Baptist News Global

North American Baptists examine series of ‘shifts’ at BWA gathering

HONOLULU (ABP) — Baptists from across Canada and the United States examined seven key “shifts” July 29 that have had an impact on the North American Baptist Fellowship. The NABF includes Baptists from the two predominantly English-speaking nations in North…

Who really holds the keys?

(Editor’s note: This is the second in a series of commentaries by Barry Howard reflecting on his experiences in Italy. The first is available here). By Barry Howard This year our sanctuary choir and orchestra — as they do every…

Women combat poverty, abuse by walking in the Spirit

HONOLULU — As women from every corner of the world gathered in their native dress with festive country displays in celebration of God’s movement among all peoples during the Baptist World Alliance Women’s Leadership Conference, the sea of colorful garb…

If Jesus needed the Spirit, then so do Christians today, says U.S. pastor

HONOLULU — Today’s Christians need the Holy Spirit’s guidance, just like Jesus did 2,000 years ago, a U.S. pastor told participants at the Baptist World Congress. Julie Pennington-Russell joined 26 other Bible scholars to teach Scripture lessons in eight languages…

Focus group explores ethics of tourism

HONOLULU — Baptists meeting in one of the world’s most popular tourist destinations were reminded July 29 that beneath the glitz and glitter of the tourism industry lie moral issues that call for a Christian response. Presenters at a breakout…

Faithful preachers proclaim God’s message without fear, Jamaican Baptist insists

HONOLULU — Preaching should be dangerous business, because faithful preachers dare to deliver a message from God — regardless of the consequences, Karl Johnson, general secretary of the Jamaica Baptist Union, told the Baptist World Congress. Addressing the 20th Congress…

World Baptists honor Lotz for human rights advocacy

HONOLULU — To be true to their heritage and principles, Baptists must continue the fight for religious liberty for all people, insisted Denton Lotz, who received the Baptist World Alliance’s Human Rights Award July 30 in Honolulu. Lotz, the Alliance’s…

Christians must liberate & be liberated, seminarian tells Baptist World Alliance

HONOLULU — Christians are called to be agents of liberation, but they also desperately need to be liberated themselves, ministry educator Janet Clark stressed at the 20th Baptist World Congress in Honolulu July 30. Jesus focused on liberation in his…

Longtime mission leader Avery Willis dies

BELLA VISTA, Ark. (ABP) — Avery Willis, a former Southern Baptist missionary and administrator best known as developer of the MasterLife discipleship materials used around the world, died July 30, nearly eight months after being diagnosed with a rare form of…

Christians commanded to love their Muslim neighbors, panelists insist

HONOLULU — A West Texas missions professor who served more than two decades in Indonesia and an Arab Baptist educator from Lebanon emphasized the need to reach out in love to Muslims. Robert Sellers, missions professor at Hardin-Simmons University’s Logsdon…

North American Baptists examine series of ‘shifts’

HONOLULU — Baptists from across Canada and the United States examined seven key “shifts” July 29 that have impacted the North American Baptist Fellowship. The NABF includes Baptists from the two predominantly English-speaking nations in North America. It held its…

Faith and Fitness: Divinity student joins worship, fitness discipline

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Claire McKeever, a Baylor University graduate studying for the ministry at Vanderbilt Divinity School, preaches that worship isn’t just for the soul. Claire McKeever leads a Nia dance session at Glendale Baptist Church in Nashville, Tenn….

Y’all means all

Religious liberty ‘is not a sword to harm others,’ Laser says

The stories we tell define us

Whatever happened to heaven?