CLUJ, Romania (ABP) — In a move signaling a renewed interest in partnering with the European Baptist Federation, Romanian Baptists have elected Otniel Bunaciu as their president. The May 18 decision of the 34th congress of the Baptist Union of…
Frontline ministry
The closer people get to a foxhold, the more spiritual they generally become, a frontline military chaplain observed. Tough circumstances—and the accompanying escalated interest in spiritual matters—provide countless opportunities for military chaplains like U.S. Navy Capt. Bill Perdue of the…
A definition of high energy
A dictionary gives the following definition of energy: “Capacity or habit of vigorous activity; also, ability to produce action or effect.” The compiler of words must have known Hugh Thomas Busey. In everyday laymen speak, he has been aptly called…
As the war goes on, so does the work of military
CHICAGO (RNS)–Once you've seen the brutal face of evil, you start looking for the tender face of God, Chaplain Robert Barry said. Barry is an Air National Guard chaplain who spends his summers working with injured soldiers at Landstuhl military…
EDITORIAL: An army waging war against itself
Universal Press Syndicate released the following story. The headline reads “Holiest site becoming one of the stinkiest.” The story follows. “Jerusalem's Church of the Holy Sepulchre most recently made News of the Weird in 2004 because of continued petty territorial…
Southern Baptist tapped as Army chief of chaplains
Chaplain Douglas Carver has been nominated to serve as the next U.S. Army chief of chaplains—the first Southern Baptist to lead the Army's chaplain corps in more than 50 years. Carver, 55, also has been recommended for promotion in rank…
As Senate debates immigration bill, Christian leaders say it’s worth a shot
WASHINGTON (ABP)—It may face an uphill battle in Congress, but some Christian leaders are saying the Senate's latest immigration-reform proposal is better than doing nothing on the issue. The legislation passed an initial test when the Senate voted May 21…
Deployed
CHARLOTTESVILLE–Joel Jenkins, pastor of First Baptist Church of Charlottesville, temporarily changed congregations last year—and the relocation was extreme. Jenkins, a longtime Army Reserve chaplain, was called to active duty in Iraq last June with barely a week's notice. For the…
Right or Wrong?
In light of the recent events at Virginia Tech, how can my church respond to this tragedy—and others like it? And what can my congregation do to prevent alienation, hostility and anger around us? Many of us have been asking…
Chaplain strives to be the presence of Christ in war zone
ALANBAR, Iraq (ABP)–Chaplain Alan Rogers has baptized a Marine in an Iraqi river under armed protection. Needless to say, it was a quick job. A Marine Corps corporal asked Rogers to baptize in the Euphrates River in Iraq, near the…
When it comes to counting church members, the devil’s in the details
WASHINGTON (RNS)—The Southern Baptist Convention, with about 16.2 million members on the books, claims to be the nation's largest Protestant denomination. But Tom Ascol believes the active membership really is a fraction of that. Ascol, pastor of Grace Baptist Church…
Chaplain ministers at world’s busiest U.S. military trauma center
U. S. AIR FORCE THEATER HOSPITAL, Iraq (ABP)–At the U.S. Air Force Theater Hospital in Iraq, the sounds of Army Blackhawk and Marine Sea Knight helicopters are a call to duty for Air Force Chaplain Shane Gaster. Gaster, one of…