(RNS) — When Kip Banks’ family pulls out its nativity scene each Christmas, the African features of the baby Jesus provide lessons on both the Bible and self-esteem. Banks’ 8-year-old son, Kip Jr., has told his father that the Christ…
‘Baptist Standard’ goes digital-only
By Bob Allen Starting next year, Texas Baptists will receive their denominational newspaper in e-mail inboxes rather than postal mailboxes, as the Baptist Standard moves to digital-only format starting with the Jan. 14 issue. The move coincides with decisions by…
Christmas key time for Hospitality House
By Jeff Brumley It’s always tough visiting loved ones in prison. A spouse or parent can see incarceration taking its toll over the years while they continue to deal with the legal, financial, social and emotional impact of the crimes….
OPINION: How to put Christ back in Christmas
I’m sure this has happened to you this year at least once. There you are, full of Christmas cheer and, like all good Jesus followers have just won the fight for a prime space in a checkout line so you…
OPINION: Missing the forest for the trees
When I was little I hated getting in trouble. I really hated it. It wasn’t so much the possibility of punishment as it was the feeling of tension, knowing I was at odds with my parents or someone else. In…
EDITORIAL: Crèche evangelism?
The night before, Almighty God, creator of the universe, had stepped into actual human existence in that baby boy’s birth. Countless times we have taken our places as spectators in the sanitized stable soon after Jesus was born. The young…
Two Baptist churches recognized for contributions to affordable housing in Washington suburbs
ARLINGTON, Va. — Two Baptist congregations in Washington’s Northern Virginia suburbs have been recognized for their contributions to affordable-housing efforts in the region. The Church at Clarendon sits in the heart of one of metropolitan Washington’s most densely packed neighborhoods….
Solar project proposed at Ridgecrest
By Bob Allen A public hearing is scheduled Jan. 9 on a massive solar-energy project proposed on the grounds of Ridgecrest Conference Center, a retreat facility near Asheville, N.C., owned by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. New…
Faith leaders oppose Medicaid cuts
By Bob Allen Faith leaders hand-delivered letters Dec. 11 asking 115 members of Congress to oppose funding cuts to Medicaid that they believe could harm Americans with disabilities. Talks in Washington to avert an impending fiscal cliff have pitted Democrats’…
Book shares struggles of Baptist women
By Jeff Brumley Growing up Baptist, Jennifer Harris Dault says her calling into the ministry was clouded by comments and assumptions along the way that the pulpit was no place for women. “I had this feeling as a kid that…
First ‘create’ cohort earns degrees
By Bob Allen Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Shawnee, Kan., held a ceremony Dec. 8 for the first eight graduates of the create Program, a unique master-of-divinity degree program launched in the fall of 2009. The three-year program groups students…
Military college planned for holy mount
By Bob Allen Christian organizations around the world are asking members to sign an online petition protesting plans by Israel’s interior ministry to build a military academy on the Mount of Olives, a holy site for three world religions made…