“I think it’s kind of stupid for them to kick me out of school for a nose piercing. It’s in the First Amendment for me to have freedom of religion.” Ariana Iacono The Clayton, N.C., teenager, whose family belongs to…
International Mission Board appoints 51 workers
TAMPA, Fla. (BP) — Six men with ski masks and machine guns stood between James Roberts and the security of a warm bed. He knew there was a possibility of facing something like this when he picked post-war Kosovo for…
Poll: U.S. personal religiosity stable, influence declines
WASHINGTON (ABP) – A new Gallup poll shows that, while personal measures of religious sentiment have remained fairly high among Americans, their membership in houses of worship continues a long decline and they increasingly believe that religion is losing influence…
FAITH DIGEST
Americans cite negatives of Christianity. When asked about Christianity’s recent contributions to society, Americans cited more negatives than benefits, according to a recent survey. The negative contribution cited most was hatred or violence in the name of Jesus, according to…
20-somethings make ‘cents’ of stewardship
RICHMOND, Va. — For its second year in a row, 20Cents is bringing fun, food, fellowship and finances together on Saturday, Nov. 6 from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at Cool Spring Baptist Church in Mechanicsville. The conference is led…
Divide over Islam dominated religious-freedom news in 2010
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Judging from end-of-year assessments published in the last few days, there seems fairly universal agreement among close observers of faith and public life that the biggest religion story of 2010 in this country was also the biggest…
Indian Baptist educator breaks stained-glass ceiling
AIZAWL, India (ABP) — A Baptist leader and educator is poised to break barriers as the first woman ordained as a pastor by a Christian denomination in her northeast Indian state. The Telegraph of Calcutta reported that leaders in the…
Baptists debate social drinking
CARROLLTON, Ga. (ABP) — Two decades after declaring victory in the war over biblical inerrancy, Southern Baptists are battling about booze. Seeking to remain relevant in today's culture, many Baptists have abandoned former taboos against social activities like dancing and…
VIRGINIA BAPTIST FORUM: Increasing mission funds
This is being written in regard to the current downward financial planning in many of our churches, the BGAV and the SBC. There’s something about this in the context of today’s economy that needs attention. While we keep using the…
OUT LOUD
“I believe that throughout my life, and particularly as I’ve gotten older, that it’s very important to take your body where your heart is. If you’ve got your body somewhere where your heart’s not, that’s just not where it ought…
State conventions call for revival, respond to GCR recommendations
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — Widespread calls for spiritual awakening were voiced in resolutions and sermons at many Southern Baptist state convention meetings this fall. States also responded to recommendations from the Southern Baptist Convention’s Great Commission Resurgence task force. …
Bluefield College completes third semester of China exchange
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Bluefield College began its third semester of academic, cultural and student exchange with China this fall. Four students and one professor from the Jiangsu Institute of Education in Nanjing, China, spent part of the fall semester on…