DIDCOT, England (ABP) — The urgent need for action on global climate change is the subject on which a 217-year-old British Baptist missionary-sending organization has chosen to write what its leaders believe to be the group's first-ever open letter to…
International Adoption: Celebrating an adopted child’s cultural heritage
TULSA, Okla. (ABP) — Couples who adopt children of another race — either internationally or domestically — determine what aspects of the child’s culture to incorporate into the family’s life. Studies show that children who learn about their heritage have…
International Adoption: Grandparents are an important part of the picture
HARRISONVILLE, Mo. (ABP) — Wade and Nellie Paris of Harrisonville, Mo., already know the blessings of adopting children from a different culture. Now they know a second round of blessings as grandparents to international adoptees. In 1971, they adopted 7-month-old…
International Adoption: Texas family listens to God, adopts Ethiopian child
The Krawietz family adopted Minte from Ethiopia in September 2009. “Every once in a while I take a step back and look at our family and say, ‘Wow, we could have missed this,’” Cyndi Krawietz said. (PHOTO/Jenny Pope/Buckner) ROCKWALL, Texas…
International Adoption: Family finds love in Korea — three times
After adopting their daughter, Abby, as an infant, the Skaggs decided to adopt a second time from Korea. “We named him Dillon because we loved the name, and Dillon International had become such a big part of our lives,” Mike…
Thousands of acts of kindness memorialize church-bus-crash victim
SHREVEPORT, La. (ABP) — On Oct. 29 lawyers took cases pro bono, a man installed a water heater for a disabled man who previously showered on his back porch, and a man stopping to give a stranded motorist a jump…
Jeff Zurheide, pastor in historic pulpits, loses battle with cancer
NEW LONDON, N.H. (ABP) — A pastor who served both historic American Baptist and Southern Baptist churches died Oct. 28, nearly six years after being diagnosed with cancer. Jeff Zurheide In January 2004 Jeff Zurheide left First Baptist Church in…
International Adoption: It’s more than just a hot Hollywood trend
Some professionals resist placing children with couples of a different race. (ABP) — Trans-cultural adoption has become chic. Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt adopted children from Ethiopia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Pop singer Madonna adopted children from Malawi. And…
Former Alabama pastor charged with child abuse, porn possession
ANDALUSIA, Ala. (ABP) — A former Alabama Baptist pastor is being held on $24.2 million bond after his arrest Oct. 21 on 152 counts of possessing child pornography and sexual abuse of young boys. Ralph Lee Aaron, 54, was fired…
Texas Baptist philanthropist Paul Meyer dead at 81
(ABP) — Philanthropist Paul Meyer died Oct. 25 in Waco, Texas. He was 81. A leading entrepreneur, Meyer was a major supporter of Baylor University and a number of other charitable institutions and causes. Meyer “Paul Meyer’s life not only…
Court in Uzbekistan finds Baptists guilty of running kids’ camp
TASHKENT, Uzbekistan (ABP) — A judge in Uzbekistan has found three Baptist leaders guilty of tax evasion and involving children in religious activities without their parents' permission, ending a high-profile trial in the Uzbek capital city of Tashkent Oct. 29….
Southwestern Seminary adopts statement asserting male headship
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary has adopted a policy statement that declares men and women equal before God but created for specific roles of headship and submission in the church and home. Seminary trustees voted Oct….