(240 words) (ABP) — A biopic about evangelist Billy Graham hit theaters with a thud its opening weekend Oct. 10-12, earning far less than other religion-themed movies like Fireproof and Bill Maher's agnostic comedy documentary Religulous. Billy: The Early Years,…
‘Billy: The Early Years’
falls flat in box office
(240 words) (ABP) — A biopic about evangelist Billy Graham hit theaters with a thud its opening weekend Oct. 10-12, earning far less than other religion-themed movies like Fireproof and Bill Maher's agnostic comedy documentary Religulous. Armie Hammer portrays evangelist…
CBF field personnel minister among Middle Eastern group
(408 words) ATLANTA (ABP) — Frank Morrow was in the Middle East doing relief work after a natural disaster when a local official asked, “Why do you do what you do? Why did you come?” Morrow opened a paperback Bible and shared…
Pastor says he’s ‘poli-ticked’ about election
(855 words) GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — At a time when polls indicate growing distaste for politics in the pulpit, one Southern Baptist mega-pastor is launching a high-profile sermon series aimed at getting Christians off the bench and into political action….
Everett sermon at Southwestern may be sign of thaw in relations
(421 words) FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — In a sign that once-frosty relations between the Baptist General Convention of Texas and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary may be thawing, the BGCT's new executive director, Randel Everett, spoke there Oct. 15. "I…
Candidates spar over abortion in final presidential debate
(806 words) HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (ABP) — John McCain and Barack Obama differed sharply over the legality of abortion in their third and final presidential debate Oct.15 at Hofstra University, in one of the only mentions in this year’s presidential debates…
Megachurches experience growth through multiple satellite locations
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Mega-churches known for big buildings, big schools and big crowds continue to grow. But a new study detects shifts in the way they are expanding. “The general growth pattern is that about 90 percent of mega-churches report…
Fewer than three-dozen churches risk tax-exempt status through endorsements
WASHINGTON (ABP) — While only 33 churches signed up to participate in a conservative Christian group's Pulpit Freedom Sunday Sept. 28, planners viewed it as a success. That is, organizers said, because its stated purpose was not to inject politics…
Pastors, church leaders at Catalyst confab
ATLANTA — Just over a hundred Virginia Baptists were among the more than 12,000 people converging on The Arena in suburban Atlanta's Gwinnett Center for the ninth annual Catalyst Conference, hosted by Andy Stanley, pastor of North Point Community Church…
Tell the good news
COLUMBIA, Mo. — Clyde Chiles has seen a lot of changes in evangelistic approaches in his 52 years as an active vocational evangelist. But he believes the message must not change, and evangelists always must demonstrate integrity. Chiles, one of…
Catalyst worth the effort, says board staffer
You never know if all the work, all the calls, all the money, all the preparation and all the time are really worth it. Then something will happen to let you know that the Catalyst get-away is more than worth…
Examine ethics of evangelistic methods, professor urges
Baptists may need to take a second look at their evangelism ethics, a professor of pastoral theology and ethics believes. Some forms of evangelism may not fit with a Christian lifestyle, according to Terry Rosell, professor at Central Baptist Theological…