CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) –Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Leonard, founding dean of Wake Forest University Divinity…
Historian urges Cooperative Baptists to reclaim ‘audacious identity’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Bill Leonard urges CBF to celebrate, rather…
Bellevue pastor defends disqualifying lesbian coach’s team
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) – The pastor of a Tennessee Southern Baptist mega-church defended a decision to bar a coach from its softball league because she is a lesbian. The Memphis Commercial Appeal reported June 16 that church leaders told Jana…
CBF commissions 16 for global service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — More than 1,200 people were challenged to be passionate about joining in God’s mission June 23, as 16 new field personnel were commissioned for full-time mission service by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. CBF Global Missions Coordinator…
Fellowship commissions 16 for mission service
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 1,200 people were challenged to be passionate about joining in God’s mission as 16 new field personnel were commissioned for full-time mission service by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship June 22. Pritchard Memorial Baptist Church in…
Historian urges Cooperative Baptists to reclaim ‘audacious identity’
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — Historian Bill Leonard encouraged fellow Baptists to “get over” being embarrassed by their denomination’s often-negative image and instead celebrate their lineage in an “audacious identity” established by their forebears. Leonard, founding dean of Wake Forest University…
Critics say Caner isn’t only ex-Muslim with dubious past
WASHINGTON (RNS)—Liberty University is expected to release a report soon on whether Ergun Caner, president of the school’s Baptist Theological Seminary, fabricated or exaggerated his life story as a former Muslim extremist rescued by Jesus. Caner is no ordinary ex-Muslim….
Southwestern Seminary leaders cut health-care benefits for retirees
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — An organization of retired faculty and staff from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has asked the school’s trustees to reconsider their recent decision to discontinue providing health insurance coverage at no cost to retirees. But in…
Vestal says CBF may have to recall missionaries
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will be forced to recall missionaries from the field if donations to its annual Offering for Global Missions do not increase next year, CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal told the CBF Coordinating…
Vestal says CBF will have to recall missionaries unless funding improves
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) – The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship will be forced to recall missionaries from the field if donations to its annual Offering for Global Missions do not increase next year, CBF Executive Coordinator Daniel Vestal told the CBF Coordinating…
Anti-terrorist police crack down on Baptists in Kazakhstan
OSLO, Norway (ABP) – Anti-terrorist police in at least three regions of Kazakhstan have targeted unregistered Baptists and Muslims in recent months, according to the Norway-based news service Forum 18. The news service, which monitors religious-freedom violations in numerous countries,…
LUCHA Ministries helps Latinos in Virginia cope with ‘struggle’
FREDERICKSBURG, Va. — Cuál es tu lucha? That question — What is your struggle? — is what motivated the creation of LUCHA Ministries six years ago to work with Latinos in the Fredericksburg area. Lucha means “struggle” in English and…