Baptist News Global

IRS probe clears Focus on the Family despite Dobson’s 2004 endorsements

WASHINGTON (ABP) — The Colorado-based Focus on the Family ministry will retain its tax-exempt status despite the fact that the group's founder endorsed President Bush and other Republican candidates in the 2004 elections. James Dobson, who founded the ministry in…

Providing clean water in Macedonia is life-giving work, ecologist says

ATLANTA (ABP) — When Darrell Smith explains the development work he does in Macedonia, he often tells the story from Luke's gospel of Jesus cleansing the lepers. “Jesus healed them simply because they asked,” said Smith, who is affiliated with…

Calif. pastor/seminary president to join SBC presidential field

SAN FRANCISCO (ABP) — Bill Wagner, California college president and pastor who also was a long-time employee of the Southern Baptist Convention's International Mission Board, has said he will run for the SBC presidency next year. Wagner, who wrote How…

Race: The final frontier

When Anglos, Hispanics, African-Americans and Nigerians gather in the same place on Sunday morning, planning worship presents challenges. “Its a lot more than just a question of hymns or choruses,” said Charlie Brown, pastor of The Crossing Baptist Church in…

Opportunities, challenges confront increasingly multi-ethnic congregation

DALLAS—Soon after Pastor Bruce Troy arrived at Gaston Oaks Baptist Church in Dallas, he challenged a group in the congregation to answer one question: “What would you do if God put 100 people on your doorstep?” Three years later, Troy…

Aging minister recalls price paid for recognizing God’s image in all people

HILLICOTHE, Mo.—When Norman Shands made a vow to God 65 years ago, he couldn't have imagined that it would thrust him into the center of the Civil Rights Movement in Atlanta. The vow—that he would view and treat every person…

Baptists active on both sides in the Little Rock integration battle

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP)—The story of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., encapsulates the little-recounted role that white Baptists played during the Civil Rights Movement—on both sides. The church owes its existence to the 1957-59 struggle to integrate…

Transformed: YEC premiers new name, location

More than 1,250 Virginia Baptists flocked to Richmond in August for the annual youth evangelism conference — now called Youth Encounter. About 160 made professions of faith or commitments to Christian service during the two days. Alice Rusher Starfield, an…

FIRST PERSON: Special needs ministry makes difference at church

RUCKERSVILLE, Va. — The special needs ministry at Spring Hill Baptist Church in Ruckersville is exciting, vibrant and growing. But it hasn't always been that way. When my family moved here nearly seven years ago so I could join the…

The death of truth

How the Dallas Statement led to the Antioch Declaration

Russell Vought: The gung-ho Christian nationalist who helps Trump be Trump

Battle continues over Louisiana Ten Commandments law