VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (ABP) — In October, the American Baptist Churches USA will convene the first-ever national conference for Burmese Baptist leaders serving in the United States. More than 30 pastors and lay leaders are expected to attend the Oct….
Amid Criswell College turmoil, accrediting probation lifted
DALLAS (ABP) — A bright spot has appeared amidst leadership turmoil at Dallas-based Criswell College: the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools has removed the school from its probation list. The accrediting agency lifted the year-long probation at its June…
Playground brings hope to rural Miss. county
ATLANTA (ABP) -– It was a beautiful moment for the people of Goodman, Miss., and the teenagers from First Baptist Church in Greenwood, S.C. After days of building, the teens completed a new playground in Goodman — where children once…
Johnson resigns from Criswell after public spat with Jeffress
Criswell President Jerry Johnson DALLAS (ABP) — Criswell College President Jerry Johnson resigned Aug. 5, after a public clash with a powerful local pastor over the institution’s future. His resignation, accepted during a called session of the college trustees’ executive…
Virginia Baptists’ MC2 provides opportunities for doing missions
LYNCHBURG — Virginia Baptists' MC2 Missions Connection Celebration involves participants of all ages in doing missions. Each morning, youth and adult teams participated in mission/service projects throughout the Lynchburg area. Three projects from this year's MC2, held at Eagle Eyrie…
Athlete Strait seeks to set straight-and-narrow example
JACKSON, Tenn. — Cody Strait has traded red for blue, but his message is still about white — as in Christian purity. After four years with the Cincinnati Reds organization, Strait, from Sour Lake, was traded to the Kansas City…
Christian, Muslim leaders report progress at Yale talks
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (RNS) — Following up on a public exchange of letters last year about the need for Christian and Muslim understanding, leaders and scholars representing both faiths have begun the task of trying to make their calls more…
Children’s team launches Switzerland partnership
Interlaken, a beautiful city nestled between two lakes in the Alpine region of Switzerland, was the setting for the International Baptist Convention's annual summer assembly July 5-11. It was a special occasion as the IBC celebrated its 50th anniversary and…
Fredericksburg’s ‘non-sectarian’ prayers upheld
FREDERICKSBURG (ABP) — Sandra Day O'Connor has had her say again on an important church-state decision, in this case saying a Virginia city council's practice of offering non-sectarian prayers does not violate the United States Constitution. The retired U.S. Supreme…
Church observers ask: Where have all the good men gone?
DALLAS (ABP) — It's not just your imagination. Men are disappearing from the church. According to the Barna Research Group, there are 11 million to 13 million more American women who are born again than there are born-again men. While…
EDITORIAL: Pewboy gets the message
Pewboy is in the driveway washing the mud off his pickup while Altarego witnesses the transformation from the shade. He is trying unsuccessfully to ignore the chatter of his companion. Pewboy is quite impressed that the South Carolina legislature unanimously…
Virginia Baptist Homes offers additional choices
RICHMOND — With the trend toward consumers wanting more choices and with the widespread availability of long-term care insurance, Virginia Baptist Homes has added a second pricing option, offering flexibility and choice. The fee-for-services option has recently become available at…