By Bob Allen A Belmont University graduate and adjunct voice teacher at California Baptist University became an Internet sensation when a YouTube video of her singing onstage with Kristin Chenoweth at the Hollywood Bowl went viral. More than 2.6 million…
Woman admits to embezzling church funds
By Bob Allen The former financial secretary at an Alabama Baptist association pleaded guilty Aug. 28 to stealing from her employer and was then arrested on additional charges claiming she took even more. Tonya Renee Woodward, 52, of Dothan, Ala.,…
CBF leader pushes for immigration reform
By Jeff Brumley Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leader Suzii Paynter ramped up her advocacy for immigration reform Aug. 28 in a conference call with reporters urging Texans in Congress to approve moral legislation that takes into account the economic needs of…
Moderates seek exit from ‘messy middle’
By Jeff Brumley Many are convinced that beyond addressing material and spiritual needs, moderate Baptist churches must become more vocal advocates for “the least of these” in society. Some are forming congregational programs, while institutions like the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship are studying…
Baptists monitor Syria crisis
By Bob Allen European Baptist leaders urged caution amid rising support for military intervention in Syria over what the United States, France and Great Britain say is clear evidence that President Bashar al-Assad’s forces have used banned chemical weapons on…
NC Baptist church ends Boy Scout ties
By Bob Allen A large Southern Baptist church in North Carolina is ending its nearly 60-year-old relationship with the Boy Scouts of America and shifting allegiance to an alternative outdoor character-development organization to be launched next month in Nashville, Tenn….
Baptist pastor open to same-sex unions
Correction: This story was edited after posting to correct an error in the 13th paragraph. By Bob Allen An Alabama Baptist pastor says she is reconsidering her previous policy of not performing marriage-like commitment services for same-sex couples. Sarah Shelton,…
Conference marks 200 years of missions
By Bob Allen A three-day conference in November will celebrate 200 years of Baptist missions and explore the lasting impact of Ann and Adoniram Judson, the first U.S. Baptist missionaries to serve on foreign soil. “The Judsons: Celebrating 200 Years…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Ministry to those with life-threatening illnesses
Sooner or later a deacon who ministers to families or who is part of a hospital visitation team will care for a person with a life-threatening illness. Ironically, just when we need to move closer to church members who are…
OPINION: Church remixed
On Sunday, Aug. 11, the Church at Clarendon in Arlington, Va., held a service entitled “Church Remixed.” The service was during the regular 11 a.m. worship hour, a typically “blended” style service, with five to eight musicians. On this morning,…
OPINION: Comic-Con, world’s largest pop culture gathering, offers church lesson in engaging culture
Comic-Con International is the largest gathering of pop culture in the world. It is held in San Diego and has a more than 40-year history of providing information and insight into the world of comics, movies, television, video gaming and…
Egyptian Baptist pastor warns against entanglement of religion and politics
(ABP) — In a letter describing the Islamist persecution of Christians in Egypt, a Baptist minister in Cairo provides a disturbing warning against the entanglement of religion and politics. And portions of the letter, two U.S. church scholars say, are…