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…
OUT LOUD
“Singling out minarets in this ban is tantamount to isolating Islam and relegating it to second-class status.” Al Mohler The president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., was blogging about the recent vote in Switzerland to ban construction…
HERITAGE: In the swamps of Southampton
Lights — flickering candles inside Mason jars — shone in the darkness in the backcountry of Southampton County. The luminaries let visitors know they had arrived at Hebron Baptist Church and helped guide footsteps to the front doors of the…
Baptist state convention budgets feeling effects of shaky economy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Feeling the effects of a bad economy, several Southern Baptist Convention-affiliated state and regional conventions reduced budgets in annual meetings, held in recent weeks across the nation. The Baptist General Convention of Texas, which includes 4,500…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
CHRISTMAS MUSIC & DRAMA • Alum Spring Church, Culpeper; “The Dawn of Redeeming Grace,” Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. • Ash Avenue Church, South Boston; “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year,” Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. • Bagby…
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…