DALLAS — Despite deep divisions in U.S. society, Christians can lead the way toward bipartisan solutions to the pain of poverty, insisted one of the world’s top hunger fighters. “Church people — whose congregations often span the political spectrum —…
‘Bad advocacy’ can do more harm than good, Baptist scholar insists
ATLANTA (ABP) — Celebrity-driven campaigns like Save Darfur and Invisible Children are popular, but in some cases, they do more harm than good, according to a Baptist scholar who specializes in African politics, conflict and international affairs. “Advocacy needs to…
BWAid head Paul Montacute plans to retire, committee learns
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Paul Montacute, director of the Baptist World Alliance's relief-and-recovery arm BWAid, will retire in July 2012, the BWA executive committee learned in meetings March 7-9. BWA leaders are expected to elect a successor to Montacute,…
Do Christian athletes strike out on big-dollar contracts?
ST. LOUIS (RNS) — As contract talks broke down between Albert Pujols and the Cardinals, St. Louis baseball fans nervously began asking themselves a host of questions. He’s a Cardinal for life, right? He wouldn’t go to Wrigley Field, because…
RIGHT or WRONG? Family moral history
Our older son and his wife are about to deliver our first grandchild. Although this grandbaby won’t be able to read for several years, we would like to compile a moral history of our family. What are your suggestions? I…
Some foreign aid helps, others do more harm than good, experts assert
Even though the Green Bay Packers won this year’s Super Bowl 31-25, up to 100,000 individuals in developing countries are wearing new T-shirts erroneously labeling the losing Pittsburgh Steelers as NFL champions. For marketing purposes, the NFL preprinted memorabilia for…
Reciprocity or dependency?
Relationship is the heart of mission involvement, and the form that relationship takes determines whether believers minister “with” or “to” others, missiologists insist. Today, they add, relationship translates as partnership, collaboration and reciprocity. Access to safe drinking water means healthier…
OPINION: Predestination, free will and Matt Damon
I wish I could say that deep theological reflection spurred my action, but I'll go ahead and admit that Matt Damon probably had more to do with my inspiration to head to the movie theater to see The Adjustment Bureau….
Newspaper reports BTSR-Chowan University merger talks are off
MURFREESBORO, N.C. (ABP) — A newspaper reported March 10 that a possible merger of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond and Chowan University in North Carolina is off the table. The Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald said the executive committee of Chowan's board of…