Baptist News Global

HERITAGE: â€˜While yet dayâ€™

In its 225 years High Hills Baptist Church at Jarratt, Va., has witnessed many sunrises. Each one brought challenges and opportunities. At the front of the church’s sanctuary there are two tablets memoralizing early pastors: Josiah C. Bailey (1813-1881) and…

Organization says SBC is â€˜bullyingâ€™ Air Force chaplain to explain presence

(ABP)—A chaplaincy organization supportive of last year’s repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy that banned gays from serving openly in the military accused the Southern Baptist Convention of bullying and intimidation for asking an Air Force chaplain to…

TRENDING: Movement thinking, part 2: Intentional networks

In our last column, we examined the trend of “movement thinking” by looking at Steve Addison’s, Movements That Change the World: Five Keys to Spreading the Gospel. One of Addison’s keys is “Contagious Relationships.” The author says that “movements spread…

OPINION: I want to be Judi Dench

When I’m asked what actress I admire most people are often surprised by my response. I suspect they think my answer will be someone closer to my age or at least one of the classic examples like Meryl Streep. But…

VITAL SIGNS: Whatâ€™s on your menu?

Let’s start with a disclaimer. I know that congregations and restaurants are not in the same business. I understand that thinking like a restaurant can lead to embracing the consumer culture of the day. I know all too well that…

OUT LOUD

“As Muslims, when we see President Morsi, we feel just as the black people of the United States feel about Barack Obama. Here is somebody who looks like me, who represents me.” Ali el-Banna The Egyptian lawyer spoke to the…

LEADERSHIP LINK: Churches adapt to make most of mid-week service

(ABP)—The look and feel of the Wednesday night church service is beginning to change as congregations seek to become more intentional and relevant to the communities they serve, ministers and scholars say. Those experts say they’re noticing the shift as…

Ramadan fast poses challenge for Muslim Olympians

(RNS)—Winning an Olympic medal is hard. Surprisingly, winning one when you’re fasting for Ramadan is not that much harder. At least, not for Suleiman Nyambui of Tanzania, who took silver in the 5000 meters at the 1980 Summer Olympics while…

Mormons and Baptists compete for converts

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (RNS)—Jake Pulsipher’s first day as a working missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints began at 6:30 a.m. with prayer and exercise, followed by breakfast and study. Then he put on a black suit, white…

Survey finds record 19 percent of religiously unaffiliated Americans

(RNS)—Unbelief is on the uptick. People who check “None” for their religious affiliation are now nearly one in five Americans (19 percent), the highest ever documented, according to the Pew Center for the People and the Press. The rapid rise…

EDITORIAL: Freeh indeed! Penn Stateâ€™s sex scandal and implications for the church

The release of the Freeh report the morning of July 12, has focused attention once again to the Penn State/Jerry Sandusky sex abuse scandal. According to the 267-page report authored by former FBI director Louis Freeh, who was hired by…

Project Ruth celebrates two decades

BUCHAREST, Romania (ABP)—Project Ruth’s Mihai Ciopasiu is all too glad to talk about the success the organization has enjoyed the past two decades serving the poorest and most shunned children in Romania. The nonprofit began as a day center with…

Theologizing with Larkin Poe, 10 years after Reskinned

Ministry leader with tall tales wins GOP bid for Colorado governor

What Willy Rice once knew

What I learned July 5 at church