By Bob Allen In its efforts to engage and mobilize younger leaders and laypeople in ministry, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship needs a little help from its friends, CBF Executive Coordinator Suzii Paynter said Sept. 10. “I think one of the…
Reza Aslan defends controversial new book on Jesus
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS) — For the third time, Jesus is about to change Reza Aslan’s life. As a teenager, Aslan turned to Jesus in an evangelical youth group, where becoming a Christian made him feel like a real American. He…
Aging pushes some churches to fiscal brink, others to find creative solutions
(ABP) — Survival is a question thousands of American churches confront each year. Estimates of annual church closures range from 3,500 to 7,000. That’s likely to increase as younger generations, including the rise of the “nones,” increasingly avoid organized religion….
Baptist groups hosting pistol classes to support ‘biblical principles’
(ABP) — A Southern Baptist camp in Illinois plans to host a National Rifle Association pistol course intended to help participants qualify for permits under the state’s newly passed concealed-carry law. The eight-hour course is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 7,…
ERLC defends sectarian public prayer in legal brief filed with Supreme Court
(ABP) — The Southern Baptist Convention Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court Aug. 2 defending prayers offered in Jesus’ name at government meetings. The first legal brief filed since Russell Moore took…
Baptist ethicist signs sex abuse petition
(ABP) — Ben Mitchell, Graves Professor of Moral Philosophy at Union University in Jackson, Tenn., added his signature to “A Public Statement Concerning Sexual Abuse in the Church of Jesus Christ” posted July 17 by Godly Response to Abuse in the…
Practical joke backfires at Baptist camp in Maryland as five are sent to hospital
JERRETTSVILLE, Md. (ABP) — Five people were taken to a hospital and multiple medical units were dispatched to a Maryland Baptist campground in a hazardous materials incident that resulted from a prank. The July 23 incident at Camp Wo-Me-To near…
Baptist Joint Committee names recent graduate as education, outreach specialist
(ABP) — Recent McAfee School of Theology graduate Charles Watson Jr. has been named education and outreach specialist for the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. A native of Millen, Ga., Watson previously worked as children’s director at Buckhead Baptist…
Bluefield College’s football team gears up to battle hunger in community with ‘Sack the Quarterback’
BLUEFIELD, Va. — The Bluefield College Rams and a local grocery store will kick off the 2013 Sack the Quarterback hunger relief program with a special Rams Football Day at Food City in Bluefield on Aug. 17. From noon to…
Muslims hope Gov. McCrory will veto bill prohibiting state’s judges from considering ‘foreign law’
(RNS) — North Carolina Muslims hope they can persuade Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, to veto a bill that prohibits state judges from considering “foreign law.” “It’s going to be tough,” said Rose Hamid of Charlotte. “But I do believe…
Church gets creative when Braille hymnal is called for, launches team of volunteers to meet need
RICHMOND — As First Baptist Church in Richmond prepared to introduce its new hymnal, Celebrating Grace, to the congregation nearly two years ago, it realized there wasn’t a Braille application for the new hymnal or plans to produce one. The…
Concert at Campbell University Divinity School’s OASIS event draws largest crowd in conference’s his
BUIES CREEK, N.C. — “Who says worship can’t be fun?” Jim Davidson asked with a smile and a wink, talking about his experience at last month’s Carnegie at the Creek concert at Butler Chapel. “You have this wonderful time of…