NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A May 4 vote to oust 71 dissident members of Nashville, Tenn., megachurch Two Rivers Baptist Church failed by four votes — less than half a percent. The 71 members are plaintiffs in a lawsuit filed…
Christ identifies with poor, Vestal tells Baylor students
WACO, Texas (ABP) — God identifies with the poor and the powerless, and Christians encounter Christ when they serve the weakest of the world's citizens, Daniel Vestal recently told a group of social-work students at Baylor University. “Concern for the…
Crowded SBC presidential field grows by 2: Avery Willis, Johnny Hunt
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — A crowded field of hopefuls for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency appears to be developing, with two high-profile candidates set to join three already-announced nominees. Retired SBC International Mission Board executive Avery Willis and Atlanta-area pastor…
Half of SBC churches could die before 2030, president predicts
CARY, N.C. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention is rapidly dying, and resistance to change could kill over half of the denomination's churches by 2030, the outgoing SBC president said May 1. Unless something is done to reverse the downward…
Half of SBC churches could die before 2030, president predicts
CARY, N.C. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention is rapidly dying, and resistance to change could kill over half of the denomination's churches by 2030, the outgoing SBC president said May 1. Unless something is done to reverse the downward…
Grassley targets ministries’ alleged abuse of tax laws
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sen. Chuck Grassley insists he’s not trying to impose his Baptist theology on Pentecostal and Charismatic ministries; he simply wants them to obey the tax laws. The Iowa Republican has drawn fire for using his position as…
Building relationships
Sutton Wirt, the oldest son of the pastor, stuck his head into the sanctuary of Burkeville Baptist Church and exclaimed: “There's more people in there than I've ever seen at church.” He was referring to the gathering of two congregations,…
Sudanese Baptists reunite after years-long division fueled by nation’s deadly civil war
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — After years of division precipitated by one of history's deadliest civil wars, Sudanese Baptists have finally — like their nation — reunited. The reunification of the Sudan Interior Church North and the Sudan Interior Church…
Chaplain launches ‘adopt a terrorist’ prayer campaign
WASHINGTON (RNS) — An Army Reserve chaplain has decided to do his individual part in the war on terror. He co-founded an Internet ministry to pray for terrorists. “Adopt a Terrorist for Prayer” was launched in March and features a…
Obama’s former pastor gives first TV interview
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Pastor Jeremiah Wright, who became a household name recently after video snippets of his sermons created a stir on the Internet and a headache for his most famous parishioner, is defending himself in an interview that was…
Key evangelical leaders endorse reconciliation
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Several prominent evangelical leaders have endorsed a “Reconciliation Referendum” that says Sen. Barack Obama's recent address on race did not go far enough and pushes church leaders to speak up more about the need to address racism….
Texas church, mired in controversy over gays in directory, loses pastor
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Brett Younger, pastor of Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, Texas, survived a vote to fire him last month but is leaving the church anyway — to become associate professor of preaching at Mercer University's…