BLUEFIELD, Va. — Dozens of youth from nine different churches and communities across Virginia and West Virginia made spiritual decisions during Bluefield College’s recent ‘Winter Blast,’ an extreme sport and worship weekend that included skiing, concerts by Christian bands and…
A Time to Laugh: The late Grady Nutt was a pioneer of Christian comedy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Singer-songwriter Don McLean’s 1970s hit record “American Pie” mourned the 1959 plane crash that killed rock-and-roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper as “the day the music died.” For a generation of humor-loving…
Grady Nutt a pacesetter for Christian comedy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP)—Singer-songwriter Don McLean’s 1970s hit record “American Pie” mourned the 1959 plane crash that killed rock-and-roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper as “the day the music died.” For a generation of humor-loving Baptists, Nov….
A Time to Laugh: When laughter ceases to be the best medicine
(ABP) — Something that strikes one person as funny — even something heard at church — may seem inappropriate to another. How can believers strike a balance as they use humor and laughter in ministry? Individuals need to understand the…
Former youth minister convicted of sexual assault
Editor's note: This story was updated later in the day after its posting March 25. BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (ABP) — A former American Baptist youth minister who entered and then withdrew a guilty plea for sending nude photos to a 15-year-old girl…
Survey says pastors value, benefit from seminary degrees
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Amid declining enrollment at seminaries and new models being developed as alternatives to traditional theological education, LifeWay Research has released a survey finding the vast majority of pastors value the training they received while in seminary…
Fewer than half of Americans link Easter to the Resurrection
WASHINGTON (RNS) — While most Americans describe Easter as a religious holiday, fewer than half of the adults surveyed link it specifically to the Resurrection of Jesus, a Barna Group study shows. Seven in 10 respondents mentioned religion or spirituality…
Grady Nutt a pacesetter for Christian comedy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Singer-songwriter Don McLean’s 1970s hit record “American Pie” mourned the 1959 plane crash that killed rock-and-roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper as “the day the music died.” For a generation of humor-loving…
Veteran humorist recommends paint a picture with words
SAN ANGELO, Texas — The secret to being humorous is the same as most things in life, Bill Thorn believes — take what God has entrusted to you, work hard to polish it and be the individual you were created…
Humor an important spiritual practice, theologian asserts
KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Humor doesn’t show up on any spiritual practice list. But Richard Olson hopes to make that happen. “Humor is a very important spiritual practice, especially for those under stress and turmoil,” he said. Richard Olson Listing…
Baptist minister Grady Nutt was a pacesetter for Christian comedy
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Singer-songwriter Don McLean’s 1970s hit record “American Pie” mourned the 1959 plane crash that killed rock-and-roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper as “the day the music died.” For a generation of humor-loving…
Laughter is the best medicine … except when it’s a bitter pill to swallow
Something that strikes one person as funny—even something heard at church — may seem inappropriate to another. How can believers strike a balance as they use h — mor and laughter in ministry? Individuals need to understand the human experiences…