The pastor at the Southern Baptist Convention’s largest church used a conference timed to conclude on World AIDS Day to announce a new commitment to caring for the millions of people infected with HIV and AIDS. Rick Warren, pastor of…
Volunteers assist flooded Baptist church
Hundreds of volunteers swarmed over a wrecked church deep in New Orleans’ flood zone Dec. 3, hoping to start its healing and that of the desolate neighborhood beyond with a furious outpouring of free labor. By some counts, nearly 1,000…
Christmas on a Sunday? What’s a church to do?
Bob Allen EthicsDaily.com Rather than singing O Come All Ye Faithful on Dec. 25, some mega-churches this year are opting instead for I'll Be Home for Christmas. Because Christmas this year falls on a Sunday, some of America's prominent evangelical…
Of fear and faith
Editorial for December 22, 2005 By Jim White What is your favorite Christmas phrase? If the reaction to Wal-Mart's plan to wish us a “Happy Holiday” this season is any indication, “Merry Christmas!” must be the expression of choice. I…
Letters for December 22, 2005
Immoral system of death I would like to applaud Daniel Bagby for writing “Re-examining capital punishment” [Herald, Oct. 27]. As a Baptist and a field organizer with People of Faith Against the Death Penalty, it was very encouraging to see…
The best gifts
Heritage Column for December 22, 2005 By Fred Anderson “For God so loved the world that he gave…” During this season we have decorated our Christmas tree with some of the many ornaments which we have been accumulating over the…
NAMB VP Nate Adams tapped for top Illinois Baptist post
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) — A vice president of the North American Mission Board, who has strong roots in Illinois, has been recommended as the next executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association. Nate Adams, 47, has been vice president…
Natural disasters dominated news in 2005, Baptist editors say
(ABP) — Two unprecedented natural disasters overshadowed all man-made news in 2005, according to a survey of Baptist editors. Hurricane Katrina and the South Asia tsunami — and the benevolent response that followed each — were the most important Baptist…
While megachurches cancel worship, others adjust Christmas schedules
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — While some high-profile evangelical churches around the country are canceling their usual worship services since Christmas falls on a Sunday this year, many more are carrying on — though sometimes on modified schedules. Leaders of the…
Progressive Christian leaders arrested while protesting House budget cuts
WASHINGTON (ABP) — In an attempt to call attention to congressional budget cuts, more than 100 Christian leaders were arrested at a frigid Capitol Hill protest Dec. 14. The leaders — from mainline Protestant, Catholic, Orthodox and evangelical churches —…
Is the ‘war on Christmas’ worth fighting against?
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Is the “war on Christmas” one worth fighting? Despite the dutiful culture warriors lining up to defend the religious trappings of the holiday, some Christian ethicists aren't so sure it's a wise battle to pick. Since November,…
Largest Baptist universities face watershed leadership changes
(ABP) — Three of the largest Baptist universities in the nation have each chosen a different strategy in selecting the president who will shape the school's future. Now pundits wonder which model will emerge as the new face of Christian…