ATLANTA (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention’s International Mission Board will reorganize over the next year to focus more on local churches’ involvement in missions and provide flexibility to reach people groups across geographical lines. At their Sept. 8-10 meeting…
Survey: Megachurches more intimate, believers less gullible than stereotypes
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A new survey by Baylor University researchers suggests that megachurches are more intimate, believers less gullible and atheism less prevalent than popular stereotypes would suggest. Results of the 2008 Baylor Religion Survey were released in a Sept….
‘Red-letter’ Christians can transcend partisan politics, Campolo insists
WACO, Texas (ABP) — “Red-letter” Christians committed to taking Christ’s teachings seriously have the potential to transform society in a way that moves beyond partisan politics, author and educator Tony Campolo told a recent ethics conference at Baylor University’s George…
Virginia Baptists disaster relief units ministering to hurricane victims
RICHMOND — Virginia Baptist disaster relief units are on the field in Texas following Hurricane Ike, reported Terry Raines, coordinator for mobile missions and disaster relief for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board. BP photo by John R. Kennedy Communities like…
FAITH DIGEST
Digital conservation of Dead Sea Scrolls started. Sixty years after their discovery, Israeli authorities have begun the process of conserving the Dead Sea Scrolls through digital technology. Israeli archaeologists said the project — now in its pilot stage — will…
SECOND OPINION: How do I spell trust? T-I-T-H-E
In the gospel, God has granted to believers many precious and magnificent promises, even that we may become partakers of the divine nature. And in this life he has promised to abundantly supply all our needs. Yet we live most…
Missions in a dangerous world
Imagine being invited to go on a short-term mission trip to a country closed to mission personnel and bordering a closed nation torn by civil war. The trip would facilitate ministry to refugees. Participants cannot disclose the underlying reason to…
Dellanna O’Brien, former WMU head, dies at 75
FRISCO, Texas (ABP) — Dellanna West O'Brien, who led the Southern Baptist Woman's Missionary Union through some of its most trying times, died Sept. 7 at age 75. She suffered what WMU officials described as “a massive cerebral bleed” Sept….
SECOND OPINION: Don’t use the ‘R’ word
Ben Stiller used to be one of my favorite comedians. He's lost my respect with his derogatory abuse of the word “retard” in his newest film, Tropic Thunder, which might better be named Topic Blunder. If you think my grief…
International worker advises: Avoid deception, but don’t show your hand
Deception never is an appropriate stance for mission workers, a former employee of both the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the International Mission Board insisted. But that's not the same as telling everything one knows or does, said Kent Parks, now…
Association’s soccer tournament attracts 200 Lynchburg-area Latinos
LYNCHBURG — Nearly 200 Latinos from the Lynchburg area gathered the Saturday before Labor Day in the city's Peaks View Park for a soccer tournament and picnic sponsored by the Lynchburg Baptist Association. Lynchburg association director of missions Robert Putt…
Work together
As one who once got kicked off a church committee for suggesting that the church maintain a balanced connection between the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and the Southern Baptist Convention, I read with interest the Aug. 21 letter from Russell H….