HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (BP) — Shortly before the fall of Saigon in 1975, Le Quoc Chanh, pastor of Grace Baptist Church in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City), came with his wife and young son to the home…
Constitutionality of Christian prison planned in Oklahoma disputed
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A church-state watchdog group maintains a Christian prison proposed in Oklahoma probably would be unconstitutional. But the Baptist minister who hopes to open the nation’s first faith-based prison says he is confident it will pass constitutional muster….
Bluefield celebrates annual Baptist Heritage Day
BLUEFIELD — Bluefield College celebrated its history with an annual Baptist Heritage Day ceremony on campus in October, featuring a keynote address from an authority on Baptist life — James M. Dunn, former executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee…
Creating carol for the troops inspires student, prof at Ky. Baptist school
The Chamber Choir at Campbellsville University sings the debut performance of "What is Christmas?" (Campbellsville U.) CAMPBELLSVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Thousands of American soldiers will be apart from their families this Christmas, but Campbellsville University graduate student Matt Hodge has…
Former high-profile preacher admits to fathering child
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — A former pastor once touted by Southern Baptist leaders as America's next great black preacher has admitted to fathering the child of a woman who claims he raped her during a counseling session in 2004. Before…
Clergy drop in poll rating honesty and ethics of professions
PRINCETON, N.J. (ABP) — Americans' views of the honesty and ethics of clergypersons has dropped to a three-decade low, according to the latest Gallup poll. The annual ranking of ethics of various professions found that 50 percent of Americans rated…
Baptist churches encouraged to invite a woman to preach
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry is seeking pulpits for an annual emphasis to promote and encourage women preachers. The organization, which promotes and nurtures Baptist women in church leadership roles, has begun soliciting churches for the fourth Martha…
Baptist churches encouraged to invite a woman to preach in February
ATLANTA (ABP) — Baptist Women in Ministry is seeking pulpits for an annual emphasis to promote and encourage women preachers. The organization, which promotes and nurtures Baptist women in church leadership roles, has begun soliciting churches for the fourth Martha…
Texas cowboy pastor braving elements, hunger to focus on needy
Pastor Jason Norton of King’s Trail Cowboy Church in Van Alstyne, Texas, collects goods for needy families. VAN ALSTYNE, Texas (ABP) — Rain and snow don’t deter mail delivery, at least according to the old saying. Neither can they deter…
Rick Warren breaks silence on Ugandan anti-gay law
LAKE FOREST, Calif. (ABP) — After significant criticism of his previous reticence on the subject, widely known Baptist pastor Rick Warren spoke out publicly Dec. 10 against draconian anti-gay legislation pending in Uganda's Parliament. Rick Warren, pastor of Saddleback Church…
Under Molly Marshall’s presidency, Central Seminary sees turnaround
An architect's rendering of the interior of Central Seminary's Baugh-Marshall Chapel, currently under construction. (Courtesy CBTS) SHAWNEE, Kan. (ABP) — Students and faculty at Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., will have a lot to celebrate on Jan. 1…
Carter says religion can help end violence against women
ATLANTA (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter recently told the world's largest interfaith gathering that religion has a vital role to play in ending "the global scourge of discrimination and violence against women." Speaking by remote video from Atlanta to…