Leaders of 34 U.S. church bodies have officially launched the broadest-ever Christian unity organization in American history and said fighting poverty will be its first priority. Christian Churches Together in the USA was formally inaugurated on March 31 after a…
Afghan president praises treatment
Afghanistan's president praised his government April 4 for releasing a Christian who had been threatened with death for abandoning Islam. Hamid Karzai said the nation's judiciary was right not to bow to pressure from Muslim clerics and elected leaders, who…
FIRST PERSON: A dream come true
Occasionally, through hard work, determination, blind luck or a combination of all three, someone's fondest dream will actually come true. On March 30, the Southside Baptist Association and Virginia Baptist Children's Home & Family Services celebrated the completion of a…
‘Bad Girls of the Bible’ author shares her journey
God sometimes uses the least likely people to further his kingdom. That's what led Liz Higgs, author of 23 books with three million in print to write Bad Girls of the Bible and Really Bad Girls of the Bible. Taking…
More than 600 students find the ‘Narrow Gate’
Approximately 640 high school students and adults gathered on a warm weekend at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center for Senior High Weekend, March 10-12. The theme of the annual weekend conference, sponsored by the emerging leaders team of the Virginia…
FIRST PERSON: Taking leaders to a new level
The Emerging Leaders Level 2 track at Senior High Weekend each year engages students in Scripture, active learning and creative experiences which enable them to recognize the uniqueness and giftedness of their personality. This, combined with their understanding of spiritual…
Varied religious groups unite to support immigration reform
The debate over immigration reform currently dividing America at large — and congressional Republicans in particular — ironically is uniting a wide spectrum of the religious community that views immigration reform as a moral issue. The Roman Catholic Church, mainline…
In paperless age, paper letters let dads leave legacy of love
DALLAS (ABP) — As one of 70 million baby boomers, Greg Vaughn says he's not alone when it comes to the hurt he felt when his dad died. And the worst part was the absence of any written document of…
‘Genius of America’ based on individual rights, rabbi says
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Baptists and Jews, both having suffered historically as minority faiths, share a strong commitment to religious liberty, Rabbi David Saperstein said during an inaugural Mercer University lecture series. Saperstein has directed the Washington-based Religious Action Center…
Rabbi warns of politicizing religion, says freedom from religion better
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — The model of religious freedom in the United States might not be best for other countries, but it sure works well here, Rabbi David Saperstein said during a lecture series at Mercer University. The April 4-5…
Gay student’s expulsion spawns uproar at Kentucky Baptist school
WILLIAMSBURG, Ky. (ABP) — For the fourth time in three years, a Baptist college's treatment of a gay student is causing an uproar. The University of the Cumberlands, in Williamsburg, Ky., expelled sophomore Jason Johnson, reportedly April 6. Kentucky media…
Correction
In the story April 7 ABP story, “Rex Horne to become 15th president of Ouachita,” please replace the ninth paragraph with the following: Horne will replace current Ouachita President Andy Westmoreland, who will become president of Samford University in Birmingham,…