ATLANTA (ABP) — Celebrity-driven campaigns like Save Darfur and Invisible Children are popular, but in some cases, they do more harm than good, according to a Baptist scholar who specializes in African politics, conflict and international affairs. “Advocacy needs to…
Some foreign aid helps, others do more harm than good, experts assert
Even though the Green Bay Packers won this year’s Super Bowl 31-25, up to 100,000 individuals in developing countries are wearing new T-shirts erroneously labeling the losing Pittsburgh Steelers as NFL champions. For marketing purposes, the NFL preprinted memorabilia for…
SBC’s Executive Committee inaugurates new president and CEO
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Leaders of the Southern Baptist Convention gathered Feb. 21 to witness a new chapter in denominational life with the inauguration of Frank Page as president and CEO of the SBC Executive Committee. Page, a former pastor…
Church membership trends unchanged
NEW YORK (ABP) — Pentecostals, Mormons and Jehovah's Witnesses gained ground, mainline churches continued to decline and growth in the largest two denominations — Roman Catholics and Southern Baptists — remained stagnant, according to new statistics compiled by the National…
Churches view social networking as ministry tool
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP)—With the Internet closing in on television as Americans’ main source of national and international news, churches increasingly are viewing social-networking applications like Facebook as ministry tools. “Social networking tools have become an integral part of most people’s…
Morris Ashcraft dies, helped establish Baptist Seminary at Richmond
EVANSTON, Ill. (ABP) — Morris Ashcraft, a longtime seminary professor and administrator who after retiring helped establish Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond, died Jan. 29 after a long illness. He was 88. An Arkansas native, Ashcraft taught five years at…
Belmont adds sexual orientation to anti-discrimination policy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Belmont University trustees voted Jan. 26 to add sexual orientation to the historically Baptist school’s anti-discrimination policy. In December Belmont parted ways with a successful women’s soccer coach after she told her team that she and…
Wiley Drake mulling run for president of Southern Baptist Convention
BUENA PARK, Calif. (ABP) — A former Southern Baptist Convention vice president criticized by denominational leaders two years ago for controversial comments concerning Barack Obama is considering allowing his nomination for SBC president in 2011. Wiley Drake, pastor of First…
Academy for Spiritual Formation blends learning, discipline, community
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — Growing up in a Baptist church and later working part-time as a youth minister, Johnny Sears always believed his faith had to go deeper than a set of beliefs or activities. “How do we take prayer…