TRENTON, N.J. (ABP) — A divided New Jersey appellate court ruled June 14 against same-sex marriage, but gay-rights activists who filed the suit have promised to appeal. A three-judge panel of the New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division ruled 2-1…
Violence in Rio Grande city Forces mission trips out
NUEVO LAREDO, Mexico (ABP) — Escalating violence in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, prompted the Texas Baptist River Ministry office to issue a safety advisory for the border city and led some volunteer church groups to cancel their planned trips. At least…
News pioneer W.C. Fields to headline ABP dinner at CBF General Assembly
GRAPEVINE, Texas (ABP) — Wilmer C. Fields, a pioneer in the field of Christian journalism, will be the featured speaker at the annual Associated Baptist Press dinner at the CBF General Assembly. The dinner will be held Thursday, June 30,…
Carlton Dotson sentenced to 35 years for murder of Baylor basketball player
Editor's note: This story updates one issued June 9. WACO, Texas (ABP) — Former basketball player Carlton Dotson was sentenced to 35 years in prison June 15 for killing his former Baylor University basketball teammate Patrick Dennehy — despite his…
Virginia pastor publishes ‘Beach Week’ devotional book
By Jim White Though the view of the ocean was partially obstructed by a sea of rooftops between the beach and the balcony upon which he stood, Pastor Mark Jordan could feel himself relaxing as he breathed in the cool…
Rick Warren joins coalition to ‘make poverty history’
By Wendy Ryan Rick Warren, the widely-known evangelical pastor and author, has joined a diverse coalition of global evangelical and political leaders and called on President Bush to support “ONE: The Campaign To Make Poverty History.” Until now, Warren, pastor…
A discovery of grace
Cover Story for June 9, 2005 Popular devotional author Max Lucado has spent much of his ministry on a spiritual journey, allowing God to mold his theological views and transcend his doctrinal roots. His books-now numbering more than 50-are embraced…
SBC, CBF, AOB leaders among diverse group rallying to end U.S. hunger by 2015
By Robert Marus A broad array of religious leaders-including representatives of Baptist groups that often disagree-has launched an ambitious effort to combat domestic hunger and poverty. Several hundred Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other leaders culminated a weekend conference in Washington…
Water evangelism
Cover Story for June 16, 2005 Following the disastrous tsunami that hit the island of Sri Lanka last December, potable water was among the first needs faced by thousands of homeless people and it remains a top priority. Virginia Baptists…
Senate apologizes for failure to pass anti-lynching law
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United States Senate has offered a belated apology for something it repeatedly failed to do: Stop a century of lynchings that killed thousands of African-Americans and other minorities. During the 19th and 20th centuries, white mobs…
Revised CBF partner plan raises cap to 25%, increases ‘identity’ schools
Institutions and ministries partnering with the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship potentially could receive more funding than recently proposed, and the number of theological schools eligible for the maximum financial support could be greater than previously announced, judging by the final report…
Creator of Living Bible, Ken Taylor, dies at 88
WHEATON, Ill. (ABP) — Kenneth Taylor, whose Living Bible made Scripture understandable for millions of people, died June 10 at the age of 88 at his home in Wheaton, Ill. Taylor based his Living Bible paraphrase, first published in 1971,…