SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (ABP) — When young, charismatic Christian publisher Jason Christy was tapped two years ago to lead the powerful Christian Coalition, the group's leaders praised him for his ability “to inspire and encourage people of faith to action.” But…
Christian themes in Potter books make good evangelism tools, some say
DALLAS (ABP) — J.K. Rowling isn't likely to repeat John Lennon's mistake. She probably won't compare the record-setting popularity of her Harry Potter books to that of Jesus Christ, but the global reach of the title character's adventures is undeniable….
2nd Korean Christian hostage killed; Taliban set new exchange deadline
KABUL (ABP) — A second Christian hostage from South Korea has been killed by Taliban fighters, the Associated Press reported July 31. Twenty-one of the 23 South Koreans abducted July 19 remain hostages after police found the body of Shim…
House passes agriculture bill without reform amendment
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Despite pleas from a wide coalition of religious, free-trade and anti-hunger groups, the House passed a massive agriculture bill July 27 with only a handful of reforms. The chamber approved the 2007 Farm Bill on a mostly…
Breakaway agencies could amend charters, Mo. convention concedes
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Convention's Executive Board has abandoned its contention that trustees of five institutions acted illegally when they changed their charters to elect their own board members. Convention lawyers agreed at a July 18…
Bottled water craze may find way into late Jerry Falwell’s legacy
LYNCHBURG—Move over, Perrier. The next designer bottled water may come out of Lynchburg, courtesy of the late Jerry Falwell. Liberty University, the school founded by the fundamentalist Baptist evangelist who died May 15, has announced that it will bottle water…
Baptist morality activist arrested on sex-for-hire charges in N.C.
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — Coy Privette, the president of a Christian morality group and a former state legislator and Southern Baptist Convention leader, has been arrested on prostitution-related charges in North Carolina. Privette, the president of the Christian Action League…
VIRGINIA BRIEFS
BTSR reorganizes development office. Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond has reorganized its development office to include include fund development, congregational relations, communications and alumni relations, new president Ron Crawford announced July 3. In addition, new staff members have been named…
MID-ATLANTIC BRIEFS
WFU dean receives Baptist Award. Bill J. Leonard, dean and professor of church history at the divinity school of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, N.C., has received the 2007 W. O. Carver Distinguished Service Award from the Baptist History and…
EDITORIAL: Aunt Ida confronts the INS
Dear Jimmy, Your poor uncle is as confused as a termite in a yo yo. We thought we were helping a young couple and at the same time gettin' some needed work done around the place, but now it seems…
California Baptists create competing state convention to support SBC
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (ABP)—Southern Baptists in California have started a new alternative state convention that will compete with the 67-year-old California Southern Baptist Convention for denominational loyalty. California is the fourth state to witness such a move, joining Texas, Missouri…
SECOND OPINION: What would Marlo do?
Marlo Rodriguez is a 24-year-old illegal immigrant in Virginia—euphemistically called “undocumented” by the press and other politically correct operatives. He came to Northern Virginia 16 years ago, when he was only 8. His parents, together with two younger siblings—who at…