SANTA ANA, Calif. (ABP) – The last remaining evangelical church in Gaza is functioning but in danger of dying, famed Bible smuggler Brother Andrew said after a recent visit to Gaza Baptist Church. Hanna Massad “Christians in the west are…
Baptists, Pentecostals seek common ground
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (ABP) – Leaders of two large Christian traditions held preliminary conversations Dec. 13-15 to lay groundwork for ecumenical dialogue between Baptists and Pentecostals around the world. Delegations from the Baptist World Alliance and Pentecostal World Fellowship set guidelines…
BGAV president names committee chairs for 2012
RICHMOND, Va. — David Washburn, pastor of First Baptist Church in Waynesboro, Va., has been named chair of the Baptist General Association of Virginia’s budget committee for 2012. The appointment was one of 10 committee chairs named by BGAV president…
S.C. Baptist leader says Gingrich top choice
POWDERSVILLE, S.C. (ABP) – The newly elected president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention says conservative voters in the state will have an easier time voting for a repentant adulterer than a Mormon. Brad Atkins, pastor of First Baptist Church…
Former staffer at SBC mega-church focus of abuse investigation
CYPRESS, Texas (ABP) – A Texas youth minister already charged with statutory rape of a 16-year-old was arrested Dec. 14 for allegedly sending inappropriate text messages and videos to a 14-year-old girl he met while serving at a Southern Baptist…
SNAP protests pharmacy license for accused predator
CLINTON, Miss. (ABP) – A support group for victims of sexual abuse by clergy is calling on a state pharmacy board to revoke a license recently issued to a former music minister awaiting trial on eight charges of felony gratification…
Virginia church helps India seminary start music school
VINTON, Va. — Two years ago, when Chris Monroe visited the Precious Children International Village near Kottayam, India, it was not with the intent of starting a school of music in cooperation with the India Baptist Theological Seminary there. Nevertheless,…
Group says Southern Baptists oppose religious equality in the military
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (ABP) – A group dedicated to separation of church and state in the armed forces charged that Southern Baptists are against religious equality after an article compared its work at the U.S. Air Force Academy to “a mission…
Alleged peeping evangelist charged in third town
WALDRON, Ark. (ABP) – A traveling Southern Baptist evangelist and former camp pastor for LifeWay Christian Resources faces new charges of video voyeurism in a third mid-South community. Sammy Nuckolls WMC-TV in Memphis, Tenn., reported Dec. 15 that an arrest…
Fire destroys church, just days before Christmas
GRUNDY, Va. — The sanctuary of Grundy Baptist Church in southwest Virginia was destroyed Dec. 15 by a fire which also seriously damaged the church’s educational building and parsonage. Strong winds made it difficult for firefighters to battle the flames,…
Pastor describes ‘reform’ of Baptist church
WASHINGTON (ABP) – A North Carolina pastor shares his decade-old story of getting rid of women deacons and instituting elder rule at his Southern Baptist congregation in an on-line journal issue devoted to “revitalize” and “reform” of declining churches. Andrew…
Hardage nominated for BGCT executive director
DALLAS (ABP) — David Hardage — a veteran Texas Baptist pastor, associational leader and seminary development officer — will be nominated as the next executive director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. Ron Lyles of Pasadena, Texas, chair of…