By Vicki Brown Ukrainian Baptists have stepped up ministry as conflict continues to tear at their country, Slavik Pyzh told pastors and lay leaders in Missouri recently. The president of Ukrainian Baptist Theological Seminary spoke to a small gathering July…
Pastor pleads guilty to domestic violence
By Bob Allen An East Texas pastor arrested May 6 after police responded to a domestic disturbance call at his home pleaded guilty July 8 to misdemeanor assault and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. ABC affiliate KTRE reported…
Baptist church ordains transgender woman
In what is likely a first, Calvary Baptist Church in Washington ordained Allyson Robinson, who was previously ordained as a man, to the gospel ministry. A transgender woman who attended George W. Truett Theological Seminary and pastored a church in…
Disaster relief groups challenged by border crisis
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…