WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush and a prominent biologist called the United States and the world to prayer during the National Prayer Breakfast Feb. 1. “You know, it's an amazing country, isn't it, when people from all walks of life…
Fellowship Baptists create new Midwest regional organization
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a partnership of moderate Baptist churches and organizations, added a new, five-state regional body to its group of constituents. The new consortium includes Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. At the…
Land replaces Senate chaplain at Religious Right meeting
WASHINGTON (ABP) — United States Senate Chaplain Barry Black has canceled a scheduled appearance at a conference featuring prominent Religious Right activists — and will be replaced by the Southern Baptist Convention's ethics guru. Black informed organizers of the “Reclaiming…
Tornadoes kill 19 in Central Florida; Baptist retreat center damaged
EUSTIS, Fla. (ABP) — Tornadoes that ripped across Central Florida in the early morning hours of Feb. 2 killed at least 19 people and destroyed housing developments, churches and businesses in four counties. A tornado that touched down at 3:30…
Super Bowl coaches’ Baptist, Methodist roots remain with them on game day
MIAMI (ABP) — While much has been made about NFL head coaches Tony Dungy's and Lovie Smith's skin color, they've got a stronger bond than being the first African-American head coaches to lead their teams to the Super Bowl. The…
IMB trustee investigation rejects allegations of board impropriety
ONTARIO, Calif. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, following an internal investigation, has rejected a trustee's accusations of impropriety and unauthorized tightening of doctrinal parameters. The board reportedly approved a report, based on its own executive committee's…
Baptist chainsaw teams help residents dig out after ice storm in Oklahoma
MCALESTER, Okla. (ABP) — Jack Macy calls them “angels.” And 180 families agree with him. Macy is referring to chainsaw teams deployed by Texas Baptist Men to help victims of severe ice storms in North Texas and Oklahoma. The teams,…
Former governor, Baptist minister, Huckabee runs for White House
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The latest long-shot presidential candidate is a Southern Baptist Baby Boomer from Hope, Ark., who served as governor of his home state. But this isn't Bill Clinton, and he isn't a Democrat. Instead, he's a Republican, an…
Bellevue report: Assistant pastor guilty of sex abuse against son
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) — Paul Williams, minister of prayer and special projects at Bellevue Baptist Church, sexually abused his son 17 years ago, according to a report from the church's investigative committee. The committee announced its findings to the congregation…
Opinion: Strategies to address misery faraway
My parents recently left for their 14th trip to Zimbabwe as volunteer medical missionaries. I confess that saying goodbye to them always involves a mixture of emotions. Certainly what they do on these trips is of vital importance — my…
Baptists work with Afghan refugees in suburban America
ATLANTA (ABP) — When people ask Becky Shenton what she does for a living, she always replies, “I work for the church, and I help people.” Becky and her husband, Doug, work with an unlikely group of people in the…
New dean at Kentucky seminary to help promote the school
LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABP) — The naming of a new dean to the Baptist Seminary of Kentucky will help the school gain membership in a theological school association, the seminary's president said. The trustees of Baptist Seminary of Kentucky named Dalen…