Baptist News Global

Pastor found guilty of abuse

By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist pastor was sentenced to five years in prison Feb. 28 after a jury in Texarkana, Ark., found him guilty of sexually assaulting a 3-year-old girl inside his church last April. South Texarkana Baptist Church…

Candidate says faith, politics mix in public arena

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Judy Baker could push her faith as a cornerstone as a candidate for public office. After all, in addition to earning a master's degree in healthcare administration at the University of Missouri, she also holds a master of…

Should America attack Iran?

By Jim Denison Should America attack Iranian nuclear sites? A recent exchange sponsored by Foreign Affairs highlights three options. Matthew Kroenig argues that we should attack Iran now. He recently served as special adviser to the U.S. Secretary of Defense…

Santorum gets prayer at Baptist church

By Bob Allen A Catholic presidential candidate received a prayer of blessing from a Southern Baptist mega-church during a campaign visit to Memphis. Steve Gaines, pastor of Bellevue Baptist Church in Cordova, Tenn., invited GOP hopeful Rick Santorum to the…

Baptist association asks church with sex-offender preacher to leave

By Bob Allen A Florida Baptist church that recently opened its pulpit to a registered sex offender has been asked to withdraw from its local association of Southern Baptist churches. Jacksonville Baptist Association leaders said March 2 that conversations with…

Prime time

By Bill Wilson One thing that is predictable about pastor search committees is that they all want something similar: a great preacher, an amazing administrator who loves visiting, someone who is effective with young families and senior adults, a 38…

Are religious litmus tests for public office appropriate?

While the U.S. Constitution specifically spells out that no religious litmus test should be used to determine who holds office, Christians still grapple with if and how their faith should inform their choice in candidates. And they often use the…

Making choices in a fallen world is essential

Passion and conviction often direct a Christian in choosing public servants. Economic concerns, social justice issues, foreign policy or a host of other issues can be of primary concern. But suppose Candidate A’s approach on one issue matches but his…

Bearing false witness is still a sin, even in campaign

People of faith must measure the truthfulness of what they hear and see during an election year — and they must be especially careful about the information they pass along. Believers should weigh information they glean or that they receive…

In media coverage, learn to recognize bias, reliability

Voters want and need reliable and truthful information about candidates at all levels of government and from all political perspectives. But in an information age that overwhelms the electorate with sheer volume at breakneck speed, what factors should people of…

Photo contest featured at CBFNC meeting

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — For the second year in a row, the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina is sponsoring a photography contest in conjunction with its annual General Assembly. Photographs will illustrate this year’s General Assembly theme of reconciliation, “The…

Smithfield, N.C., congregation finds outreach to the community through music academy

SMITHFIELD, N.C. — The voice drifts down the hallway at Sharon Baptist Church in Smithfield, N.C., and no matter how the sound might have progressed in ability, it’s music to Todd Johnson’s ears. Remember the classic episode of “The Andy…

Trump-appointed judge sees no problem with Religious Liberty Commission

There is no such thing as ‘the Baptist position’

Philadelphia pushes back against whitewashing history

What are we to do with church voter guides?