, helping…
Willing workers are drawn by passion, giftedness, calling
Tapping passion and giftedness — and an understanding of every job as ministry — may be the best way to find willing workers to fill those unglamorous and least-recognized posts in church life. Passion springs from a person’s gifts, according…
Womens’ mission dolls project introduce gospel around the world
MONROE, N.C. (ABP) — A single idea to make evangelistic dolls for children in other lands seeded an ecumenical project in North Carolina that has united women of many different churches to touch hearts worldwide. “We asked for an apple…
Baptist World Alliance gives human rights award to peace advocate
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (ABP) — A Baptist leader who helped broker peace among rival factions in the northeast Indian state of Nagaland accepted the 2011 Baptist World Alliance Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award July 9. Wati Aier, principal…
OPINION: Grabbing the thread of forgiveness
A 1972 photograph of 9-year-old Kim Phuc fleeing her burning village in Vietnam — her clothes incinerated from her body and her skin falling from her back and arms — captured the world’s attention. Some say it fanned the flame…
Learn to forgive, girl in iconic war photo tells Baptist Peace Fellowship
HARRISONBURG, Va. (ABP) — You may not know her name, but if you were born before 1970 you have seen Kim Phuc’s picture. She is the 9-year-old girl seen running burned and naked in Nick Ut’s 1972 Pulitzer Prize-winning photo…
Global Baptist leaders travel to Malaysia for annual meeting
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptist leaders from around the world are traveling this weekend to Malaysia for an annual gathering of the Baptist World Alliance. More than 300 Baptist leaders and delegates will converge on Malaysia’s capital of Kuala…
Patriotism, spiritual ties may pull Christians in opposite directions
RICHMOND, Va. — When war erupted between Russia and Georgia in 2008, repercussions included more than the 2,000 deaths and tens of thousands of refugees attributed to the conflict. Casualities also included relations between the two countries’ Baptist fellowships, torn…
‘One Nation Under God’ — narrow nationalism or proper patriotism?
When American Christians pledge allegiance to their nation and its flag — sometimes in worship services — does that reflect narrow nationalism or proper patriotism? Some Baptists believe it all hinges on how they interpret “one nation under God.” Nationalism,…