NORMAN, Okla. (ABP) — For his presence at so many hopeful beginnings and persistence in the midst of difficult stretches, Associated Baptist Press is honoring Oklahoman Bob Stephenson with its Founders Award. Bob Stephenson Stephenson, 83, a retired geologist and…
Kentucky association ousts church for opening doors to pro-gay group
OWENSBORO, Ky. (ABP) – A Baptist association in Kentucky voted 242-24 on Aug. 5 in favor of a recommendation from its credentials committee to remove a church that allows a gay-rights group to meet in its building. “Grace takes it…
Police ask judge to dismiss lawsuit over shooting of Georgia pastor
GAINESVILLE, Ga. (ABP) – Two north Georgia police officers have asked a federal judge to dismiss a lawsuit against them for their use of deadly force in a 2009 shooting that claimed the life of a Baptist pastor. A Stephens…
Lottie Moon’s death story a myth, new book contends
"Lottie Moon: A Southern Baptist Missionary to China in History and Legend" is published by Louisiana State University Press. BATON ROUGE, La. (ABP) – A new book challenges the familiar story of Lottie Moon, a Southern Baptist missionary martyr who…
Missouri Baptist Foundation elects president
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — The Missouri Baptist Foundation has named Christopher "Chris" Calmer as its new president. With a unanimous vote on Aug. 12, the board of trustees approved the nomination of Calmer as president, effective immediately. Chris Calmer…
Progressive National Baptist Convention celebrates 50 years
This story was corrected after its original posting WASHINGTON (ABP) – The Progressive National Baptist Convention celebrated its 50th anniversary with a tribute to 93-year-old Gardner Taylor, widely regarded as one of the nation’s greatest preachers. On Thursday of the…
BTSR announces new staff members
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond named a new vice president of advancement and a director of community life in early August. Tim Heilman Timothy Heilman assumed the vice president’s position on Aug. 1, becoming the seminary…
Can technology usher in another Pentecost?
DALLAS (ABP) — Texas Baptists are partnering with a non-denominational ministry to harness online language-translation technology that advocates say could be the best tool for cross-cultural evangelism since Pentecost. Called Hope Chat, the tool harnesses the power of ABBY, an…
Equipping the equippers
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — Call it a buzz word, a euphemism for the emergent movement or a description of profound shifts in ecclesiology, the term "missional" is entrenched in the vocabulary of 21st century Christianity. Since 2002, Wilshire Baptist Church…