MADRID, Spain (ABP) — Had it happened another day, David Dixon might no longer be dean of a Spanish seminary, no longer be pastor of an international church, no longer be father to three boys. Dixon normally would have been…
Louisiana College president leaves, VP resigns, trustees ignore protests
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Trustees of Louisiana College met March 16 without revisiting a controversial textbook policy or commenting on the recent resignations of the Baptist school's president and academic vice president. Trustees did add an unscheduled meeting for April,…
BGCT names minorities to chair all seven appointed committees
DALLAS (ABP) — For the first time in the history of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, ethnic minorities chair all seven of the appointed committees. The convention's officers, led by BGCT president Ken Hall, made the appointments to integrate…
Romanian street children inspire Alabama man to start ministry
DOTHAN, Ala. (ABP) — In 1998 Sonny Glover went to Romania on a missions trip looking to do church construction. Instead, he looked into the big, brown eyes of a young girl who changed his life. The girl, a 4-year-old…
Florida church accused of defrauding ill woman out of $1.8 million
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — A lawsuit filed against First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach claims the church defrauded a mentally ill woman out of her $1.8 million inheritance. Lucinda Bennett, 34, attended First Baptist Church from 1998…
Four Southern Baptist missionaries killed in Iraq drive-by shooting
MOSUL, Iraq (ABP) — Four Southern Baptist missionaries were killed and a fifth critically injured in a drive-by shooting March 15 in Iraq. The International Mission Board team was in Mosul, Iraq, researching the needs for future humanitarian projects. The…
CORRECTION
CORRECTION: There is an identification error in the March 11 ABP story, “BWA Executive Committee issues statement on SBC flap.” In the eighth paragraph, the writer identified Fausto de Vasconcelos as “director of BWA's evangelism and education division.” That is…
Louisiana College president leaves, VP resigns, as trustees weather protests
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — The president and academic vice president are leaving Louisiana College, a Baptist school that has been embroiled in a controversy over academic freedom. Rory Lee, president for seven years, announced March 15 he is leaving at…
Pentecostals lead modest growth in U.S. church membership
NEW YORK (ABP) — The number of Protestants — particularly Pentecostals — continues to increase in the United States, with a fourth Pentecostal denomination joining the list of 25 largest U.S. religious bodies. The new numbers come from the 2004…
Many Protestant ministers not willing to serve small churches, study says
DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — Although there are more Protestant ministers than churches, many ministers don't want to work for those congregations, especially smaller ones, according to a study by Duke University. While nearly every denomination surveyed has more than one…
Missouri leaders will continue suit, but legal road may prove rocky
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Despite a legal setback, Missouri Baptist Convention leaders will continue their lawsuit against five institutions that have removed themselves from the convention's control. The convention's lead attorney in the case, Michael Whitehead, said he will…
Former SBC president Rogers has heart bypass surgery
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) — Adrian Rogers, one of the most prominent pastors in America, had successful heart bypass surgery March 16. Rogers, pastor of the 27,000-member Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis, Tenn., was president of the Southern Baptist Convention…