By Bob Allen At least two GOP presidential hopefuls will vie for evangelical support at an upcoming conference on missions sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention. Russell Moore, president of the SBC Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, announced plans to…
South African culture featured in BWA congress opening
By Robert Dilday A celebration of South African culture — and the country’s remarkable transformation into “the rainbow nation” — highlighted the opening session of the Baptist World Congress July 22 in a colorful display of music and dance. The…
Second African since 1905 takes helm of global Baptist group
By Robert Dilday As the Baptist World Alliance prepared July 22 to convene its first world congress in Africa, the global organization also transitioned to new leadership with a South African pastor taking the helm as president — only the second…
Baptist leaders join call for national strategy on global religious persecution
By Ken Camp Baylor University President Ken Starr, Pastor Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church in Southern California and Russell Moore, president of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, joined a call for a national strategy to…
Adopting schools is about community building, not proselytizing, educators say
By Vicki Brown The pastor of the Baptist church in the small rural community saunters down the hallway in a public school toward the cafeteria, greeting students by name as he goes. Once through the lunch line, he nabs a…
Disputed cross memorial sold to private group
By Bob Allen One of the nation’s longest-running conflicts between church and state may end in a win-win resolution with the sale of a 43-foot cross located on public land to a private association. The U.S. Department of Defense sold…
For these Baptists, VBS transforms congregations and communities
By Jeff Brumley and Olivia Williams Two Waco, Texas, Baptist congregations learned firsthand this summer that vacation Bible school can be a catalyst for bringing down cultural and racial barriers in a community. That lesson puts them in the company of…
Feds offer reward in black church fire
By Bob Allen The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives has announced a reward up to $2,500 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons who set a predominantly Africa-American church in Charlotte, N.C.,…
Faith propels Carnahan to ‘repair the world’ after governor husband, son lost in crash
By Vicki Brown Missourians know Jean Carnahan for her contributions in the past — as First Lady of Missouri when the late Mel Carnahan served as governor and as the first woman to represent the state in the U.S. Senate….
Newspaper op-ed decries bashing of Confederate flag
By Bob Allen A guest column in a Baptist state newspaper takes exception to Southern Baptist leaders reacting to the recent church shooting in Charleston, S.C., with calls to take down the Confederate flag. Edward DeVries, pastor of Village of…
Memorial service for ‘Baptist folk hero’ portrays passionate life
By Robert Dilday Laughter, not tears, prevailed at a memorial service July 18 for fiery religious liberty advocate James Dunn, who died two weeks ago at 83. A packed sanctuary at Knollwood Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. — the congregation…
Interim pastoring has evolved into skilled calling, Baptists say
By Jeff Brumley The modern interim pastor is radically different from his or her predecessors, ministers and congregational coaches say. It’s increasingly rare for an interim to be a mere placeholder between full-time pastors in a church. And relatively few…