NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—After initially defending comments accusing black leaders of politicizing the death of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, the head of Southern Baptists’ Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission issued back-to-back apologies regarding statements he made on his radio program. Richard…
Veteran minister reflects on black church life
BELTON, Texas—After more than five decades of ministry, George Harrison understands what African-American Christians have gained and lost in the last half-century. Harrison, pastor emeritus of First Baptist Church-NBC in Waco, Texas, and a veteran church musician, vividly remembers life…
Racial tensions simmer beneath surface in America
A neighborhood watchman in Florida shoots and kills a hoodie-wearing African-American teenager. Two white suspects in Tulsa, Okla., confess to the Easter weekend shooting of five people in a predominantly black neighborhood. Periodically, racial tensions that have simmered beneath the…
Conservatives go after ‘NASCAR Christian’ vote
RICHMOND, Va. (RNS)—Back in John Kerry’s ill-fated 2004 presidential campaign, Democrats tried to attract so-called “NASCAR Dads”—white, working-class, mainly Southern fellows—to try to blunt George W. Bush’s re-election and show folks that Kerry was not a wealthy patrician who only…
Conservatives go after ‘NASCAR Christian’ vote
RICHMOND, Va. (RNS)—Back in John Kerry’s ill-fated 2004 presidential campaign, Democrats tried to attract so-called “NASCAR Dads”—white, working-class, mainly Southern fellows—to try to blunt George W. Bush’s re-election and show folks that Kerry was not a wealthy patrician who only…
Woman follows father into pulpit
By Vicki Brown A Southern Baptist church in Missouri is under scrutiny by its local association for replacing a pastor who resigned for health reasons with his daughter. Melody Pryor, pastor of First Baptist Church of Stanton, Mo., said she…
Race & Faith
By Ken Camp A neighborhood watchman in Florida shoots and kills a hoodie-wearing African-American teenager. Two white suspects in Tulsa, Okla., confess to the Easter weekend shooting of five people in a predominantly black neighborhood. Elizabeth Eckford, one of the…
WMU of NC plans relocation
By Jim White Woman’s Missionary Union of North Carolina will move its headquarters from Raleigh to an office building in Lillington recently donated to the mission organization. The relocation to Lillington—about 40 miles south of Raleigh—will save WMUNC about $70,000,…
CBF of Virginia takes ‘familia’ to four cities
CHESAPEAKE, Va.—The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of Virginia kicked off its “Mission on the Move” emphasis April 22, at Centerville Baptist Church in Chesapeake, Va., with a Mission Immersion Experience featuring a Latino buffet dinner served by the church. The event,…
LETTER: Prison ministry essential
At a dinner honoring volunteers April 19, it was stated that only 25 percent of prison inmates have visitors. This means that prison ministry volunteers are surrogate parents to most of these teenagers, for these teenage volunteers may be the…
Promoter sees parallels between church, NASCAR
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C.—Gray Garrison rarely stops thinking about good ol’ fashioned stock car racing. He’s always figuring out his latest angle, a fresh and exciting way to keep people flocking to the legendary Bowman Gray Stadium which he and his family…
Human trafficking spurs action at Campbell University
BUIES CREEK, N.C.—When three Campbell University students began a journey of education and empowerment more than three months ago, they had no idea their perseverance would result in reaching more than 200 fellow students and staff members. Junior education major…