“The danger is that we have a tendency to craft Jesus in our own image — a nice middle class American Jesus. And if we do this, we need to realize that when we gather to worship, we are no…
On church-state issues, Obama brings new perspective, incremental policy change
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Americans who expected President Obama to make swift and dramatic changes from his predecessor on church-state relations may be disappointed. In his first few months in office, Obama has indicated only a handful of alterations to President…
SECOND OPINION: Religious liberty lives in Virginia through Christ’s example
Tony Campolo has said that trying to mix the predominantly secular power of the state with the spiritual power of the Church is like trying to mix manure with ice cream. It doesn’t hurt the manure, but the ice cream…
Human rights offering helps Christians in Middle East plant house churches
FREMONT, Calif. (ABP) — She gets up early, traveling all day to teach Bible studies and lead worship services. She must remain unknown to keep the churches she works with safe. She does her work quietly, fearing persecution — or…
EDITORIAL: How solid is that wall?
Local fire ordinances have curtailed much of the pyrotechnical displays I remember from my childhood, but we will still find ways to celebrate the 4th of July. No doubt, you will, too. Independence Day will also be celebrated in churches…
Oppressed believers view separation of church and state differently from underside
For many Baptists in the United States, the separation of church and state is no more than a historical concept or fodder for the culture wars. For Baptist minority groups in other countries, however, it can be a matter of…
FAITH DIGEST
Childbirth riskier for Jehovah’s Witnesses. Pregnant women who are Je-hovah’s Witnesses are six times more likely to die during childbirth and three times more likely to have serious complications than the general population, a new study reveals. All of the…
Bluefield College hosts teens on a mission to ‘Impact Virginia’
BLUEFIELD — More than 200 youth from Baptist churches across Virginia swarmed the Bluefield College campus June 28-July 4 to make an "impact" on Greater Bluefield through service projects in the community. Virginia Baptist youth repair the roof on a…
Highest freedom is freely giving self to God, Baptist historian says
HOUSTON — Baptists must aspire to the kind of freedom that leads them to relinquish their autonomy to God, historian Walter Shurden told participants at the William H. Whitsitt Baptist Heritage Society’s annual meeting. Shurden received the society’s 2009 Courage…
FAITH DIGEST
Christianity Today cuts back. Christianity Today International, citing hard times in the publishing industry, is shutting down four publications and laying off 31 workers. Two magazines will fold later this year — Today’s Christian Woman and the Campus Life College…
Ministry network recognized, hailed as emerging trend at commissioning service
HOUSTON — Participants at a commissioning service held in conjunction with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship general assembly not only prayed for six field personnel assuming new assignments, but also recognized representatives of a ministry network serving in China. Pastor Steve…
CBF adopts budget, acknowledges ‘difficult fiscal year’
HOUSTON (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellow-ship adopted a $16.15 million budget but will begin the 2009-2010 fiscal year spending at 80 percent of projected income, anticipating continued reduced giving due to the economy. “It will come as no surprise…