PORTSMOUTH — It started with a sewing pattern and a mission conference. Bruce Powers, pastor of Westhaven Baptist Church in Portsmouth, attended the MC2 conference sponsored by the VBMB last summer at Eagle Eyrie. Staffers of the Woman’s Missionary Union…
Young evangelicals tend to shun ‘conservative’ label, embrace ‘justice’
DULUTH, Ga. (ABP) — Younger evangelical pastors are less likely to self-identify as conservatives than older generations and more apt to view social justice as a gospel imperative, LifeWay Research director Ed Stetzer told a group of evangelical environmental activists….
What does it mean to be Baptist?
Some of the same theological disputes that divided Baptists throughout their first 400 years continue to distinguish different branches of the Baptist family tree in the early years of the 21st century, theologian James Leo Garrett said. And other challenges…
Virginia Baptist disaster relief responds to flash floods in neighboring West Virginia
GILBERT, W.Va. (BP) — In the wake of flash floods that washed away rural roads and even mountainsides over six southern West Virginia counties on Mother’s Day weekend, Virginia Baptists joined other Baptist disaster relief feeding units and mud-out crews…
Johnny Hunt predicts SBC will approve task force
WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP) — Greater funding of the Cooperative Program will occur when Southern Baptists have greater confidence their gifts support the priorities of North American church planting, global pioneer missions and theological education, declared Southern Baptist Convention President Johnny…
S.C. woman nominated as CBF moderator-elect
ATLANTA (ABP) — A graduate of Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond who has attended or worked only at churches aligned with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has been nominated as the group's moderator-elect. If elected as expected Christy McMillin-Goodwin, associate minister…
Report says U.S. feeling effects of global warming
A government climate-change report predicts increases in very high temperatures, which scientists say will have wide-ranging affects. WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new government study on climate change says the United States is already feeling effects of human-induced global warming….
Report says United States already feeling effects of global warming
A government climate-change report predicts increases in very high temperatures, which scientists say will have wide-ranging affects. WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new government study on climate change says the United States is already feeling effects of human-induced global warming….
SBC president supports resolution celebrating Obama’s election
WOODSTOCK, Ga. (ABP) — The president of the Southern Baptist Convention has voiced support for a proposed SBC resolution celebrating President Obama's election. SBC President Johnny Hunt is pastor of First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Ga. SBC president Johnny Hunt…
Christopher Chapman to pastor prominent Raleigh church
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — A historic and prominent North Carolina Baptist church welcomes a new pastor to the pulpit June 21. Christopher Chapman becomes pastor of First Baptist Church in Raleigh, N.C., a 1,400-member congregation organized in 1812. He moves…
Jimmy Carter says Palestinians in Gaza treated like animals
ATLANTA (ABP) — Former President Jimmy Carter is calling Israel’s 2-year-old blockade of Gaza an “atrocity” and saying people there are being treated like animals. “Tragically, the international community largely ignores the cries for help, while the citizens of Gaza…
Religious leaders call for inquiry into U.S. use of torture
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-profile religious leaders from various faiths is pushing President Obama to establish a commission of inquiry to investigate alleged United States-sanctioned use of torture since 9/11. Thirty-three religious leaders met with administration officials after…