The sun was setting in the west and the shadows were lengthening when this columnist headed out one Saturday on his way to a Sunday speaking engagement in the country. The destination was Straightstone Baptist Church in the northeast corner…
New Orleans churches stagger back to life
Seventy-five people gathered in bright sunshine on a recent Sunday outside Reaping the Harvest Full Gospel Baptist Church in New Orleans. They applauded as pastor Troy Lawrence, resplendent in a three-piece gray pinstriped suit, cut a red ribbon and, for…
Dress casual
Last year in this space, I offered several good reasons why Virginia Baptists might enjoy attending the annual meeting dressed in casual attire, and it appeared as if many messengers made the transition to casual in Woodbridge last November. May…
N.J. court gives gays marriage rights, but not the right to call it ‘marriage’
TRENTON, N.J. (ABP) — The New Jersey Supreme Court ruled Oct. 25 that the state's constitution requires that marriage rights be available to same-sex couples on an equal basis with heterosexuals. But the court left state legislators to decide whether…
Labels mask diverse opinions on faith issues, researchers say
WACO, Texas (ABP) — The stereotypical images of “liberals” and “evangelicals” create a distorted picture of what issues are important to each group and how each will vote in November, according to new research. A recent survey by researchers at…
Survey: Moms fed up with sexy dolls, wish for wholesome alternatives
DALLAS (ABP) — Moms across America are fed up with overly sexy dolls, according to a Sept. 25 report from Synovate, a market-research firm. The study, which surveyed 1,010 mothers with daughters 4 to 9 years old, found that 85…
Belief in Halloween spooks, paranormal, said to be spreading among Americans
DALLAS (ABP) — With Halloween fast approaching, adults across the nation are loading up on candy and decorations, planning to hunker down for a night of trick-or-treaters, parties and hi-jinx. But how many of them actually believe in the ghosts…
Buckner ‘Comes Home’ to Tennessee
UNEDITED NEWS RELEASE — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Buckner Children and Family Services, a 127-year-old Dallas-based social services ministry, has announced it will return to its founder's roots through a new partnership with First Baptist Church, Knoxville. The church-based community ministry…
Ala. church ejected from association for hiring female associate pastor
MOBILE, Ala. (ABP) — An Alabama Baptist church has been ejected from its local association for hiring a female associate pastor — which may be a first of sorts. The Mobile Baptist Association voted Oct. 19 to withdraw fellowship from…
Chaplains use Humvees, dreams to minister to patients in need
ATLANTA (ABP) — As a children's minister many years ago, Julie Rowan felt stuck in a rut. Now Rowan, a chaplain in the military, rarely stays in one place. And that's just how she likes it. “When you go into…
Leaders of ’40s youth revivals gather to reminisce, kindle new ‘fires’
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Participants in revivals that began at Baylor University and spread across the nation six decades ago looked back in gratitude and forward with expectation as they gathered on the campus where it all began. Scores of…
Opinion: Pluralism as idolatry
The widely publicized case of military Chaplain Lt. Gordon James Klingenschmitt awaits appeal. Klingenschmitt, a priest with the Evangelical Episcopal Church, prayed in the name of Jesus while wearing his uniform at a White House ceremony organized to protest the…