As the last bell rings in late May or early June, throngs of schoolkids rush from their school to celebrate the start of summer. More time to play games, more opportunities to sleep and less homework. Yet, for some children,…
Freefall continues in SBC membership, baptism stats
The Southern Baptist Convention lost more than 200,000 members last year and baptized fewer than 300,000 new converts for the first time in 68 years, according to statistics compiled by LifeWay Christian Resources. The loss of 204,409 members in 2015…
Baptist pastor memorializes Muhammad Ali
A Baptist preacher joined other community leaders June 5 in a Louisville, Ky., mosque for an interfaith service memorializing the boxing icon and world humanitarian Muhammad Ali. “He was a miracle worker in the ring, where he used his fists violently…
Seminary prof to lead Mid-Atlantic Baptists
A seminary professor was elected June 7 as executive director of the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, also known as the Mid-Atlantic Baptist Network. Kevin Smith, assistant professor of church history and Christian preaching at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and teaching pastor…
Survey finds Christians using Jesus to pursue ‘way of self’
Christian beliefs and values are disappearing from American life and the culture is filling the void with an individualism and moral relativism that even many Christians adhere to, new research shows. The study by The Barna Group, “The End of…
Baptist editor says Muslims don’t deserve religious freedom
A Baptist state newspaper editor criticized a Southern Baptist Convention official for defending the building of a New Jersey mosque, suggesting that Islam should not be given First Amendment protection. Gerald Harris, editor of the Georgia Baptist newspaper Christian Index, wrote an…
Bill Clinton says ‘Make America Great Again’ code for turning back clock on civil rights
Former President Bill Clinton told worshipers at an African-American church in California that Donald Trump’s “Make America Great Again” campaign slogan is code language for taking the country back to where it was before the struggle for civil rights. “What’s that…
Asian-born social worker tapped to lead CBF
A product of Southern Baptist missionaries in Singapore is in line to lead the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, a group that separated from the Southern Baptist Convention 25 years ago over differences including women’s leadership in the church. Shauw Chin Capps,…
Texas teens finally find spiritual, physical home in foster care
So much of growing up has to do with finding a sense of belonging. That’s also known as home. Twin brothers Taylor and Tyler Savoy say they know all about that. “Our dad used to take us to the McDonalds…
Baylor mum on details of Pepper Hamilton probe
Baylor University won’t be releasing details of the independent review of the university’s response to reports of sexual and gender-based violence, interim president David Garland said in a statement June 3. Garland’s statement came in response to calls from groups including the…
Activists encouraged by shareholder votes on climate change
A faith and values-based coalition for socially responsible investing says votes at the recent annual meetings of three energy corporations indicate shareholders are increasingly dissatisfied with the fossil fuel industry’s response to climate change. Shareholders at Exxon Mobil and Chevron…
For some imams, Ramadan is a month-long revival, Muslim style
Imad Enchassi likens the Muslim holy month of Ramadan to what some Christians described as getting some of that old-time religion. “I call it a revival camp” for Muslims, said Enchassi, imam of the Islamic Society of Greater Oklahoma City….