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…
Russian Baptists alarmed by proposed changes to religion law
MOSCOW (ABP) — Russian Baptist leaders have raised concerns about proposed revisions to the nation's religion law — changes they contend would greatly curtail religious freedom in Russia. Yuri Sipko, president of the Russian Union of Evangelical Christians-Baptists wrote Russian…
BMS World Mission writes prime minister about global warming
DIDCOT, England (ABP) — The urgent need for action on global climate change is the subject on which a 217-year-old British Baptist missionary-sending organization has chosen to write what its leaders believe to be the group's first-ever open letter to…
State Department religious-freedom report cites concerns in familiar, new places
WASHINGTON (ABP) — An independent government panel that monitors global religious-freedom conditions thanked the State Department for its latest comprehensive report on the subject Oct. 26, but said the administration could move more boldly to protect freedom of conscience in…
VBMB executive director John Upton explains board budgeting decision
John Upton, executive director of both the Baptist General Association of Virginia and the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, released this letter Oct. 15 following the Oct. 13-14 meeting of the Mission Board at Eagle Eyrie Baptist Conference Center: Dear Virginia…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Jim Rizer, now serving as pastor of Burrows Memorial Church, Norfolk. • Matthew Tennant, to Kilmarnock Church, Kilmarnock, as pastor. INSTALLATION: Dan Stanley was installed as pastor of Berryville Baptist Church in Berryville on Sept. 13. On…
Cuban Baptist leaders reportedly released from jail, say sources
LAKELAND, Fla. (ABP) — Two Cuban Baptist leaders held two weeks while authorities investigated what they regarded as suspicious economic activity have reportedly been released from jail. Pancho Garcia-Ruiz Rubén Ortiz-Columbié, 68, and Francisco "Pancho" Garcia-Ruiz, 46, were arrested Oct….
SBC leader apologizes for Nazi analogy regarding Obama plan
NEW YORK (ABP) — The head of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission has apologized for comparing Democratic health-care proposals to policies of Nazi Germany. ERLC President Richard Land reportedly told a Christian Coalition of Florida banquet…
Jailed Cuban Baptists accused of illegal economic activity
MIAMI (ABP) — Cuban authorities say two Baptist leaders held in jail for 11 days in a city on the eastern end of the island are suspected of illegal economic activities. Associated Baptist Press first reported Oct. 13 that Rubén…