FRESNO, Calif. (ABP) — Valton Prince, who directed what is now the discipleship training ministry for the California Southern Baptist Convention, died of cancer July 22. He was 87. Prince worked for the California convention from 1965 to 1981. He…
Virginia Baptists to send $8,000
The Virginia Baptist Mission Board is sending $8,000 to the Lebanese Baptist Society to use in the ministry to refugees fleeing the attacks in Lebanon. Jerry Jones, team leader for the board's glocal missions and evangelism team, approved the expenditure…
Candid exchange between professors shows Baptist rift over Israel-Lebanon
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As hostilities in Lebanon and Israel continue, an Arab Baptist professor called on American evangelicals to look at the situation through Lebanese eyes. Martin Accad of the Arab Baptist Theological Seminary in Beirut is a Lebanese Baptist…
Arab Baptist help in Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation
Nabil Costa, executive director of the Lebanese Society for Education and Social Development, is reporting that Lebanese Baptists need medical care, medication, mattresses, hygiene items and clothing to help with thousands of refugees in their country. Both the Arab Baptist…
Christian Peacemaker Teams to send delegation to Hebron
(RNS) — The North American activist group Christian Peacemaker Teams, which lost a member to violence in Baghdad this year, is sending 12 delegates to the West Bank town of Hebron on July 26 for a short course on peacemaking….
Evangelical Christians meet to show support for Israel
(RNS) — With rockets still roaring between Israel and southern Lebanon, 3,500 evangelical Christians met in Washington July 18-19 in support of the Jewish nation. Backed by such prominent Christian conservatives as Jerry Falwell and John Hagee, the 5-month-old Christians…
For Baptists, libation debate continues in pages of Dallas Morning News
Two prominent players in the Southern Baptist Convention's debate over alcohol consumption have taken it to a new forum — a major secular newspaper. On July 15, the Dallas Morning News ran an essay by Daniel Akin, president of Southeastern…
Executive of Katrina Fund resigns following pastors’ criticism
(RNS) — The executive director of the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund resigned her post July 14 after prominent members of the fund's religious advisory committee quit and harshly criticized the manner in which the fund made grants to houses of worship….
Senate votes to limit abortion options for teens in parental-consent states
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Senate voted July 25 to penalize those who transport teenage girls across state lines for abortions in order to circumvent parental-consent laws. The action is the first major abortion legislation the Senate has passed during this…
Cowboy churches offer familiar faces, familiar culture for lovers of the west
BOAZ, Ala. (ABP) — Mounted greeters wave to visitors from the parking lot. Blue jeans, a Western shirt and a cowboy hat comprise the outfit of choice. Saddles are welcome, and gospel karaoke comes from within the Sand Mountain Saddle…
Lead plaintiffs in Massachusetts case that legalized gay marriage separate
BOSTON (ABP) — The lead couple in the lawsuit that led to the nation's first legalized gay marriages have separated, according to news reports. Hillary and Julie Goodridge, whose names were listed first in the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court decision…
Former Arizona foundation executives convicted of fraud, await sentencing
PHOENIX (ABP) — In what has been described as the largest case of fraud targeting a religious group, the former top executive and legal counsel for the Baptist Foundation of Arizona were convicted on multiple fraud-related counts July 24. A…