RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Virginia Baptists have approved a joint statement developed with leaders of Averett University that will end their 145-year-old ties to the school. The Virginia Baptist Mission Board adopted the statement during its spring meeting April 6….
Anti-conversion bill in Sri Lanka could restrict liberty, relief work
The Sri Lankan government appears poised to vote on anti-conversion legislation in April, according to a number of media reports. If approved, the vote would cap a three-year effort by Buddhist leaders to stem the tide of rural Buddhists turning…
DeLay doesn’t back down on judges, though others call judiciary ‘fair’
WASHINGTON (ABP) — House Majority Leader Tom DeLay continued his rhetorical assault on the federal judiciary April 7, despite more temperate comments from his allies in the Senate. In a videotaped message to a group of conservative religious activists, DeLay…
Baptist rescue workers seek survivors of latest earthquake
A search-and-rescue team from Baptist World Aid and Hungarian Baptist Aid is trying to find survivors on the Indonesian island of Nias after a March 28 earthquake measuring 8.7 on the Richter scale. According to reports, the quake killed hundreds…
Clinton calls for religious-freedom bill despite liberal groups’ objections
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) called for Americans to defend the principle of religious liberty at home and abroad April 7, with special emphasis on foreign policy and a controversial piece of domestic legislation. In a Capitol Hill…
On the scene, again
Just months after a devastating earthquake and tsuanmi, the Indonesian island of Sumatra was hit by a second earthquake that left thousands dead. Baptists once more were on the scene offering relief and ministry. By Erich Bridges Southern Baptist relief…
Missouri judge puts second lawsuit against Baptist convention on hold
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A second lawsuit involving the Missouri Baptist Convention and five affiliated institutions has been put on hold pending the outcome of an appeal in an earlier, similar lawsuit. At a hearing on April 5, Cole…
Warren’s book tops four best-seller lists
Pastor Rick Warren's book The Purpose Driven Life hit the top spot on four best-seller lists this week, two weeks after an Atlanta-area woman read it to her kidnapper. The book is the first to reach the number one spot…
Republican Senate aide admits to authoring Schiavo memo
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The mystery of the memo has been solved. The memorandum that said getting involved in the Terri Schiavo controversy was “a great political issue” for Republicans was authored by an aide to freshman Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.)….
Florida judge in Schiavo case asked to leave Baptist church
By Robert Marus The Florida judge who ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed has resigned his membership in a Southern Baptist church. According to media reports, Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer informed Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, Fla., that he…
Alliance between evangelicals, Catholics among the legacies of John Paul II
By Robert Marus The dynamic bishop from Krakow who became one of the 20th century's most towering figures departed earthly life April 2, but his legacy-including the special esteem in which many American evangelicals held him and many of his…
A Baptist’s reflection on John Paul II
Another View for April 7, 2005 By James Leo Garrett Jr. John Paul's 26-year pontificate, the third longest in history, we are told, will be remembered for much more than its longevity. Its impact both on the Roman Catholic Church…