DALLAS (ABP) — Phil Strickland, who served nearly a quarter century as director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Christian Life Commission, died Feb. 11 at age 64. According to his colleagues, Strickland believed his mission was to provide…
Jewish-Baptist dinner in Atlanta feeds understanding between faiths
ATLANTA (ABP) — Devita Parnell had quite a time trying to plan a Baptist-Jewish dinner so it wouldn't land on any holy day of either faith. Between Hanukkah, Christmas, Lent, Purim, Passover and Easter, she had her hands full. But…
Unique partnership assists pastors, churches affected by Katrina
NEW ORLEANS (ABP) — By now the 10-year-old True Believers Baptist Church should have been in its comfortable, new facility with room to grow. But the sanctuary, classrooms and fellowship hall the young congregation was building are dark, empty and…
Mac Brunson of Dallas likely to follow Vines as pastor of Jacksonville church
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Less than a week after bidding farewell to retiring pastor Jerry Vines, First Baptist Church of Jacksonville — one of the country's largest congregations — is expected to nominate Dallas pastor Mac Brunson as his successor….
Groups of evangelical leaders face off over global warming
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A Feb. 8 news conference in Washington signaled the start of what could become a showdown over global warming between two groups of evangelical Christian leaders. At stake are the hearts and minds of evangelical Americans and…
Charismatic-leaning Southern Baptists being betrayed, excluded, says pastor
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (ABP) — When Paul Pressler and Paige Patterson launched a revolution within the Southern Baptist Convention, they found an eager soldier in Ron Phillips. Phillips, 58, has been pastor of Central Baptist Church of Hixson, near Chattanooga, Tenn.,…
Revised Air Force religion guidelines continue ban on sectarian prayers
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Pentagon officials have revised a set of guidelines on religious freedom in the Air Force after complaints from members of Congress and some religious groups. But the revisions met with mixed reviews from groups with interests in…
Diverse Baptist groups unite to help Katrina victims find housing
BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) — After months of sharing two houses with dozens of family members, the Nero family — formerly of New Orleans — is thanking a broad new Baptist partnership for helping them get their own apartment. Since…
Fires damage four more churches in rural Alabama — all Baptist
DALLAS (ABP) — Fire damaged four more rural Baptist churches in Alabama the morning of Feb. 7, bringing the total number of Alabama churches recently burned to nine. All of the churches affected were Baptist. The second batch of fires…