Amid torrential downpours of rain and a tornado watch, a mission team from Beulah Baptist Church in Warsaw spent three days at Camp Piankatank, May 8–10, doing repairs and pressure washing and painting the cabins. Camp Piankatank is a Baptist…
NAMB trustees review evangelism initiative
PORTSMOUTH (BP) — The Southern Baptist Convention's North American Mission Board trustees heard plans for a new national evangelism initiative and elected Tim Patterson as their new chairman during a May 20-21 meeting in Portsmouth. In a week highlighted by…
EDITORIAL: May the better candidate win
I hesitate to say anything about the presidential race because my comments seem always to be construed as subtle endorsements of particular candidates. That's understandable I suppose. But since I don't even know yet who I'm going to vote for…
Pastors ask town to ban Sunday morning sports
HANOVER TOWNSHIP, N.J. — It is a weekly ordeal at the Rev. Donald Mossa's church. The moment the youth choir sings its last note, a swarm of parents descends to rush their kids to soccer games. Or they call to…
Conservatives warn of gay marriage lawsuits
WASHINGTON — California's decision to legalize same-sex marriage could “spawn lawsuits all over the country,” trampling states' rights and limiting religious freedom, a coalition of conservative groups warned May 29. The Washington-based Family Research Council issued that warning the same…
SBC officials reject idea of sex-offender database
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Citing Baptists' “belief in the autonomy of each local church,” a Southern Baptist Convention official announced May 10 that the denomination's Executive Committee would not support the creation of a database of sexual offenders in SBC churches….
SBC business items include bids to re-join BWA, oust churches
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention will consider rejoining the Baptist World Alliance, removing churches that hire women pastors and restricting agency heads from serving as SBC president. Messengers presented those and 20 other motions during the SBC annual…
Volunteers in missions: Short-term workers make long-term impact
COLUMBIA, Mo. (ABP) — Kevin and Naomi Scantlan of Columbia, Mo. feel called to international missions. But as integrated technology services analysts at University of Missouri Health Care and church lay leaders, committing to years abroad really isn't feasible. That's…
Baptists to have place to worship, baptize near historic Jordanian site
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Baptist visitors to Jordan will soon have a place to worship near the historic spot traditionally viewed as the site of Jesus' baptism. King Abdullah II bin Al Hussein of Jordan has conveyed a plot of land…
Volunteers in missions: Texas church’s reach extends to Macedonia’s families
PRIDDY, Texas (ABP) — Their church building may be small and unassuming, but members of one tiny Texas church are making a powerful impact on children living in the ghetto of Skojpe, Macedonia. A few years ago, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship…
God uses broken vessels, pastors are assured
INDIANAPOLIS—God calls and uses broken people for his service, participants at the Monday morning session of the Southern Baptist Pastors Conference learned. Brokenness is “the recognition of our shattered pride without a need to glue it back together again,” said…
Establishment candidate Johnny Hunt wins SBC presidency on 1st ballot
INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) – Atlanta-area pastor Johnny Hunt was elected Southern Baptist Convention president over five contenders on the first ballot June 10, returning control of the 16 million-member denomination to its fundamentalist establishment. On the first day of the 2008…