TAMPA, Fla. (ABP) — Humor is both Susan Sparks’ heart and her arms to embrace strangers and implode barriers that would keep them from Jesus. Susan Sparks The stand-up comic who is also a pastor and former lawyer embodies a…
Pastor says God chooses who will be saved
PASADENA, Calif. (ABP) – A Southern Baptist pastor told a California audience June 26 that the notion that God foreknew which believers would freely choose to accept Christ is false. Steve Lawson, pastor of Christ Fellowship Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala.,…
Burmese refugees joyful despite persecution, say visitors
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (ABP) — Baptist World Alliance President John Upton was part of a seven-member delegation to visit refugees near the border between Thailand and Myanmar while en route to meetings this week in Malaysia. Upton, executive director of…
Missouri Baptist Foundation files second appeal
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — For the second time, the Missouri Baptist Foundation is seeking to appeal a Cole County judge's ruling that could force the institution to return control to the Missouri Baptist Convention. The Foundation filed a notice…
Malaysian Baptists welcome BWA leaders at colorful dinner
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Baptist World Alliance leaders thanked their Malaysian hosts at an opening dinner that kicked off the BWA’s July 3-9 Annual Gathering in this southeast Asian country. Indigenous Baptists from Malaysia perform a folk dance during the…
Refugees on Myanmar-Thai border joyful despite persecution, says group
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Blooming Night is a Myanmar refugee living just across the Thai border who has spent most of her 50-something years hiding in the jungle. But when she isn’t in actual hiding, she is bringing relief to…
Baptists 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…
Southwest Virginia Partnership welcomes mission teams
Members of a mission team from First Baptist Church in Ashland, Va., prepares to replace the roof on a church. NICKELSVILLE, Va. — Interstate 81 is a well-traveled route this summer as Virginia Baptists take to the road to provide…
Charlottesville man spends lunch breaks helping homeless
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. — While some people in downtown Charlottesville may arrive at the office with a briefcase, Steve McVey arrives with two coolers. And when others are enjoying their lunch on the mall or in the office, Steve spends his…
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…
TRENDING: Balanced relationships
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8) I remember the exact spot where I was driving in Charlottesville 15 years ago when I…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida discovers the need for pastoral care
Dear Jimmy, While your uncle is outside fumin’ about the garden, I’ll take a few minutes to bring you up to date about what’s been goin’ on around our place. First, it appears that sometime before sun-up, that the big…