Come to Fellowship Southwest’s first-ever conference on compassion and social justice and you won’t be asked to wear a lanyard. That’s perhaps a selling point compared to most conferences plagued by the ever-present plastic nametag holder and fabric lanyard around…
Kenya’s latest cult tragedy highlights a deeper problem with religious worship in Africa
At last count, more than 400 corpses of people linked to a cult in Kenya called Good News International Church have been exhumed from where they were buried in the Shakahola forest of Kilifi County. The human remains were exhumed…
As seminary enrollment dropped and expenses rose, trustees gave Patterson a $25,000 ‘vacation fund’
In 2008, as enrollment was declining and expenses were skyrocketing, trustees of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary gave Paige Patterson a gift for his fifth anniversary as president. That gift was a $25,000 “vacation fund” to be used at the discretion…
Ministry jobs and more
Baptist News Global provides a free listing of ministry-related jobs for Baptist churches, theological institutions and organizations across the United States. Each free posting is for 30 days and is limited to 150 words. Postings may be extended another 30…
Americans think more highly of their religious practice than those looking from afar see
Most of the world doesn’t consider the United States to be nearly as religious as many Americans do, new research shows. According to data from Pew Research Center, 41% of U.S. adults describe faith as essential to them while only…
Luke Russert looks for his father and finds himself
For years, the name Tim Russert was synonymous with thoughtful political commentary. When the Meet the Press anchor died suddenly of a heart attack in June 2008 — just before Father’s Day — viewers on both sides of the political…
USCIRF cites discrimination against religious minorities in EU countries
Religious minorities are increasingly leaving European Union nations where they face laws that suppress religious liberty, according to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. “These unduly restrictive policies have the secondary effect of encouraging discrimination at the societal level,”…
‘Stop the Boats’ bill passes UK Parliament but plan to ship migrants to Rwanda ruled illegal
First, the United Kingdom’s government proposed shipping off asylum seekers to Rwanda. That process was ruled illegal by a UK appeals court, but Parliament found another way to block the arrival of asylum seekers. On July 18, conservatives pushed through…
Human rights and advocacy groups call on Congress to stop using white supremacist language
More than 160 U.S. human rights and immigration advocacy groups are calling on some members of Congress to stop espousing the white supremacist rhetoric that inspired a gunman to target Hispanics in a mass shooting in El Paso on Aug….
Texas officials once again separating migrant families
Texas officials have revived a highly criticized anti-immigrant practice of the Trump administration while claiming their approach is more humane. The Houston Chronicle reports that in recent weeks, Texas Department of Public Safety officers have broken up at least two…
John MacArthur’s film glorifies pastors who defied COVID mandates
When COVID-19 turned the world upside down in 2020, many U.S. churches followed government policies and switched to online services, while others met on a limited scale with social distancing and masks. A smaller group of churches opposed official mandates,…
Transitions for the week of 8-4-23
Please submit transitions — including staff changes, ordinations, anniversaries or deaths — to Barbara Francis. This page will be updated bi-weekly. STAFF CHANGES Bill Boelte, to First Baptist Church, South Boston, Va., as pastor. Chris Boltin, to Second-Ponce de Leon Baptist…