GREENSBORO, N.C. — The nation’s most religious cities aren’t just in the Deep South or Utah — they’re found in the Mid-Atlantic, according to a recent ranking by Men’s Health magazine. Five of the 15 most religious cities in America…
Harry Potter as gospel narrative
AUSTIN, Texas—A bespectacled teenaged wizard with a lightning-shaped scar on his forehead may not fit most people’s picture of Christ, but Christian pop culture observer Greg Garrett definitely sees the similarities. “Harry Potter is one of the most clearly identifiable…
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood unimpressed by new NIV
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A group that criticized the New International Version Bible translation for introducing a gender-inclusive edition in 2005 says it isn't satisfied by revisions in the latest edition recently available online. The Council for Biblical Manhood and…
Historian Morgan Patterson dies
Editor's note: This story was edited after posting. NOVATO, Calif. (ABP) — Morgan Patterson, a historian who taught at four Southern Baptist seminaries and was president of a Baptist college, died Nov. 19 at age 85 at his home in…
Hunger report praises federal program
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In the latest edition of its annual report on global food insecurity, a Christian anti-hunger group praised efforts by President Obama’s administration to battle world hunger but warned that cutting food aid due to budget concerns would be short-sighted….
N.C. mega-church pastor retiring
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — The senior pastor of North Carolina's largest Southern Baptist church announced Nov. 21 he is retiring after 26 years. Joe Brown Joe Brown, 62, told members of Hickory Grove Baptist Church by video that he is…
Council on Biblical Manhood and Womanhood unimpressed by new NIV
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A group that criticized the New International Version Bible translation for introducing a gender-inclusive edition in 2005 says it isn't satisfied by revisions in the latest edition recently available online. The Council for Biblical Manhood and…
Texas exec considering pastorate
Randel Everett DALLAS (ABP) — Randel Everett, who has served as executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for three years, has announced he will preach Dec. 5 at First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas, "in view of…
Texas Baptist executive is considering move to pastorate after three years
DALLAS — Randel Everett, the former Virginia Baptist pastor and seminary president who has served as Texas Baptists' executive director for almost three years, announced Nov. 21 he will preach at First Baptist Church in Midland, Texas, Dec. 5 "in view…
County, church settle lawsuit over Christian school
BALTIMORE (ABP) — A Maryland county will pay a Baptist church $3.25 million and allow construction of a Christian school that government officials have opposed for eight years under terms of a settlement reached Nov. 18 in federal court. An…
NAMB executive to become editor of Ark. Baptist paper
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — Directors of Arkansas Baptists’ newspaper have elected a Southern Baptist North American Mission Board official as the publication’s new editor. Tim Yarbrough The board of the Arkansas Baptist News, meeting Nov. 18 at the Baptist…
End-times theology harmful, Arab Christian says
KELLER, Texas (ABP) — Theology that equates the modern state of Israel with the Israel of biblical prophecy has caused some evangelical Christians to let eschatology trump ethics when it comes to the Middle East, a Palestinian-American Christian told a…