An apparently coordinated series of bomb attacks Jan. 29 targeted Iraq’s Christian minority, killing three and injuring more. Bombs exploded within minutes of each other during Sunday services at two churches in the northern city of Kirkuk. At the city’s…
Jimmy Draper retires from LifeWay
Standing in the pulpit of First Baptist Church in Mixon, Texas, on Sept. 3, 1950, 15-year-old Jimmy Draper preached his first sermon. “I had it down to 30 minutes,” Draper said, recalling his first step into the ministry. “When I…
Cartoon sparks violence against Lebanese Christians
Incensed Muslims sacked Christian neighborhoods and burned the Dutch Embassy in Lebanon Feb. 5, angered by the publication of caricatures of the prophet Muhammad. Although some Muslim leaders appealed for peace, more than 20,000 protesters threw rocks, burned buildings and…
Criswell dean out after conflict over speaking in tongues
Doctrinal differences among Southern Baptist conservatives apparently have claimed another victim-Scott Camp, dean of students at Criswell College in Dallas. Camp's contract as dean, which ran through Jan. 31, was not renewed, in part because Camp supports speaking in tongues….
Chowan College sees mascot change as ‘opportunity’
Chowan College will change its mascot to comply with NCAA policies on Native-American mascots-this, after the Baptist school's president and board decided to forego the potential legal battle, time and expense of keeping the school's current mascot, the Braves. “The…
Texas pastor says all IMB trustees should be dismissed
As debate escalates over an effort by the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board to remove one of its trustees from office, a Texas Baptist pastor has warned that he might seek to have the entire board dismissed. Benjamin Cole,…
String of Baptist church burnings leaves questions, but no answers
By Andy Netzel Religion News Service A charred Bible rested on a table in front of what used to be Dancy First Baptist Church’s pulpit, where investigators believe the fire started. Walter Hawkins Jr., ran his fingers across the book,…
Alabama churches victims of arson
Federal officials suspect arson in a series of fires that damaged or destroyed five small Baptist churches in rural Bibb County, Ala., the night of Feb. 2-3. In addition, a sixth church in neighboring Chilton County burned the same night,…
New mentoring component added to Weekender
The Weekender, the statewide retreat for teenage girls sponsored by Virginia Woman’s Missionary Union, has tapped college-aged girls to serve as mentors to retreat participants this year. The retreat is still dedicated to missions, spiritual growth and leadership development. However,…
Having it his way
Heritage Column for February 9, 2006 By Fred Anderson It has been said that when an old person dies, a library burns. If this is so, Virginia Baptists lost an extensive library last week in the death at age 87…
N.C. panel taps consensus candidate
Leaders of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina have nominated a candidate with support from both moderates and conservatives to the fractious statewide body's executive post. The convention's board of directors voted, without opposition, Jan. 24 to recommend Milton…
Letters for February 9, 2006
Evolution vs. Intelligent Design Thanks for including the interesting BP article about ultra-Darwinian Daniel C. Dennett by Albert Mohler (Jan. 12). Although Dennett would surely appreciate the compliment, Mohler is too generous in his reference to Dennett as “one of…