By Bob Allen Richard Shahan, until recently on administrative leave as children and families pastor and facilities director at First Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala., since his wife was found slain in their home July 23, was arrested New Year’s…
Divine devices or digital distractions?
By Jeff Brumley Alan Rudnick never was a fan of bringing phones into church sanctuaries and never did so himself — until about a year ago. That’s when he discovered bona fide uses for electronic devices during worship services at…
CBF churches scrimmage over BCS game
By Jeff Brumley Two Cooperative Baptist churches — one in Alabama, the other in Florida — are embroiled in a social media rivalry over college football that’s making headlines and inspiring mission work. It all started Tuesday when Bill Shiell, the senior pastor at…
What’s ahead for Baptist life in 2014?
By Bob Allen Crab cakes. The Southern Baptist Convention meets in Baltimore for the first time since 1940 in June. Fred Luter, the first black SBC president in history, isn’t eligible for another term, setting up a presidential race likely…
As new year tolls, ABP/Religious Herald merger launches new media platform
By Robert Dilday After months of preparation, the merger between Associated Baptist Press and the Religious Herald took effect yesterday, launching a new digital and print media platform aimed at enhancing the mission and heritage of both organizations. Legal processes to create…
2013: The year in deaths
Dan Ariail, pastor emeritus of Maranatha Baptist Church in Plains, Ga., where thousands of visitors attend Sunday worship and Bible studies by President Jimmy Carter each year, died Nov. 25 in hospice care. He was 75. Justice Anderson, 83, longtime…
2013: The year in quotes
“For some reason, in our immaturity, the assumption always is that our Christianity is the standard and our Baptist Christianity is the standard. And, of course, it’s not.” (Kathe Traynham) “No one outside the tribe is going to celebrate these…