TOCCOA, Ga. (ABP) — The widow of a Baptist pastor killed last September in a botched drug arrest has sent notice that she intends to sue the city of Toccoa, Ga., and/or a three-county narcotics-enforcement unit involved in his shooting….
Baptist camp hires interim to replace director charged with pedophilia
HERTFORD, N.C. (ABP) — A Baptist association in North Carolina has hired an interim replacement for a camp director arrested last summer on molestation charges. Chowan Baptist Association has employed Matt Thomas, pastor of Riverside Baptist Church in Elizabeth City,…
Church overlooks budget shortfall to give entire offering to Haiti relief
AMARILLO, Texas (ABP) — One Baptist congregation is putting ministry to the hurting in another part of the world ahead of its own financial woes. Paramount Baptist Church in Amarillo, Texas, gave $63,100 to Texas Baptist Men for disaster-relief work…
UCC spokesman says decision to air Tebow Super Bowl ad ‘arbitrary’
CLEVELAND (ABP) — A spokesman for the United Church of Christ says the CBS decision to air a purportedly anti-abortion ad featuring Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Tim Tebow during the Super Bowl shows favoritism to some religious viewpoints over others. Focus…
In jobs-focused State of the Union, Obama also tackles gays in military
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Obama, in his first official State of the Union address Jan. 27, focused largely on kitchen-table issues and mainly avoided controversial social topics. But he did signal his intent to push harder to allow gay military…
Baptists challenged to wrestle with tough issues of faith and science
AUSTIN—Baylor theology professor Barry Harvey took just two texts to a seminar on science and faith—the Bible and Darwin’s Origin of Species. “Far too often, (discussing faith and science) generates heat rather than light,” Harvey said, introducing the all-day seminar,…
Former California Baptist exec Bill Hogue dead at 82
BROWNWOOD, Texas (ABP) — C.B. "Bill" Hogue, executive director emeritus of the California Southern Baptist Convention, died Jan. 26 in Brownwood, Texas. He observed his 82nd birthday on Jan. 13 and had been receiving treatment for cancer. Hogue was a…
Former Southwest Baptist University athlete pleads guilty to assault
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — A former football player at Southwest Baptist University pleaded guilty Jan. 25 to second-degree assault in a 2006 beating that left a Bolivar, Mo., man permanently disabled. Rony Saintil as pictured in his jail booking photo…
ABC seeks doctors, nurses for weeklong stints in Haiti
VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — Although aid organizations are discouraging volunteers without disaster or medical expertise from descending on Haiti right now, American Baptist Churches USA says there is still an acute need for medical professionals in the earthquake-devastated country….
Baptist World Aid workers say situation in Haiti still desperate
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist rescue team in Haiti described the situation there as desperate more than two weeks after a massive earthquake the devastated the island nation Jan. 12. Bela Szilagyi, director of Hungarian Baptist Aid and…
Baptist World Aid workers say situation in Haiti still desperate
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — A Baptist rescue team in Haiti described the situation there as still desperate — more than two weeks after a massive earthquake devastated much of the impoverished nation Jan. 12. A BWAid Rescue 24 team…
Former pastor plans to appeal murder conviction
WACO, Texas (ABP) — A former Baptist preacher sentenced to 65 years for murdering his wife plans to appeal his conviction. Local media in Waco, Texas, reported that an attorney representing Matt Baker filed a notice of appeal with 19th…