LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — “Parents are the missing element of children's ministry,” an author and children's-ministry consultant told a conference in Louisville, Ky., April 23. Too many churches are working off the 1970s model of recruiting a paid or volunteer…
Dobson, Colson, Frist headline rally against judicial filibusters
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — Conservative Christian and political leaders declared war on judicial filibusters in the U.S. Senate during an April 24 rally at a Southern Baptist church in Kentucky. Dubbed “Justice Sunday” by organizers, the 90-minute rally was subtitled…
Illinois Baptist exec Lang resigns unexpectedly for church post
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) — After serving on the job a little more than two years, Wendell Lang has resigned as executive director of the Illinois Baptist State Association to accept a position as pastor of a Tennessee church. Lang was…
Educators differ on how ‘Baptist’ a Baptist university should be
WACO, Texas (ABP) — Should Baptist universities create an identity that is distinctively Baptist or one rooted in orthodox Christian beliefs shared by many traditions? Speaking to a national conference, two prominent educators agreed the future of Baptist higher education…
Hip-hop churches carry message of redemption to urban youth
HOUSTON (ABP) — The in-your-face attitude, emblazoned on black T-shirts, is unmistakable: “Jesus is Lord. Satan is a punk. Pick a side.” Street Life, a Christian outreach to young people in Houston's urban hip-hop culture, offers a distinctive blend of…
Averett trustees acknowledge VBMB action, but are quiet on status of statement
Trustees of Averett University have acknowledged Virginia Baptists' approval of a jointly-developed statement which would dissolve century-and-a-half-old ties between the school and the Baptist General Association of Virginia. But Averett's trustees, who met April 15, have not revealed what action…
Louisville pastor criticizes church for hosting anti-filibuster rally
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (ABP) — A Louisville pastor is going to great lengths to distinguish his church from a nearby congregation with a similar name, which is hosting a national telecast aimed at thwarting a Senate filibuster on judicial nominees. Joe…
Brazilian pastor chosen to lead BWA evangelism division
FALLS CHURCH, Va. (ABP) — Brazilian pastor Fausto Aguiar de Vasconcelos has been nominated to lead the evangelism effort of the Baptist World Alliance, succeeding Australian Tony Cupit, who is retiring. If elected to the BWA's executive staff by its…
Conn. governor OKs civil unions; Washington senators defeat bill
WASHINGTON (ABP) — By signing a bill April 20, Connecticut's governor made that state the first in the Union to legalize same-sex unions without being forced by a court. But, just a day later, Washington state legislators delivered a one-vote…
Early research suggests spirituality may slow Alzheimer’s effects
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — A rewarding spiritual life may help slow the devastation of Alzheimer's disease, according to a preliminary study. “The data suggest there may be an association, meaning people with higher levels of spirituality and religiosity have…
Eritrea approves denomination after years of persecution
ASMARA, Eritrea (ABP) — A sliver of hope widened a bit for Eritrean Christians in early April as the government officially recognized another Protestant group after years of persecution. The Seventh-day Adventist Church is the fourth Christian denomination to gain…
NCC urges new pope to make good on pledge to seek Christian unity
NEW YORK (ABP) — The National Council of Churches welcomed Pope Benedict XVI's announcement that Christian unity will be his central goal and urged the new pope to follow the ecumenical legacies of both John Paul II and the last…