BOONES MILL, Va. — When Darrell Hunley became the pastor of Gethsemane Baptist Church in Boones Mill, his background caused him to be sensitive to the emotional, as well as spiritual, needs of the surrounding county. Hunley, who is board…
Statement is first-ever consensus on religious expression and law
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A diverse group of leaders who often find themselves on opposite sides of the contentious battles at the intersection of church and state joined forces Jan. 12 to unveil an unprecedented consensus statement aimed at advancing public understanding…
Is there common ground on abortion? Both sides say, probably not
WASHINGTON (RNS) — On the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, anti-abortion activists prepare for the annual March for Life and their counterparts plan religious services to pray for the safety of abortion providers. But, 37 years after the…
FAITH DIGEST
University can reject Christian courses. The University of California has the right to reject courses taught at Christian high schools, a federal appeals court ruled Jan. 12. Calvary Chapel Christian School in Murrieta, Calif., and the Association of Christian Schools…
Heavenly songs drive home gospel message
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — While working on songs for a new album, most songwriters don’t read the book of Revelation over and over again for inspiration. But that’s exactly what singer/songwriter Phil Wickham did to prepare for the release of his…
Israel’s Messianic Jews wary of stepped-up persecution
ARIEL, West Bank (RNS) — After their teenage son was nearly killed by a bomb disguised as a holiday gift basket, few people were as eager for Ya’acov Teitel to see justice as Leah and David Ortiz. Teitel, an Orthodox…
Cindy McCain’s comments–What do you think?
Earthquake shakes, but doesn’t tumble, faith of Haitians
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (RNS) — Did God abandon Haiti? No, say its people of faith — and there are many here in a place without much beyond faith. The earthquake was a sign of God’s presence. So, it should be no…
Church scores with men on football Sunday, attracting crowd to service
EAST ORANGE, N.J. (RNS) — Pastor Dwight Gill figures if there is one thing that will bring more men to church, it’s football. So, at New Hope Baptist Church, NFL doesn’t stand for National Football League, but rather for New…
Coaches have potential to teach Christian understanding of life
ABILENE, Texas — Christian coaches are in a position to teach far more than Xs and Os, a Hardin-Simmons University professor believes. Bob Moore, professor of fitness and sports science at the Baptist school, considers sports fallow ground for teaching…
Gridirons, goals & God: Christian athletes use spotlight to share faith
When Colt McCoy of the University of Texas expressed his faith in an interview following the Longhorns’ BCS championship game loss to Alabama Jan. 7, the quarterback placed himself in a growing cadre of Christian athletes becoming increasingly vocal about…
EDITORIAL: Seeing the vision and living the dream
As I write these lines, the calendar says it is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, and I’m in a reflective mood. Since my introduction to American Indians came via a round-screened Zenith television set in the mid 1950s, I viewed…