SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (ABP) – With just a portable heater as defense against the cool night, Kendra Jackson waits for the next group of Christmas celebrants to arrive. The 30-something mother of two daughters is portraying Anna in the interactive Christmas…
Godsey to retire as Mercer president in 2006; search to begin for successor
MACON (ABP) — Kirby Godsey, Mercer University's longest-serving president, announced he will retire in 18 months, and trustees expect to start the search for his successor as early as spring. At a recent trustee meeting, Godsey, 68, revealed his plans…
One-day mission blitz grows into interdenominational effort
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (ABP) — Ten years ago, Snyder Memorial Baptist Church in Fayetteville, N.C., was a church ready for a new challenge. To revitalize the congregation, staff members envisioned a brief local-missions blitz with the ambitious goal of involving more…
CBF partnership with congregational center provides free consultation to churches
ATLANTA (ABP) — The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship has launched a three-year partnership with the Center for Congregational Health, a consulting and training center in Winston-Salem, N.C., to provide a number of consulting services free to churches. The center will provide…
‘Conformity’ trend in state conventions worries some, encourages others
(ABP) — Those who look for denominational trends are disturbed by several recent actions they say are tightening “the noose of conformity” in Baptist life. In a smattering of actions across the Baptist map, several state conventions are narrowing the…
Networks reject UCC ads, citing gay controversies
WASHINGTON (ABP) — Some progressive groups are protesting a decision by two major TV networks to reject advertisements that stress a major Protestant denomination's inclusiveness. The United Church of Christ announced Nov. 30 that negotiations with NBC and CBS officials…
Young adults waiting longer to marry, but may be more happy, stable
WASHINGTON (ABP) — New data from the U.S. Census Bureau confirms young adults are waiting longer to get married. The result, however, may be healthier marriages. Since 1970, the average age at which men marry for the first time rose…
Alabama officials recounting vote to strip racist wording from charter
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (ABP) — Old racial wounds in Alabama are being dredged up as election officials across the state recount votes on a Nov. 2 ballot proposal that, if passed, would remove antiquated racist language from the state Constitution. According…
Ecumenical broadcast features Dallas pastor George Mason
DALLAS (ABP) — George Mason, senior pastor at Wilshire Baptist Church in Dallas, will be the featured preacher for three episodes of a national television and radio program. Mason, pastor of Wilshire for 15 years, will preach on the “Day…