HOUSTON (ABP) — After a three-year search, First Baptist Church of Houston, one of the largest congregations in the country, elected a 33-year-old college minister as pastor. Gregg Matte, who leads a ministry to students at Texas A&M University, was…
Southwestern elects trustees as deans, plans to open undergraduate college
FORT WORTH, Texas (ABP) — Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary trustees have elected two of their own board members as deans and agreed to create an undergraduate college on the Fort Worth campus. During their April 6 meeting, trustees elected their…
Judge won’t amend lawsuit against Missouri agencies
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — A Missouri judge, who recently dismissed a lawsuit against five Missouri Baptist agencies, won't allow the plaintiffs to amend the suit. Judge Thomas Brown, who ruled March 11 that the Missouri Baptist Convention Executive Board…
U.S. behind only China, Iran in executions, report says
WASHINGTON (ABP) — The United States ranks third, behind only China and Iran, in reported executions, according to a new report by a human-rights group that opposes the death penalty. Amnesty International's annual report on the death penalty, released April…
Health-care group expands missions partnership with CBF
PINE MOUNTAIN, Ga. (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship and Baptist Medical/Dental Fellowship will expand their partnership to provide health-care ministries in the United States and overseas. An agreement signed April 2 during the BMDF annual meeting includes establishing medical/dental…
N.C. attorney general rejects complaint about ousted church
RALEIGH, N.C. (ABP) — The attorney general of North Carolina has told a Baptist pastor that his complaint against the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina appears to be a private matter. Gene Scarborough, pastor of North Rocky Mount Baptist…
Campbell University inaugurates Wallace as fourth president
BUIES CREEK, N.C. (ABP) — Jerry Wallace was inaugurated April 2 as the fourth president in the 117-year history of Campbell University, which is affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. Wallace was elected last year to succeed…
George Beverly Shea, 95, still relishes role as set-up man for Billy Graham
(ABP) — George Beverly Shea often wished he could preach like his father and grandfather, but he seemed to lack the “gift.” Even so, when he was on staff at the Moody Bible Institute's flagship radio station in Chicago, a…
Churches weigh dangers of 15-passenger vans
DALLAS (ABP) — Federal agencies have issued safety warnings about them and major insurance companies have stopped writing policies on them, but some churches continue to struggle with the question of what to do with 15-passenger vans. Three years ago,…