I'm not sure if I've ever seen such an explosion of public interest in Jesus — from a variety of angles old and new (some would say odd). Whether this fascination simply means that Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code…
The devil’s revival
William E. Hatcher, the popular preacher of the 19th century whose persona this columnist frequently assumes, told the following story in his autobiography. It is a fascinating revelation of a time that is no more. The only part of the…
ANOTHER VIEW: Outrageous and anti-semitic, Gnostics penned more than Gospel of Judas
From all the hullabaloo in the press over the Gospel of Judas, one might easily conclude that something like the plot of Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code had suddenly been demonstrated as historical fact rather than fiction. Much of…
SIDEBAR: The Gospel of Judas: What is it?
The manuscript know as the Gospel of Judas is a series of tattered and fragmented sheets of papyrus in Coptic, an Egyptian script, and is contained in a 66-page, leather-bound “codex” that the National Geographic Society unveiled April 6. Terry…
Upton joins other North American Baptists at meeting to transcend differences
Virginia Baptist leader John Upton was among other leaders of Baptist conventions and organizations comprising more than 20 million adherents in North America who explored “additional opportunities for fellowship and cooperation” in Atlanta April 10. President Jimmy Carter, a lifelong…
Classified Ads for April 27, 2006
Baptist Hymnal in Braille: The library at First Baptist Church, Richmond, has a complete 4-volume set of the Baptist Hymnal, 1975 edition, in braille which is available free to another church. Contact David Jackson at 804-370-9896 or [email protected]. WORSHIP LEADER:…
In Iraq, man distributes study Bibles to soldiers facing ‘ultimate sacrifice’
DALLAS (ABP) — As a civilian contractor in Iraq, Brad Blauser has seen a lot when it comes to war. He's lost friends in combat and faces the possibility that more will follow. That knowledge, however, doesn't get him down….
Baptist conventions pledge $1 billion in Katrina relief
DALLAS (ABP) — In the largest cooperative effort of its kind, three historically African-American Baptist denominations have agreed to raise $1 billion for ongoing recovery efforts in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. The National Baptist Convention USA, the National Baptist…
Despite lawsuit, Ky. governor holds funds in gay student case
FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABP) — Kentucky's governor has said he will hold, but not veto, $11 million in government funding for a Baptist college that made headlines by expelling a gay student. Gov. Ernie Fletcher (R) said he will not disburse…
High court turns away N.Y. case on religious discrimination
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Supreme Court declined April 24 to hear a case that pits an elementary school student's religious and speech rights against her school district's responsibility to not endorse Christianity. The justices declined, without comment, to hear the…
Baylor’s Lilley names Randall O’Brien as executive vice president and provost
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Less than a week after his inauguration, Baylor University President John Lilley has appointed Randall O'Brien as executive vice president and provost. The former chair of the religion department, O'Brien has been interim provost and vice…
Despite urging from leaders, SBC falls further behind in baptisms
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — As Southern Baptist Convention leaders urge local congregations to baptize 1 million converts this year, statistics from the SBC's 2004-2005 church year reveal a baptism decline for the fifth time in six years. The annual statistics,…