INDIANAPOLIS (ABP) — Two moderate Baptist theology schools have received $2 million grants from the Lilly Endowment to work with churches to promote “ministerial excellence.” McAfee School of Theology, Mercer University’s theology school in Atlanta, will use the funds to…
Widowed Alabama pastor learns to ‘truly trust God’
STEVENSON, Ala. (ABP) — With joy in his voice, Derek Boyd talked about picking up his sons from school. It is one of the highlights of his day. Full of thoughtful reflections and humorous anecdotes, his conversation naturally flowed back…
Herod’s slaughter aside, Christians too familiar with genocide, author says
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) — Christians reading the biblical accounts of Jesus' birth are often jolted by King Herod's act of genocide. When told by the wise men of the birth of a Jewish king, Herod ordered all the Jewish infants…
UCC officials file FCC complaints against network TV affiliates
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United Church of Christ has filed Federal Communications Commission complaints against two television stations in Florida over their parent networks' refusals to air a controversial church advertisement. Church officials, acting on behalf of UCC members in…
Virginia chaplain given Legion of Honor award
The Chapel of the Four Chaplains recently awarded its 2004 Legion of Honor distinction to Keith Ethridge of Hampton. Ethridge, a chaplain endorsed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, is acting deputy director for the National Chaplains Center for the Department…
Tommy Deal chosen as Florida CBF associate
LAKELAND, Fla. (ABP) – Tommy Deal, 49, has been hired as associate coordinator for the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Florida. The Orlando resident is currently director of operations and volunteers for Christian Service Center for Central Florida, a non-profit social-service…
GUEST EDITORIAL: Glocal trends impacting Virginia Baptists
Guest Editorial for Dec. 9, 2004 By John Upton John Upton, executive director of the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, gave this address during his report to the board at its meeting last week. Given the current global trends of people…
Daylilies
Heritage column for Dec. 9, 2004 Becky Jarrett McKinney, the newly-elected president of Woman's Missionary Union of Virginia, enjoys rearing sons and raising daylilies. She also is passionate about the various helping ministries of WMUV. In many ways the three…
Will new secretary of state alter religious freedom policy?
By Robert Marus The resignation of Secretary of State Colin Powell and President Bush's choice of National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice to replace him may not mean much change in the United States' foreign policy regarding religious freedom issues, according…
The noose tightens: Conformity trend in states worries some
By Greg Warner Those who look for denominational trends are disturbed by several recent actions they say are tightening “the noose of conformity” in Baptist life. In a smattering of actions across the Baptist map, several state conventions are narrowing…
New inroads: IMB trustees celebrate new mission efforts
By Mark Kelly The gospel began making inroads this past year among 131 people groups that previously had little or no access to it, trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board were told during a Nov. 16-17 meeting…
New homes: Salvation Army finds spots for holiday kettles
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald For more than a century, the Salvation Army has been helping the needy during the holidays. But now the red-clad bell ringers are getting some extra help to make sure their familiar kettles and donations of…