HOUSTON (ABP) — God is calling Hispanic Baptists to overcome the “giants” of poverty, lack of education and ingrained religious traditions in their communities, a seminary professor told a Texas group. Speaking at the Baptist General Convention of Texas' Hispanic…
Pastor-lawyer combines talents to help immigrants gain legal status
MCKINNEY, Texas (ABP) — Before Alex Camacho felt God's call to ministry, he planned to become a lawyer. Now he combines his passion for God, law and the Hispanic community into his roles as director of Immigration Services — a…
House panel OKs faith-based bill as another lawsuit is filed
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Even as a House panel passed a bill Feb. 17 that would allow religious groups receiving federal funds for job training to discriminate in employment decisions, two civil-rights groups filed a lawsuit in Pennsylvania challenging the constitutionality…
Austin woman believes citizens can shape immigration policy
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Carmelita Hernandez believes one person can make a difference, even when it comes to big issues like shaping United States immigration policy. And a new law proposed by the Bush administration may offer proof. Hernandez, a…
Congress expected to address ‘broken’ immigration system
AUSTIN, Texas (ABP) — Expect to see change in United States immigration policy during this congressional session, said Baptist activist Suzii Paynter. “Our system is very broken, and the president has made it a priority” to fix the situation, said…
N.Y. judge says state constitution requires marriage for gays
NEW YORK (ABP) — A state judge has ordered New York City officials to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples on an equal basis with heterosexual couples. On Feb. 4, New York Supreme Court Justice Doris Ling-Cohan said a law…
Bush asks for deep social-service cuts, which some say hurt nation’s families
WASHINGTON (ABP) — President Bush is proposing a $2.57 trillion federal budget for fiscal year 2006 that would substantially cut or eliminate many domestic social programs while creating or boosting funding for a handful of others that would be open…
Rising costs prompt NAMB to cut medical benefits for future retirees
ATLANTA (ABP) — The North American Mission Board has eliminated some benefits for retiring employees in order to cut costs, prompting some of the SBC agency's 1,100 insured employees and missionaries to retire sooner than planned rather than lose the…
Gregory named to part-time position at Georgetown College in Kentucky
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (ABP) — Joel Gregory, former pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, has been named a distinguished fellow at Georgetown College in Kentucky. In that part-time consulting role, Gregory will visit the campus several times a year and…