DENVER (RNS) — Tim Tebow is a 23-year-old second-year, second-string quarterback on a so-so NFL team. So, who’s going to buy his memoirs? What’s to remember? • How his missionary dad, Bob, prayed for a son and promised God to…
Southern Seminary’s Mohler says Baptists must repent of homophobia
PHOENIX (ABP) — The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary said June 15 that Southern Baptists need to repent of a “form of homophobia” that keeps gays and lesbians out of their churches. Albert Mohler responded during his report to…
Ministry helps churches to make marriages divorce-proof
BETHESDA, Md. (ABP) — America’s divorce rate is the highest in the world, double that of Canada and triple either England or France, but most divorces don’t need to happen, marriage specialists Mike and Harriet McManus insist. Married since 1965,…
SBC president meets with gay-rights advocates who request apology
PHOENIX (ABP) — Southern Baptist Convention President Bryant Wright met June 15 with a coalition asking the nation’s second-largest faith group to apologize for what they believe is damage to lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people. “Today is a special…
Southern Baptists support path to legal status in immigration reform
PHOENIX (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention adopted a debated resolution June 15 calling for “a just and compassionate path to legal status” for undocumented immigrants. President Obama supports immigration reform that includes a pathway to citizenship for an estimated…
SBC affirms doctrine of hell
PHOENIX (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention affirmed the reality of a literal hell June 15 in a resolution responding to Rob Bell’s Love Wins book that challenges traditional thinking about eternal damnation. Citing Bell’s book, the SBC resolution affirmed…
Southern Baptists ‘cannot commend’ new NIV Bible translation
PHOENIX (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention went on record June 15 saying it “cannot commend” the 2011 New International Version Bible translation and its use of gender-neutral language. “This is as big as it gets,” said Tim Overton of…
Speakers at annual meeting urge WMU to ‘Proclaim’ the gospel
PHOENIX (BP) — Missions leaders from across the nation proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ during the 2011 National Woman’s Missionary Union missions celebration and annual meeting in Phoenix. “Proclaim!” was the theme for the June 12-13 celebration, based…
Southern Baptists issued ‘1 percent challenge’ for Cooperative Program
PHOENIX (ABP) — A Southern Baptist leader urged pastors June 14 to lead their congregations to increase the percentages of their budgets for the denomination by a percent. Frank Page, president of the Executive Committee of the Southern Baptist Convention,…
Southern Baptists re-elect president
PHOENIX (ABP) — Atlanta-area pastor Bryant Wright was re-elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention June 14. Wright, pastor of Johnson Ferry Baptist Church in Marietta, Ga., received 95 percent of ballots cast. Wiley Drake, a former convention vice president,…
Speakers urge WMU to ‘Proclaim’ the gospel message
PHOENIX (BP)—Missions leaders from across the nation proclaimed the good news of Jesus Christ during the 2011 National Woman’s Missionary Union missions celebration and annual meeting in Phoenix. “Proclaim!” was the theme for the June 12-13 celebration, based on Luke…
Church buys adjacent apartment complex for intentional ministry
GREENVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — While some churches try to figure out how to gain access for ministry in neighboring apartment complexes, Oakmont Baptist Church in Greenville, N.C., just bought the place. Now the new landlord is moving forward to establish…