WASHINGTON (ABP) – An interfaith leader criticized presidential candidate Herman Cain for “at best” misunderstanding the First Amendment and at worst “a blatant attempt to spread Islamophobia for political gain.” Cain, a businessman and political commentator running as a Republican,…
Obama supports repeal of federal marriage law
WASHINGTON (ABP) – President Obama lent his support July 19 to legislation that would repeal a 1996 law barring recognition of gay marriage by the federal government. The president has said before that he supports legislative repeal of the Defense…
NYT says Michele Bachmann now a Baptist
STILLWATER, Minn. (ABP) – Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, in the news for recently severing ties with a church in a conservative Lutheran denomination accused in the past of being anti-Catholic, may have found a new spiritual home among Baptists….
Gaddy chastises TV station for belittling Mormonism
WASHINGTON (ABP) – A Baptist minister who heads a national interfaith group criticized a Fox broadcasting affiliate in Memphis, Tenn., for airing a news story ridiculing presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s Mormon faith. Earlier this month WHBQ Fox13 aired a segment where…
After 59 years, Bible teacher has no plans to move beyond first grade
GARLAND, Texas (ABP) — Sylvia Vaughan began teaching a first-grade Sunday school class at First Baptist Church in Garland, Texas, in 1952, and she’s never looked back. “I’ve never thought of stopping. I never get frustrated with it. Even on the…
Layman’s vision enables church to provide ministerial internship
MONT BELVIEU, Texas (ABP) — Twenty-five years ago, Frank Phillips felt God burdened his heart with desire to make it a little easier for people who feel a call to ministry to see it become reality. About five years ago,…
Unsung Heroes
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (ABP) — Tapping passion and giftedness—and an understanding of every job as ministry— may be the best way to find willing workers to fill those unglamorous and least-recognized posts in church life. A passionate beginning Passion springs from…
Custodian keeps church neat and clean for four decades
PADUCAH, Texas (ABP) — If cleanliness is next to godliness, Gilbert Mercado wants First Baptist Church in Paducah, Texas, to be the most godly church around. He’s been the custodian there more than 40 years. Mercado started cleaning the church…
Computer system works behind the scenes to help churches meet needs
DALLAS (ABP) — Dallas Baptist Association recently improved its online CityServe system to link community needs, church resources and volunteers. Congregations and individuals who use the upgraded online resource may appreciate the way the association has made it easier to…