BROWNWOOD, Texas (ABP) — When it comes to questions concerning end-of-life issues, the answers sometimes don't come any easier for Christians than they do for other people. While each year the Southern Baptist Convention devotes Sunday school lesson material to…
Louisiana Baptists pass measure taking full control of institutions
ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) — Messengers to the Louisiana Baptist Convention annual meeting Nov. 12-13 passed without discussion a measure that ensures the convention has complete control of its college and other affiliated institutions. The measure amended the charter of convention-related…
South Carolina Baptists OK move toward 50-50 CP split
FLORENCE, S.C. (ABP) — South Carolina Baptists have approved budget projections that will gradually result in the state convention forwarding 50 percent of all undesignated receipts to the Southern Baptist Convention. Messengers at the South Carolina Baptist Convention meeting, held…
Critics: Doctrinal standard leaves evangelical society ‘exposed’
SAN DIEGO (ABP) – To its critics, the current doctrinal standard of the Evangelical Theological Society is as skimpy as a bikini. And two of the society's members have put forth a proposal to tighten the document into a more…
Evangelical scholar: Africans understand Old Testament better than Westerners
SAN DIEGO (ABP) – African Christians tend to understand and appreciate the Old Testament far better than their Western counterparts, author Philip Jenkins told his fellow evangelical scholars Nov. 15. Jenkins, a professor of religious studies and history at Pennsylvania…
Ky. Baptists elect officers unopposed, hear ‘troubling’ report on spirituality
ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (ABP) – Messengers to the Kentucky Baptist Convention's annual meeting Nov. 13-14 elected all of the body's officers by acclamation, decided to shorten next year's annual meeting and heard a sobering report on the theological views of average…
Florida Baptists say alcohol use disqualifies leaders from service
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — Only teetotalers will be allowed to serve as trustees of the Florida Baptist Convention's agencies and boards, as a result of a vote at the convention's annual meeting. With no discussion and less than half…
Keith Beene, 40, dies unexpectedly; led communicators’ association
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (ABP) – Keith Beene, the 40-year-old administrator of a professional society for Baptist communications professionals, died unexpectedly in the early hours of Nov. 16, according to the group's president. David Winfrey, president of the Baptist Communicators Association, said…
Church starters begin pioneering work in mountains of India
ATLANTA (ABP) — For five years, Sam Bandela has worked among hill tribes in the mountainous central region of India. As tsunami relief and personal challenges intervened, Bandela struggled to find trusted local partners, train indigenous church planters and fund…
Budget changes only topic of discussion during Virginia Baptist meeting
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists increased their support for a variety of state, national and international ministries – and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding…
Budget changes only topic of discussion during Virginia Baptist meeting
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists increased their support for a variety of state, national and international ministries – and for the second year in a row persuaded their budget committee to modify its proposal because of concerns about funding…
How’s it going in Blacksburg?
BLACKSBURG — In the months since April 16, we have heard the question many times, “How's it going in Blacksburg?” As we remember our friend Brian Bluhm and the others who lost their lives that day, the answer of how…