WASHINGTON (ABP) — At least 30 people burned to death in a church in Kenya Jan. 1 after an election dispute touched off ethnic strife, according to multiple news reports. The dead, who had been barricaded inside the church, were…
What remains
The souvenir booklet from the dedication of the building was fittingly lavish for a church edifice which rivaled any house of worship in America. Exactly a century ago, in 1908, the Second Baptist Church of St. Louis, Mo., then the…
CP survey sent to SBC churches
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) — On Friday, Nov. 9, Executive Committee President Morris H. Chapman mailed a letter to every church pastor in the Southern Baptist Convention asking him or her to participate in a Cooperative Program/ Stewardship survey. Chapman said…
OUT LOUD
“Ultimately, it is Muslims who must excise the scourge of radicalism from Islam. From within. We can help by behaving like the generous, just and benevolent society moderate Muslims once considered us to be.” Oliver “Buzz” Thomas The minister and…
Survey studies ministers’ salaries
DALLAS — A question frequently asked by church finance committees, personnel committees, pastors, administrators and search committees is “How does our salary range compare with what other churches are paying?” By the middle of June, 2008 figures for salaries and…
Mayors’ report says cities seeing more emergency food requests
WASHINGTON (RNS) — A majority of U.S. cities participating in a recent survey have seen an increase in the number of requests for emergency food assistance, the U.S. Conference of Mayors reports. The Washington-based conference recently issued its annual Hunger…
Author John Grisham joins lineup of New Baptist Convenant speakers
ATLANTA (ABP) — Mega-author John Grisham, whose recent novels have revealed his deeply rooted Christian faith, will deliver a rare public speech at the New Baptist Covenant meeting in late January. Grisham, a member of University Baptist Church in Charlottesville,…
College students’ spiritual interests increase; worship attendance drops
LOS ANGELES (RNS) — Though college students' attendance at worship services declines, their interest in spiritual matters grows during their time on campus, a new UCLA study shows. UCLA's Higher Education Re-search Institute compared the views of students who were…
SBC presidency showdown looms after Mohler announces intention
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Evangelical scholar and seminary president Al Mohler will be nominated for the Southern Baptist Convention presidency next June, but he likely will face opposition for the prominent post. Mohler, president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in…
RIGHT OR WRONG
The other day, my Christian neighbor and I had an “across the fence” discussion that turned to theology. When I mildly disagreed with him, he responded, “You are persecuting me!” and walked away. Just what constitutes “persecution for righteousness sake”?…
‘In God We Trust’ will move on coins
WASHINGTON (RNS) — The national motto “In God We Trust” will move from the edge of new dollar coins honoring U.S. presidents to the front or back of the currency. A provision in the $555 billion domestic spending bill for…
High-tech audio Bibles bring Scriptures to life, users say
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (RNS) — Often when Mike Sheppard listens to the stories of the Crucifixion or Mary's discovery of the empty tomb, he gets so distracted he almost forgets he's behind the wheel. “There are points in the New Testament…