FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (ABP)—Presbyterian minister James Kennedy died Sept. 5, little more than a week after he retired from the pulpit that helped him launch both evangelistic and political ministries. Kennedy, who was 76, had served nearly half a century…
Baptists active on both sides in the Little Rock integration battle
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (ABP)—The story of Lakeshore Drive Baptist Church in Little Rock, Ark., encapsulates the little-recounted role that white Baptists played during the Civil Rights Movement—on both sides. The church owes its existence to the 1957-59 struggle to integrate…
Minorities flocking to multi-ethnic campus groups for fellowship
DALLAS (ABP)—Anglo students continue to primarily populate college evangelical organizations, but ethnic minority students have started to join them in increasing numbers. Two of the nation's largest parachurch campus evangelical organizations, Campus Crusade for Christ and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, stress…
Passing the torch: When a longtime pastor leaves, succession can be sticky
When the only pastor an entire generation at a church has known leaves, there's no set model for ensuring a smooth transition, experts say. The right way to do it at one time in a church's history may be wrong…
The church has a new pastor. When will it start to feel normal?
NEW YORK (ABP)—When a beloved pastor leaves a church, the replacement often faces an uphill battle in winning the trust and respect of the congregation. Sometimes, the newcomer faces a challenge simply in getting people to remember his name. Winfred…
SBC candidate calls for God’s wrath against AU
BUENA PARK, Calif. (ABP) — An early candidate for the presidency of the Southern Baptist Convention has called on Baptists to pray for misfortune to befall employees of a church-state watchdog group. Wiley Drake, a pastor, radio crusader and Baptist…
Another prominent SBC church beset by strife
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (ABP) — The integrity of another prominent Southern Baptist pastor has been called into question by members of his megachurch — this one in the shadow of the Southern Baptist Convention's headquarters. Local and national news agencies have…
Will Huckabee’s strong showing bring support to campaign?
WASHINGTON — Could a Baptist preacher become the Republican Party's vice-presidential nominee — or more? Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee's surprisingly strong showing in the Aug. 11 Iowa Straw Poll has significantly raised the profile of the pastor-turned-politician. But if…
Pentagon investigation faults generals for endorsing evangelical ministry
WASHINGTON (ABP) — A group of high-ranking Pentagon officials improperly endorsed and aided an evangelical Christian ministry, according to a Defense Department investigation recently made public. The Department of Defense inspector general's report was dated July 20 and released to…