HARRISON, Ark.—With just the click of a mouse, Doug Hutchcraft and Jon Taylor are pointing teenagers and young adults to Jesus. Desiring to communicate the gospel to a generation that has grown up on the Internet, they have developed a…
Recognize children’s digital proficiency, but be alert to dangers
When it comes to digital communication, children are natives, and their parents are immigrants. And that puts parents at a distinct disadvantage in protecting children from online danger, according to the president of a nonprofit advocacy group devoted to guarding…
Churches view social networking as ministry tool
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—With the Internet closing in on television as Americans’ main source of national and international news, churches increasingly are viewing social-networking applications like Facebook as ministry tools. “Social networking tools have become an integral part of most people’s…
Looking to find your center of creativity? Unplug
Dad, I want you to confiscate all my technology this weekend so I can find the creative center of myself.” These words of wisdom from our middle child, the comedic genius of the family, brought many laughs and “likes” as…
Baylor regents vote to allow non-Baptists on governing board
DALLAS — The governing body of Baylor University, the world’s largest Baptist academic institution, now may include Christians who are not Baptists. Baylor’s board of regents voted Feb. 11 to amend the university’s bylaws, allowing members who are active in…
For relationships, technology a two-edged sword, experts insist
After Jason Krafsky introduced his wife, Kelli, to Facebook, he wasn’t sure how to respond when she told him she had just connected online with her “first love.” “It took me a couple of days to sort through my feelings…
Cal Baptist athlete pleads guilty to felonies
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (ABP) — A California Baptist University women's basketball player pleaded guilty Feb. 9 in Virginia to two felonies after hitting a construction worker last summer while driving drunk. Vitalija Vasciunaite in her team photo (left) and her police…
Border violence prompts decline in mission trips
BROWNSVILLE, Texas (ABP) — Violence between drug cartels in Mexican border towns has cut into the number of mission trips in the area. In some cases, it has led church groups, even those who have served in the area for…
Church arsonists receive additional life sentences
ATHENS, Texas (ABP) — Two men already sentenced to life in prison for setting five east Texas churches on fire in 2010 pleaded guilty to more arsons Feb. 8. Jason Bourque and Daniel McAllister were sentenced to life in prison…
Initial picks for faith-based panel light on Baptists
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Barack Obama's first dozen appointees to the next President's Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships were heavy on mainline Protestants but light on Baptists. Three of the names announced Feb. 4 are leaders of member communions…
Obama re-nominates religious-freedom ambassador
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama has resubmitted for Senate approval his choice for a new ambassador at large for religious freedom, the White House announced Feb. 7. Suzan Johnson Cook Obama first nominated Suzan Johnson Cook, an American Baptist minister…
Virginia Baptists mark 11 years of teaching program in China
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — When Tiffany Robertson spent several weeks in 2005 leading English conversational classes for middle school teachers in Qingyang, a city in north central China, she never expected to see her pupils again once she returned to…