Baptists are starting a ministry for this, a committee for that, and taking a missions trip here or there. It all looks good—but in the end, finance committees are crunching the numbers and, whoops—the money isn’t there. Again. “Churches lack…
OUT LOUD
“If you don’t love America, if you don’t like the way we do things, I have one thing to say—get out! We don’t worship Buddha … we don’t worship Muhammad, we don’t worship Allah, we worship God, we worship God’s…
LEADERSHIP LINK: Report says church giving on the rebound
WASHINGTON (RNS)—The recession and a sluggish recovery have made for a lighter collection plate in recent years, but a new study shows that giving to U.S. congregations bounced back in 2011 as the economy improved. According to the fourth annual…
OPINION: Diversity, unity and reconciliation
“God bless you if you do, God help you if you don’t.” These words came as a challenge from Neville Callam, general secretary of the Baptist World Alliance during his Friday sermon at the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina’s…
HeraldBeat
GOT NEWS? Send information for this page to HeraldBeat editor Barbara Francis at [email protected]. Even better — add the Herald to your church’s newsletter email list, send us a link to your online newsletter or mail your newsletter to…
Religious freedom ambassador settles into role
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Nearly a year into her stint as the State Department’s point person on religious freedom, former Baptist minister Suzan Johnson Cook has traveled to eight countries and seems to have moved beyond questions about her lack of…
Religious freedom ambassador adapts to role
WASHINGTON (RNS) — Nearly a year into her stint as the State Department’s point person on religious freedom, former Baptist minister Suzan Johnson Cook has traveled to eight countries and seems to have moved beyond questions about her lack of…
Peace group opposes war with Iran
By Bob Allen Directors of the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America adopted a statement March 28 urging “diplomacy over bombs” in the United States’ relations with Iran. “The people of the United States have been living in a state…
Southeastern Seminary rallies support for gay-marriage ban
By Bob Allen Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary devoted a special chapel service March 28 to rally support for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in North Carolina. Richard Land Keynote speaker Richard Land, head of the Southern Baptist Convention’s…
CBF initiative brings hope to nation’s poorest counties
By Vicki Brown The Lakota of Bridger, S.D., now have fresh eggs available in their neighborhood at about half the cost, and young women in Helena, Ark., are learning business and leadership skills while earning an income to help their…
The poor among you
By Ken Camp They gather at dawn at day-labor centers or designated parking lots where contractors hire workers. Some stop on their way to pick up a cheap breakfast taco at a convenience store, buying their meal from an employee…
Long days, short pay for the working poor
By Ken Camp Josie rises early to catch a 5:30 a.m. bus to the San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind, where she has worked five days a week ever since she became visually impaired several years ago. She returns home…