WICHITA FALLS, Texas (ABP) — Cheryl Ritchie did not wake up one morning and say, “I’m going to collect school supplies for the students.” But she did wake up to the needs of those in her own small city, she…
Blessing Schools: Baptist college’s literacy program hopes to spread
WACO, Texas (ABP) — An encounter with a woman at a local middle school eight years ago underscored for Baylor University education professor Randy Wood the impact education has on parents — especially Hispanic immigrants with little or no English…
Edward Kennedy’s 1983 speech at Liberty articulated view of faith
RICHMOND — Senator Edward M. Kennedy, whose death at 77 following a battle with brain cancer was announced early Aug. 26, left his mark on wide-ranging legislation, including civil rights, health care, education, voting rights and labor. But the scion…
Blessing Schools: Churches work with public schools to bless, improve
HOUSTON (ABP) — Some American Christians may have written off public education, but others are discovering innovative ways to develop meaningful relationships with public schools. Over the last decade, the Exodus Mandate captured the attention of some conservative evangelicals with…
Torture opponents renew calls for inquest after release of CIA report
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Religious anti-torture groups said the Aug. 24 release of a partially declassified 2004 CIA report on treatment of terrorism suspects justified their critique of Bush administration policies on detainee treatment. But they also said the decision by…
Virginia youth minister faces additional charges
YORK, Va. (ABP) — A Southern Baptist youth pastor arrested Aug. 13 on sex charges involving a teenage girl now faces more than 30 additional charges involving a second teenager. Police originally charged Jack Duffer, 40, youth minister at Seaford…
Black Baptist group elects new leader
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (ABP) — A New Jersey pastor who formerly worked for American Baptist Churches USA has been chosen to lead one of America's largest black Baptist denominations. Walter Parrish III, senior pastor of Union Baptist Church in Montclair, N.J.,…
Black Baptist group elects new leader
Walter Parrish III takes over Jan. 1 as general secretary of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. MONTCLAIR, N.J. (ABP) — A New Jersey pastor who formerly worked for American Baptist Churches USA has been chosen to lead one of…
Virginia youth minister faces additional charges
YORK (ABP) — A Southern Baptist youth pastor arrested Aug. 13 on sex charges involving a teenage girl now faces more than 30 additional charges involving a second teenager. Police originally charged Jack Duffer, 40, youth minister at Seaford Baptist…
Black Baptist group elects new leader
MONTCLAIR, N.J. (ABP) — A New Jersey pastor who formerly worked for American Baptist Churches USA has been chosen to lead one of America's largest black Baptist denominations. Walter Parrish III, senior pastor of Union Baptist Church in Montclair, N.J.,…
Texas governor signs landmark human-trafficking legislation
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Texas has become the first state in the nation to provide assistance to domestic human trafficking victims with a landmark law that Gov. Rick Perry (R) signed into law Aug. 20. Among the groups that helped…
Baylor, Buckner partnership plants seeds of hope in Kenya
Rose Wasilwa, regional director in Kitale for Buckner Kenya; Neal Knighton of Buckner International; and Katy Reynolds participate in the dedication of the Reynolds Center in Kitale, Kenya (Buckner photo). KITALE, Kenya (ABP) — One family’s desire to honor its…