FALLS CHURCH — The John Leland Center for Theological Studies has set a record enrollment for the fall semester. Leland students getting ready for class at Columbia Baptist Church in Falls Church. Led by an increase in master’s degree students…
Soul-searching evangelicals look toward nonpolitical future
SOUTH HAMILTON, Mass. (RNS) — Repentant for having spent a generation bowing at the altars of church growth and political power, concerned evangelicals gathered recently to search the soul of their movement and find a new way forward. That evangelicals,…
RIGHT or WRONG?
Younger generations in our church don’t seem to connect with stories of Baptist heroes who dealt with the moral crises of their day. So, how can we communicate the values upon which our forebears stood? My education, training and experience…
Another Great Awakening?
Some observers of religion assert a socially transforming spiritual movement is sweeping the globe, resulting in 82,000 conversions to Christianity a day. But only 6,000 of them are in Europe and North America. "I believe we are in the midst…
Biblical principles should guide Christian involvement in social change
Evangelical progressive activist Jim Wallis believes the United States is ripe for another socially transforming spiritual awakening. But as Christians become energized to change the world, they need to avoid the temptation to politicize the gospel, he warns. No caption…
FAITH DIGEST
Lutherans ask Anabaptists’ forgiveness. Lutheran World Federation leaders plan to apologize for their ancestors’ 16th-century persecution of Anabaptists, religious reformers whose direct successors include Mennonites and the Amish and who influenced Baptists. The apology unanimously adopted by the federation council…
Some Christians unplug from social networking
WASHINGTON (RNS)—In the world of faith-based social networking, evangelical Christian leader Mark Oestreicher commanded a huge chunk of cyberspace. Known as “Marko,” the technological hipster amassed 4,000 Facebook friends, 1,500 Twitter followers and 2,000 daily readers of his blog. But…
ABP offers new, revamped e-mail products and content via Facebook, Twitter feeds
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (ABP) — Associated Baptist Press, the nation’s first and only independent news service created by and for Baptists, is set to offer content through several new formats, its leaders announced Nov. 5. The organization — based in Jacksonville,…
Iranians celebrate Holy Spirit movement
PLANO—Persian praise songs resonated through the meeting hall at First Baptist Church in Plano as about 150 worshippers raised their hands and opened their hearts. They rejoiced in the way God’s Spirit is moving among Iranians, and they fervently prayed,…