By Bob Allen With Nicholas Cage starring in the rapture-themed thriller Left Behind coming out in theaters Oct. 3, two Southern Baptist Convention seminaries recently announced endowed professorships with an emphasis including Bible prophecy. Both Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake…
Fire destroys Cumberland University Baptist center
By Bob Allen Two students living in an upstairs apartment escaped an early morning fire Sept. 3 at the Baptist Collegiate Ministries building at Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tenn., unharmed but with only the clothes on their backs. According to…
Race, relevancy among challenges facing black Baptist leaders
By Jeff Brumley Four of the nation’s largest African-American Baptist denominations either elected new leaders this year or are in the process of voting on new presidents, and observers say each will have his hands full confronting daunting institutional challenges….
Don’t trade kids for immigration action, faith leaders say in one-sentence letter
By Bob Allen Following news reports of Honduran children being killed following their deportation from the United States and with President Obama considering executive action on immigration, 41 religious leaders signed a succinct, one-sentence letter Sept. 2. “While we celebrate…
Historic Baptist church sold to fraternity
By Bob Allen The Tau Nu chapter of Phi Gamma Delta at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute will move into the former First Baptist Church in downtown Troy, N.Y., in early October, according to the Troy Record. The fraternity reportedly purchased the…
Missionaries serving refugees fleeing Mid-east violence exercise extra sensitivity
By Jeff Brumley As complicated and sensitive as the situation in the Middle East is for Western governments, it is just as tricky for Christian organizations with missionaries in the region. The region historically hostile to evangelism and ministry has…
Faith leaders on both sides of border pray for children
By Bob Allen Faith leaders from mainline Protestant, Catholic and Jewish traditions formed facing semi-circles on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border Aug. 29 for a prayer vigil organized by missionaries and the head of American Baptist Churches USA. Roy…
Louisiana College lauds controversial former president
By Bob Allen A Baptist college in Louisiana opened its academic year Aug. 28 with a chapel service honoring its former president, who stepped down earlier this year amid accusations of misleading trustees, whistleblower complaints and public calls for his…
PHOTOS: Pastor blends art, preaching to share Good News
Schools prime ministry locations for many churches, say leaders
By Jeff Brumley and Eric Eckert Churches eager to engage the communities around them would be challenged to find a better place to start than local public schools. Think about it, says Carrie Dean, co-pastor of Edgewood Church in Atlanta:…
BWA allocates funds for persecuted Iraqi Christians
By Jeff Brumley The Baptist World Alliance has issued a call for Baptists and other Christians to provide funds to help Iraqi Christians displaced by war, and the global organization has sent an initial donation of $20,000 for that cause. The funds…
After a tough year, Birmingham church fills pulpit vacancy
By Bob Allen After more than two years without a senior pastor, First Baptist Church of Birmingham, Ala., welcomed an inaugural sermon Aug. 10 by new Pastor Jim Cooley. Cooley, pastor of First Baptist Church in Haleyville, Ala., since 2003,…