WASHINGTON (ABP) — Despite a first-round defeat for the Federal Marriage Amendment July 14, proponents vowed to continue fighting and say they expect to win. Matt Daniels, president of the Alliance for Marriage, a coalition of Christian and other groups…
Hollifield elected to director’s post in North Carolina Baptist convention
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (ABP) — Milton Hollifield became the 14th executive director-treasurer of the North Carolina Baptist State Convention during a special called convention April 11 — the first in the convention's history. An announced total of 1,066 messengers attended the…
Portland archdiocese files bankruptcy, halts civil suits on molestation claims
PORTLAND, Ore. (ABP) — The archdiocese of Portland, Ore., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the wake of civil lawsuits accusing two parish priests of child molestation. The bankruptcy claim forestalls the trials, which were set to begin June 13….
Pizza magnate building ‘city of God’; Catholics flock while critics mock
NAPLES, Fla. (ABP) — Pizza tycoon Thomas Monaghan, despite rumors to the contrary, will not forbid X-rated movies or ban the sale of contraceptives in his new, faith-based town in Florida. And he will allow you to live there if…
Texas evangelism team sees big results from small
HOUSTON (ABP) — In the shadow of the grand media extravaganza that is the Super Bowl, members of a Texas Baptist evangelism team found that less-publicized actions can have a greater impact. Eight volunteers on the Texas Inner City Evangelism…
NAMB transfers role in Vancouver mission outreach to Canadians
VANCOUVER, B.C. (ABP) — American ministry strategies in a Canadian culture have proven to be an imperfect match, at least for the North American Mission Board's Strategic Focus Cities effort. But ministry leaders at NAMB and within the Canadian Convention…
Pastors say worship makes difference in multiethnic congregations
MESQUITE, Texas (ABP) — When Anglos, Hispanics, African-Americans and Nigerians gather in the same place on Sunday morning, planning worship can be a challenge. “It's a lot more than just a question of hymns or choruses,” said Charlie Brown, pastor…
Senate again votes down marriage amendment
Smyth & Helwys publisher Staton wins state Senate seat in Georgia
MACON, Ga. (ABP) — Cecil Staton, president of Smyth & Helwys Publishing in Macon, Ga., was elected Nov. 2 to fill an open seat in the Georgia state Senate. Staton, a Republican, garnered 61 percent of the votes in the…
CBF funds flood relief in Asia, receives grant for Middle East
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship recently gave two grants totaling $10,000 to key areas of flooding in Asia. Meanwhile, the Fellowship received a $66,000 grant from the W.C. English Foundation to fund a medical consultant in the Middle…
As justices again consider abortion attention turns to shifting court
WASHINGTON (ABP) — As the Supreme Court took up its first major abortion case in five years Nov. 30, attention focused on the body's shifting membership and what that might mean for abortion rights in the future. During oral arguments…
Survey: People in house churches more satisfied than conventional counterparts
VENTURA, Calif. (ABP) — House churches — small groups of 20 or so that regularly meet together for worship in a non-conventional setting — are out-performing more traditional congregations when it comes to satisfying attendees, according to a new survey….