WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (ABP) — A lawsuit filed against First Baptist Church of West Palm Beach claims the church defrauded a mentally ill woman out of her $1.8 million inheritance. Lucinda Bennett, 34, attended First Baptist Church from 1998…
Lone survivor of Iraq shooting upgraded to stable condition
RICHMOND, Va. (ABP) — The lone survivor of a drive-by shooting that killed four Southern Baptist workers in Iraq has been upgraded to stable but critical condition and is “doing well” in a German hospital, according to an International Mission…
Four Southern Baptist missionaries killed in Iraq drive-by shooting
MOSUL, Iraq (ABP) — Four Southern Baptist missionaries were killed and a fifth critically injured in a drive-by shooting March 15 in Iraq. The International Mission Board team was in Mosul, Iraq, researching the needs for future humanitarian projects. The…
CORRECTION
CORRECTION: There is an identification error in the March 11 ABP story, “BWA Executive Committee issues statement on SBC flap.” In the eighth paragraph, the writer identified Fausto de Vasconcelos as “director of BWA's evangelism and education division.” That is…
Louisiana College president leaves, VP resigns, as trustees weather protests
PINEVILLE, La. (ABP) — The president and academic vice president are leaving Louisiana College, a Baptist school that has been embroiled in a controversy over academic freedom. Rory Lee, president for seven years, announced March 15 he is leaving at…
Pentecostals lead modest growth in U.S. church membership
NEW YORK (ABP) — The number of Protestants — particularly Pentecostals — continues to increase in the United States, with a fourth Pentecostal denomination joining the list of 25 largest U.S. religious bodies. The new numbers come from the 2004…
Many Protestant ministers not willing to serve small churches, study says
DURHAM, N.C. (ABP) — Although there are more Protestant ministers than churches, many ministers don't want to work for those congregations, especially smaller ones, according to a study by Duke University. While nearly every denomination surveyed has more than one…
Missouri leaders will continue suit, but legal road may prove rocky
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (ABP) — Despite a legal setback, Missouri Baptist Convention leaders will continue their lawsuit against five institutions that have removed themselves from the convention's control. The convention's lead attorney in the case, Michael Whitehead, said he will…
Former SBC president Rogers has heart bypass surgery
CORDOVA, Tenn. (ABP) — Adrian Rogers, one of the most prominent pastors in America, had successful heart bypass surgery March 16. Rogers, pastor of the 27,000-member Bellevue Baptist Church in suburban Memphis, Tenn., was president of the Southern Baptist Convention…