ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship's relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Katrina will be based in Hattiesburg, Miss., and St. Tammany Parish, La., where volunteer operation centers are being established. Fellowship teams are in those areas now, assessing…
Historically Baptist colleges again featured prominently in rankings
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Colleges and universities historically affiliated with Southern Baptist state conventions featured prominently, once again, in a popular annual ranking of schools. U.S. News and World Report magazine's “Best Colleges 2006” issue listed 24 of the 53…
Chaplains bolster disaster response for victims of Hurricane Katrina
MERIDIAN, Miss. (ABP) – Disaster relief and recovery units carry with them as much heart as they do equipment. A new corps of chaplains is adding another component –ears. Veteran relief workers know that disaster victims are often desperate for…
Influential minister John Claypool dies of cancer-related causes
ATLANTA (ABP) — Influential preacher and theologian John Claypool died Saturday, Sept. 3, at a hospital in Atlanta, where he was a visiting professor of preaching at Mercer University's McAfee School of Theology. The 74-year-old Kentucky native died at Dekalb…
Mississippi couple finds memories amid rubble of ‘dream house’
PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (ABP) — “She wanted me to buy her the house of her dreams,” he says. “This was it.” His voice choked with raw emotion, Bob Zeller points toward the pile of rubble that now lies where his…
In Bayou La Batre, hit by Katrina, movie drama becomes all too real
BAYOU LA BATRE, Ala. (ABP) — In the Hollywood film “Forrest Gump,” the hero scores an economic coup when his boat is the only one in the Bayou La Batre, Ala., shrimping fleet to survive a hurricane. Sadly, for the…
CBF groups start disaster response in south Alabama, Mississippi
ATLANTA (ABP) — In a small coastal Alabama town ravaged by Hurricane Katrina, the Alabama branch of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship is partnering to provide assistance to residents, most of whom lost everything. Alabama CBF is joining efforts with Volunteers…
Devastated Gulfport church worships, finds encouragement after Katrina
GULFPORT, Texas (ABP) — “I believe with all my heart that this is the redemptive moment in history for the Mississippi Gulf Coast,” Pastor Chuck Register told the displaced parishioners of First Baptist Church of Gulfport six days after Hurricane…
Rehnquist’s death, Roberts elevation raise stakes in confirmation battle
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Less than two days after the death of William Rehnquist, President Bush bumped up Judge John Roberts to replace him as chief justice of the United States. The move alters the already-complex political landscape surrounding Roberts' nomination….
Shiloh Association gets new ministry center
By Donnie Johnston Thanks to a retired Culpeper couple, the Shiloh Baptist Association finally has a home. “One of my goals as director of missions has been for the association to have a home of its own,” Lanny Horton said….
‘Alphin Challenge’ deadline approaches
The first true Sunday school in America started in Accomac, Va., in 1785. That's the starting place for Bill Alphin's challenge for Virginia Baptists to start new small groups. Alphin, who coordinates Bible study and discipleship for the Virginia Baptist…
How do you spell relief?
By Jim White The U.S. Marines earned the moniker “First to Fight.” The Virginia Baptist Disaster Relief Team may well earn the reputation “First to Respond.” As I write this, (Monday, Aug. 29) Hurricane Katrina is still pounding the Gulf…