By Jeff Brumley Baptist disaster relief agencies are pressing hard to determine what, if anything, they can to do aid the immigrant children flooding into the nation along the southern border by the tens of thousands. While some help has…
Clergy divided over religious exemption to discrimination ban in upcoming executive order
By Bob Allen Clergy lined up on both sides in letters asking President Obama to both include and remove a religious exemption from his upcoming executive order barring federal contractors from discriminating against employees on the basis of sexual orientation….
Anti-trafficking campaigner recognized with human rights award
By Eron Henry A Baptist pastor in Moldova who has worked tirelessly against human trafficking and the sex trade in his country received the Baptist World Alliance’s Denton and Janice Lotz Human Rights Award July 9. Ilie Coada was presented…
Former assistant pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen A former staff member at a Southern Baptist church in Alabama was arrested June 5 after two individuals came forward claiming they were sexually abused as children. Jay Strickland, 50, a nurse anesthetist, paramedic and a former…
Hispanic Baptists seek ways to help border crisis
By Kalie Lowrie The crisis along the Texas/Mexico border caused by an influx of thousands of unaccompanied immigrant children into the United States so far this year captured the attention and concern of participants at the Hispanic Baptist Convention of…
Publisher to correct ‘errors’ in Vines autobiography
By Bob Allen A woman who claims she was victimized by a preacher years later exposed as a sexual predator says a new autobiography by former Southern Baptist Convention President Jerry Vines minimizes his and fellow former SBC President Paige…
Inside a Virginia ministry to prostitutes
By Jeff Brumley Women who accept money for sex, it turns out, rarely refuse invitations to pray. “Prostitutes always say ‘OK’” when asked to be prayed over, says Travis Collins, the former pastor of Bon Air Baptist Church in Richmond,…
With Florida camp, Passport returns to its birthplace
By Jeff Brumley United Community Outreach Ministry is a small nonprofit that makes a huge impact with clothing, food and other services across a swath of struggling, urban neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Fla. And that was before hundreds of youth campers…
Bluefield College suspends dental school project until funding is secured
By Robert Dilday Bluefield College has suspended plans for a new dental school due to uncertain funding, college officials have announced. The suspension follows a decision by Tazewell County, which was partnering with Bluefield in the public-private project, to end…
Election of new president tops BWA gathering’s agenda
By Eron Henry More than 300 Baptist leaders from around the world will gather in Izmir, Turkey, July 6-12 for the Baptist World Alliance’s Annual Gathering. The event will include meetings of the BWA’s governing General Council and its executive…
SACS commission releases statement on Brewton-Parker accreditation woes
By Bob Allen The board of trustees of a regional accrediting body for degree-granting higher education institutions in the South voted June 19 to remove the accreditation of Brewton-Parker College for failure to comply with membership standards. Those standards related…
Caner ordered to pay attorney fees
By Bob Allen After losing a copyright infringement lawsuit to prevent the posting of videos alleging contradictions in different versions of his once famous “Jihad to Jesus” testimony, a Georgia Baptist college president now must pay more than $34,000 in…