“If I were advising him, I’d tell him to give a one-line speech and say, ‘Hey, at least I'm not a Muslim.’ ” Arsalan Iftikhar The contributing editor to Islamica magazine was referring to the advice he’d give to former…
Baptist missionaries fight cholera outbreak in Haiti
HAUT LIMBE, Haiti (ABP) — A medical missionary couple in Haiti jointly appointed by American Baptists and the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship says it has not yet treated any cholera cases but is focusing on community education and prevention to halt…
ABP honors journalist Charles Overby, other founders of group
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — A founder of Associated Baptist Press recounted the organization’s history Oct. 21 as an effort to maintain a free press in Baptist life. Events in North Carolina earlier in the same day served as a reminder that freedom in…
N.C. Baptist newspaper editor resigns amid defunding threat
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (ABP) — The editor of North Carolina Baptists' newspaper has agreed to resign his post to prevent a threatened motion to defund the publication from being made at the upcoming Baptist State Convention of North Carolina annual meeting. Norman…
Author finds faith and fanaticism in devotion to college football
AUBURN, Ala. (RNS) — Chad Gibbs has been on a pigskin pilgrimage throughout the South, searching for spiritual truth in Tuscaloosa, Baton Rouge, Gainesville and Fayetteville. He grew up a fan of the Alabama Crimson Tide and switched allegiance to…
Who’s in charge? As churches grow, decision-making becomes complex
Baptist churches across the board agree — Jesus Christ is the head of the church. But when it comes to ways Christians discern Christ’s will for their particular congregation, handle its day-to-day administrative chores and make decisions about budget and…
Governing multi-site churches like franchising a business
As some congregations reach out to minister beyond their church campus, many have chosen to begin second or third or more sites under the church umbrella. Adding more sites usually means adjusting the congregation’s governing structure. Glenn Akins, assistant executive…
Can a church be congregational in polity and have elders?
Baptists long have been known as strong advocates of the priesthood of the believer — the idea that every individual can approach God and have a personal relationship with the Creator. Each person has the right to interpret Scripture for…
Carter, Baptist leaders discuss reprise of New Baptist Covenant gathering
ATLANTA (ABP) — A repeat of the 2008 Celebration of a New Baptist Covenant meeting in Atlanta could be in the offing as early as next year, according participants in a recent meeting of North American Baptist leaders called together…
Moderate Baptist group in Georgia closing doors after decade’s work
ATHENS, Ga. (ABP) — A group formed 10 years ago to oppose fundamentalism in the Georgia Baptist Convention has decided to close up shop. The Baptist Heritage Council of Georgia's board of directors voted in September to close the organization…
From the Eastern Shore to Cumberland Gap
STAFF CHANGES • Kenny Horne, to Greenbriar Church, Vansant, as pastor. PERFECT ATTENDANCE: Clover Bottom Baptist Church, Nathalie, celebrated the 46th year of perfect attendance in Sunday school of one of its members, Janie Crews, on Sept. 26. Pictured at…
ASK THE ARCHITECT: Get the most out of your existing facilities
As your building committee journeys through the program workshops with your architect, a concurrent exercise should include a comprehensive look at existing facilities. Know what you have! An existing facilities condition survey conducted by your architect is an invaluable tool…