The dusty roads of Sudan are a long way from Mainstreet, Virginia. Separated by thousands of miles, a chasm of ideology and an ocean of blood, most Virginia Baptists have been slow to recognize and even slower to respond to…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Jonathan Hillard, to First Church, Gretna, as pastor. • Matthew Teves, to Sterling Park Church, Sterling, as pastor. • Armando de la Merced, to Grace Filipino Church, Woodbridge, as pastor. • Joey Giles, to James Square Church,…
Illinois Baptist pastor killed in service
A lone gunman entered the sprawling First Baptist Church of Maryville, Ill., Sunday morning, March 8, during its 8:15 a.m. service and after exchanging words with the pastor who had stepped down from the pulpit to greet the man, he…
Supreme Court: Sect can’t force Utah city to erect monument’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In a groundbreaking, but limited, free-speech case the Supreme Court said the city of Pleasant Grove, Utah, can’t be forced to accept the gift of a monument to a small religious sect’s precepts — even though the…
Arkansas guns-in-church bill dies in state Senate
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP) — A highly publicized bill that would have allowed worshipers to carry concealed weapons in Arkansas churches died Feb. 25 in the state Senate. The proposal to amend the state’s concealed-weapons law to remove “any church…
Gift of $2 million to fund new chapel on Central Seminary campus
SHAWNEE, Kan. (ABP) — Central Baptist Theological Seminary will be able to build a chapel on its new Shawnee, Kan., campus thanks to a $2 million gift from a prominent Baptist family foundation. The John and Eula Mae Baugh Foundation…
Widow of slain pastor says she isn’t angry at accused killer
MARYVILLE, Ill. (ABP) — The widow of slain Baptist pastor Fred Winters says she harbors no anger toward her husband's alleged murderer. "I do not have any hatred or even hard feelings toward him," Cindy Winters said March 16 on…
Church gathers week after pastor slain
MARYVILLE, Ill. (ABP) — One of a select fraternity of pastors who has experienced a church shooting consoled and challenged an Illinois Baptist congregation one week after its popular pastor was fatally shot while preaching his Sunday sermon. "You are…
Church gathers for worship week after pastor slain
MARYVILLE, Ill. (ABP) — One of a select fraternity of pastors who has experienced a church shooting consoled and challenged an Illinois Baptist congregation one week after its popular pastor was fatally shot while preaching his Sunday sermon. "You are…
Slain Baptist pastor hailed as hero, martyr
MARYVILLE, Ill. (ABP) — A fellow pastor and former church member hailed slain Baptist preacher Fred Winters as a "hero and a martyr" at a memorial service at First Baptist Church of Maryville, Ill., March 13. "I believe with all…
Slain Baptist pastor hailed as hero, martyr
A hearse carries the body of Fred Winters from First Baptist Church in Maryville, Ill., where he was pastor for 22 years. MARYVILLE, Ill. (ABP) — A fellow pastor and former church member hailed slain Baptist preacher Fred Winters as…
Freeman: For women, proper question not ‘ordination,’ but ‘calling’
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C. (ABP) — Asking whether women should be ordained to the ministry is the wrong question, according to Baptist professor Curtis Freeman. “The question is, ‘Who is being gifted in the church?’” said Freeman, research professor of theology…