WASHINGTON (ABP) — Militants threatening to execute a British Baptist and three other Christian hostages by Dec. 10 had conveyed no word of their captives' fate as of the afternoon of Dec. 12, according to multiple news reports. That left…
Women’s ministry brightens Christmas for families of Mexican prisoners
SAN CRISTOBAL, Mexico (ABP) — Christmas 2005 will be a little more hopeful for families of the prisoners accused of the Acteal, Mexico, massacre — thanks to a Baptist woman's ministry. But for the eighth consecutive year, the celebration will…
Addie Davis, first woman ordained as Southern Baptist pastor, dies at 88
COVINGTON, Va. (ABP) — Addie Elizabeth Davis died Dec. 3, in her hometown of Covington, Va., after a brief illness. She was 88. Her ordination to the gospel ministry by Watts Street Baptist Church in Durham, N.C., on Aug. 9,…
Native pastor nominated to lead Baptist Convention of New Mexico
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ABP) — Joseph Bunce, 50, senior pastor of First Baptist Church in Bloomfield, N.M., is the unanimous choice of a search committee to become the next executive director of the Baptist Convention of New Mexico. A special meeting…
Churches incorporate Narnia theme into Advent celebrations, outreach
HOUSTON (ABP) — Alongside the greenery and candles usually associated with Advent, some churches this year are using lions, witches and wardrobes to help worshipers experience the Christmas story. Drawing on images from Narnia — a mythical world created by…
Conflicting reports on IMB vote tally raise questions about board’s intent
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Conflicting reports about the vote totals for a new International Mission Board policy on speaking in tongues are focusing public attention on what may be a deeper disagreement about the agency's leadership. Associated Baptist Press reported,…
Conservative columnist elected editor of Louisiana Baptist paper
ALEXANDRIA, La. (ABP) –Trustees of the Baptist Message of Louisiana, who last month were rebuffed in an effort to dissolve their independent board, unanimously elected conservative Oregon pastor Kelly Boggs as editor. Boggs, 45, pastor of Valley Baptist Church in…
Louisiana College probation lifted after controversial policies reversed
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — Louisiana College will remain fully accredited, school officials learned recently, after the Baptist school rescinded several policies critics said impinged on academic freedom. The Pineville school had been on probation since December 2004 following a visit…
Moncrief, missions pioneer of inner-city, dead at 60
ATLANTA (ABP) — Legendary Southern Baptist home missionary Terry Moncrief died Dec. 7 at his suburban Atlanta home following a year-long battle with brain cancer. Moncrief, 60, was director of Techwood Baptist Center, established to minister in the nation's first…