HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam (ABP) — Baptists in Vietnam will reach a milestone when they hold their first legal national conference Jan. 10-12. An expected 400 people from 13 southern provinces and cities are expected for the meeting in…
Attempt at dialogue with Muslims inspires further criticism of NAE
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The National Association of Evangelicals is under attack again from some prominent Christian conservatives, this time for its involvement in an attempt at Muslim-Christian dialogue. Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President Al Mohler, former presidential candidate Gary Bauer…
Christians in Kenya analyze violence, administer aid, as unrest continues
NAIROBI, Kenya (ABP) — Still-simmering violence sparked by disputed elections in Kenya continues to affect Baptist organizations and missionaries in the previously stable nation. Gunfire erupted Jan. 7 in Limuru, a small town less than half a mile from Kenya…
Investigators say arson unlikely in Jacksonville church fire
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — There is no evidence of arson in the Dec. 23 fire that consumed the sanctuary of Hendricks Avenue Baptist Church in Jacksonville, Fla., but the destruction was so complete that the exact cause will likely never…
Opinion: Care about politics? Begin with the church
Politics is intoxicating, especially in election season, and especially in a time of such high drama in this particular presidential campaign. In future weeks, I will undoubtedly be writing about the elections of 2008. But in this first offering of…
Time to revamp discipleship methods? Some experts say, ‘Absolutely, yes’
(ABP) — More than two decades after he helped many Baptist churches breathe new life into discipleship training, Roy Edgemon believes it's time to take a new look at how churches make disciples. In the early 1980s, the Southern Baptist…
In death-penalty arguments, justices focus on lethal-injection procedure
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court, which is poised to decide if the nation's most widely used form of capital punishment is unconstitutional, seemed preoccupied with the mechanics of lethal injection during arguments in the case Jan. 7. The justices…
Trial set for June as dismissed prof Klouda makes a life in Indiana
UPLAND, Ind. (ABP) — Sheri Klouda sparked denominational — and national — debate when she cried foul last year over her dismissal from teaching at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, allegedly because of her gender. Ten months later and anticipating a…
Huckabee, Obama victories in Iowa spotlight religion in 2008 campaign
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Come-from-behind wins by overtly Christian presidential candidates in the Jan. 3 Iowa caucuses will put even more of the spotlight on faith issues in the 2008 election cycle, according to two experts on religion and politics. Baptist…
Kenya violence affects Wayland students
LIMURU, Kenya (ABP) — Several students attending Wayland Baptist University's Kenya campus have lost family members in the recent violence that has plagued the nation. School administrators are monitoring the situation to determine whether to postpone the start of a…
Buckner postpones Kenya trips due to political unrest
DALLAS (ABP) — Buckner International, a Baptist family-service agency based in Texas, has postponed two mission trips to Kenya in light of political unrest there, officials said. Ethnic violence Jan. 1 followed a disputed presidential election. Thousands of Kenyans have…
BWA officials condemn violence against Christians in Indian state
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Baptists and other Christians in an overwhelmingly Hindu state in India fell victim to significant violence during the Christmas holiday, according to Baptist World Alliance officials. Attacks began Dec. 23 in the state of Orissa,…