PLANO, Texas (ABP) — Millions of the nation’s most vulnerable lie in bed each night struggling to win a seemingly hopeless battle — the rumbling sound of their empty stomachs drowning out any word of hope. But Christians nationwide involved…
Pastor accuses school district of duplicity in banning Obama speech
ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP) — A prominent black Southern Baptist pastor says a Texas school district should explain why it did not allow President Obama's Sept. 8 speech on education to be shown live in classrooms, but is planning later in…
Heeding the call: Historic church finds new energy in missions commitment
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABP) — When churches fall on hard economic times, some congregations reduce the amount they give to missions. A Kentucky Baptist pastor believes they should do the opposite. “I think churches are in a survival mentality right now,…
Heeding the call: Missional church reaches out through health care
Mission Frankfort Clinic director Pat Hinson (right) goes over charts with Benjamin Huneycutt, volunteer doctor, at the start of a shift. FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABP) — The Mission Frankfort Clinic is a godsend for an average of 40 to 50 uninsured…
Heeding the call: Churches taking ownership of Great Commission
First Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, is working closely with several churches in the southern Mexico states of Chiapas, Oaxaca and Tabasco. These children are from Chiapas and their fellowship, El Buen Samaritano, is currently in construction of a new…
Heeding the call: Baptist college grad launches development non-profit
PLAINVIEW, Texas (ABP) — A “light-bulb” moment on his second trip to Kenya helped clarify Micah Evans’ call to mission service. “We were building a wall for a church there and using the indigenous stone to the area,” said Evans,…
Wardens walk fine line on religious materials for inmates
SAN QUENTIN, Calif. (RNS) — For Jarvis Masters, his Buddhist journals bring peace from the panic he feels on death row in California’s San Quentin State Prison. An article titled “Life in Relation to Death” by a Tibetan Buddhist lama…
Documentary-style film asks, How did the gospel become so divisive?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Even though he always was taught religion and politics shouldn’t be discussed in polite company, Dan Merchant decided someone needed to start the conversation. In his documentary-style film, Lord, Save Us from Your Followers, which hits theaters…
Does Lit 101 lead to unbelief? Do teachers-in-training pray more?
WASHINGTON (RNS) — As college students return to campus, a new study suggests some could be in danger of losing their religion. Economics professor Miles Kimball and researchers from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research determined certain academic…
RIGHT OR WRONG: Religious liberty is at the core of ethics
I think the principle of religious liberty lies at the core of ethical decision-making, whether for an individual or a group. What do you think? I agree, because religious liberty is rooted in liberty of conscience, and some understanding of…
FAITH DIGEST
Most U.S. Catholics ambivalent about Latin Mass. Two years after Pope Benedict XVI eased restrictions on celebrating the Latin Mass, more than six in 10 American Catholics have no opinion on the return of the traditional liturgy, according to a…
EDITORIAL: Before we take up optometry
Way back in the 1980s when I was a young editor of The Deacon at the Baptist Sunday School Board (now renamed LifeWay, of course), Connie and I had the profound privilege of having James L. Sullivan, retired president of…