ATLANTA (ABP) — Deep staff cuts announced in January will help reduce the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's budget shortfall in the 2010-2011 fiscal year by more than $1.1 million, officials said in response to questions by Associated Baptist Press. The loss…
Mohler critiques new book as ‘Velvet Hell’
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist seminary president suggested that Rob Bell's new book Love Wins could have been alternately titled "Velvet Hell," a play on Bell's 2005 book Velvet Elvis that offered "a fresh take on Jesus" by…
Sanctity of life bigger than one issue, Gushee says
BELTON, Texas (ABP) — Sanctity of human life transcends politics and reaches far beyond one or two hot-button issues, Christian ethicist David Gushee told students and faculty at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor. Christian ethicist David Gushee addresses sanctity of…
New IMB chief insists he has ‘no intention of being an interim’
DALLAS (ABP) — The 67-year-year old former pastor elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board says that despite his age, he has no intention of functioning as an interim successor to retired IMB head Jerry Rankin. Tom…
Baptist leader says 3/11 will be Japan’s 9/11
ATLANTA (ABP) — A Japanese Baptist leader predicted the March 11 earthquake and tsunami disaster would leave its mark on Japan the same way that America was changed after the terrorist attacks on 9/11. "3/11 will be etched on our…
Trustees elect Elliff president of IMB
DALLAS (ABP) — International Mission Board trustees have elected as president of the missions agency Tom Elliff — a longtime Oklahoma pastor, one-time missionary and former president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Elliff, 67, received a unanimous vote at the…
States caught in crossfire over guns in churches
The way Jonathan Wilkins sees it, members of his Baptist church in Thomaston, Ga., should have the right to carry guns into worship services to protect the congregation. Wilkins’ Baptist Tabernacle and a Georgia gun-rights association are challenging a new…
Virginia Baptist Foundation awards grants to ministries
RICHMOND, Va. — The Virginia Baptist Foundation has awarded grants totaling $20,000 to four Virginia Baptist ministry partners, according to Ronald C. Hall, president and CEO of the Foundation. “This ministry is made possible through the Christian stewardship of others,”…
WMUV, Bluefield training transformational leaders
BLUEFIELD, Va. — Both Woman’s Missionary Union of Virginia and Bluefield College are committed to training leaders who can transform their communities, say spokespersons for the organizations. While working in South Africa, Sara Hubble helped find families for abandoned babies….