Baptist News Global

Churches pressure travel industry on sex trafficking

WASHINGTON (RNS)—Faith groups are using their collective influence and financial wherewithal to press the travel and hospitality industry to take greater steps to protect children from sex trafficking. Increasing numbers of church groups and other religious bodies say it's not…

House extends hate crimes law to include violence against homosexuals

WASHINGTON (RNS)—The House of Representatives has voted to extend hate crimes legislation to add protections for homosexuals, bisexuals and people with gender-identity issues in the same way people are protected because of race or creed. Democratic leaders called it a…

What people don’t know about religion can hurt them

BOSTON (RNS)—What Americans don't know about religion is sometimes funny. For instance, when Jay Leno interviewed people on the street recently, someone told him God made Eve out of an apple. Americans' ignorance also makes for some astonishing statistics. Ten…

Does Gore trump Gideons at hotel?

SAN FRANCISCO (RNS)—Reports that Al Gore has replaced God—at least in one California hotel—have been greatly exaggerated, the hotel's developer said. The Gaia Napa Valley Hotel and Spa, located 35 miles north of San Francisco, made headlines after a media…

FAITH DIGEST

CHRISTIAN WORSHIP EXPERT WEBBER DIES. Robert Webber, an influential expert on Christian worship, died April 27 in Sawyer, Mich., after suffering from pancreatic cancer. He was 73. Webber, a professor of ministry at Northern Seminary in Lombard, Ill., the last…

Trustees soften controversial IMB policies

KANSAS CITY, MO. (ABP) — Controversial policies for missionaries on baptism and speaking in tongues were slightly softened—but not revoked—by trustees of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board May 8. The trustees, meeting in Kansas City, approved an ad…

Baylor professor becomes Catholic, resigns as head of evangelical group

WACO, Texas—Renowned evangelical philosopher Francis Beckwith has become a Roman Catholic and, as a result, has resigned as president—and also as a member—of the Evangelical Theological Society. Beckwith, associate professor of church-state studies at Baylor University in Waco, Texas, said…

ABP board honors three, moves ahead with partnership

DALLAS (ABP)—The board of the nation's only independent news service for Baptists honored two Baptist communicators and a Dallas congregation for their contributions to the cause of Christian journalism April 27. Meeting in Dallas, directors of Associated Baptist Press also…

Hispanics transforming nation’s religious landscape

WASHINGTON (RNS)—About half the nation's Hispanics —including many who are Roman Catholic—consider themselves charismatics or Pentecostals, creating a new confluence of streams in American Christianity, a new study has revealed. “Simply put, Latinos are transforming the nation's religious landscape,” said…

BAPTIST BRIEFS

HERITAGE & HISTORY SOCIETY TO PRESENT AWARDS. The Baptist Heritage & History Society will honor a church historian, a student, a denominational entity, a state convention executive and three ministers at an awards luncheon scheduled in conjunction with its annual…

Holy Spirit conference decries lack of unity

ARLINGTON, Texas (ABP)—Pentecost and coming of the Holy Spirit are largely overlooked in Baptist churches, Pastor Dwight McKissic said at his Baptist Conference on the Holy Spirit. That lack of awareness is Baptists' loss, said McKissic and many of the…

Bible Society building bombed in Gaza incident

GAZA CITY, Palestine (ABP) — In the latest violence among warring Palestinian factions, a bomb severely damaged the Palestinian Bible Society building April 15 in Gaza City. The building, located in the city center, housed the Teacher's Bookshop, Gaza's only…

Nobody dislikes Southern Baptists more than Al Mohler

Trump EEOC claims more religious discrimination on vaccine mandates

What I wish Christians knew about Sharia Law

On telling a brother he is going to hell