STAFF CHANGES • Dennis Smith, to Jeffersonton Church, Jeffersonton, as pastor. • Donnie Owen, resigning as pastor of Bethesda Church, Boydton. • Brian Williams, to White Stone Church, White Stone, as interim pastor. • Bob Smith, to Bagby Memorial Church,…
Baptist leaders coordinate relief to Haiti
COLUMBIA, S.C. (ABP) — Baptist leaders in North America described a mode of "hurry up and wait" for long-term relief efforts in Haiti during a Feb. 11 conference call. Disaster-relief representatives for several member groups of the North American Baptist…
North American Baptist leaders coordinate relief efforts in Haiti
COLUMBIA, S.C. (ABP) — Baptist leaders in North America described a mode of "hurry up and wait" for long-term relief efforts in Haiti during a Feb. 11 conference call. Members from Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches gathered recently in Stuart, Fla.,…
Idaho church hopeful for release of members held in Haiti
MERIDIAN, Idaho (ABP) — Leaders of a Southern Baptist church in Idaho said Feb. 11 they were encouraged by reports that a judge in Haiti has recommended release of 10 mission volunteers being held on child-kidnapping charges, but were still…
Faith-based panel narrowly recommends separate 501(c)(3) entities for churches
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A panel advising President Obama has narrowly recommended that churches wishing to use federal funds to perform social services set up separate non-profit corporations in order to avoid mixing funds for secular purposes with those for religious…
Seminary president labels mission strategy ‘heresy’
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — The president of Liberty Theological Seminary has labeled a method used by Southern Baptist missionaries to spread the gospel in Muslim lands deceptive and heretical. In a podcast interview on the SBC Today blog, Ergun Caner…
Baptist seminary president labels IMB mission strategy ‘heresy’
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — The president of Liberty Theological Seminary has labeled a method used by Southern Baptist missionaries to spread the gospel in Muslim lands deceptive and heretical. Ergun Caner is a former Muslim who has written books labeling…
At church cafe, eat what you want, pay what you can
HIGHLAND PARK, N.J. (RNS)—At A Better World Cafe, it’s not exactly “all you can eat.” It’s more like whatever you can pay. The church-affiliated restaurant offers customers an innovative new dining option—choose the size of your portion, then pay what…
Seminary president labels Southern Baptist mission strategy ‘heresy’
LYNCHBURG, Va. (ABP) — The president of Liberty Theological Seminary has labeled a method used by Southern Baptist missionaries to spread the gospel in Muslim lands deceptive and heretical. In a podcast interview on the SBC Today blog, Ergun Caner…
Relief groups walk delicate line on spreading gospel, providing aid
WASHINGTON (RNS) — When night falls in Port-au-Prince, thousands of homeless Haitians find shelter beneath weatherproof plastic sheets emblazoned with the logo of Samaritan’s Purse, a group that’s zealous to spread Christianity worldwide. The 20-by-20-foot sheets offer a tangible way…
FAITH DIGEST
Billy Graham tops pastors’ list. Evangelist Billy Graham was named by American pastors as the United States’ most influential living preacher, according to a recent survey by LifeWay Research. The study, conducted last November, interviewed more than 1,000 Protestant pastors…
American Baptists seeking to raise $1 million for Haiti relief
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — American Baptist Churches USA has announced a fund-raising goal of $1 million for earthquake relief in Haiti. Steve James and other medical professionals provide care in the days following the earthquake (The Fellowship blog) The…