ATHENS, Texas (ABP) — Like many pastors nationwide, Kyle Henderson finds great fulfillment in conducting weddings and preparing couples for marriage. And he treasures thank-you notes he receives from couples — particularly the ones he refused to marry. The wedding…
Texas law professor assigned to Rio Grande church-start probe
HOUSTON (ABP) — The Baptist General Convention of Texas has engaged Brownsville attorney Diane Dillard to investigate alleged mishandling of church-starting funds in the Rio Grande Valley. Suspicions involve church starts in the lower Rio Grande Valley from 1996 to…
ANOTHER VIEW: Always preach for commitment — and expect a response
Another View for May 4, 2005 By Rick Warren Baptist Press When we were getting ready for the first service of Saddleback Church 26 years ago, I planned to extend a traditional “come forward” altar call at the end of…
Fashion, faith promote success for down-and-out women
ALBERTVILLE, Ala. (ABP) — For Jean Cullen, the national coordinator of the Christian Women's Job Corps, success starts on the inside — and must be reflected on the outside as well. Cullen, who heads the national organization aimed at teaching…
ANOTHER VIEW: Fear factor slows growth of gospel in Egypt
Some time ago, the elder sister in an Egyptian Muslim family decided to follow Jesus Christ as Lord. Instead of keeping her faith a secret, as many Muslim-background believers do, she told her younger sister-who also became a believer. One…
Beefed-up NC policy would oust churches that tolerate gay members
ASHEBORO, N.C. (ABP) — Leaders of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention have beefed up a policy designed to oust local churches that affirm homosexuality or even tolerate gay church members. Meeting in Asheboro, N.C., the convention's executive committee and…
ANOTHER VIEW: Entertaining ourselves to death
Aerican society and even Christians, it seems, are surrendering to the insatiable desire to be entertained. Our quest for amusement has become not only a national pasttime, it has become an addiction. There is little about life in the United…
Executive Committee backs down from 10% target for SBC officers
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee has amended a recommendation that the convention encourage the election of SBC officers “whose churches give at least 10 percent of their undesignated receipts to the Cooperative Program.” The move…
The house of educators
Heritage Column for May 4, 2005 By Fred Anderson There is a pretty brick house tucked away on a side residential street in a Petersburg suburb. There are signs of life everywhere-in the flower garden so lovingly tended, in the…
NC may change trustee nominations; new executive urges ‘one more try’
ASHEBORO, N.C. (ABP) — North Carolina Baptist leaders endorsed a plan to grant agencies of that Baptist convention more control over who is nominated as their trustees and directors — an issue that has prompted a lot of controversy in…
EDITORIAL: Discovering the missing power of evangelism
After they had observed the Passover in the upper room, as the end approached, Jesus allowed his disciples to overhear a conversation with his Father. How well they listened is evidenced by John's Spirit-assisted recollection of Jesus' prayer. Jesus prayed…
Burleson won’t accept suspension, plans to expose trustee ‘violations’
ENID, Okla (ABP) — Wade Burleson, the embattled blogging trustee of the International Mission Board, has been suspended from attending closed-door meetings of the board. But the Oklahoma pastor says he will not obey his suspension, setting up yet another…