By Bob Allen The pastor of First Baptist Church in Lafayette, La., urged church members to pray and be open for “conversations about Jesus” after a deadly shooting in a movie theater in their hometown July 23. “After every mass…
Pastor’s killer ruled not guilty due to insanity
By Bob Allen An Illinois man who six years ago shot and killed a Southern Baptist minister in a Sunday morning worship service has been found not guilty by reason of insanity and will likely spend the rest of his…
New Orleans Baptist church rocked by abuse arrest
By Bob Allen A Southern Baptist youth minister fired by his church after he was seen on surveillance video sneaking into a closet with a 14-year-old girl faces up to 10 years in prison on a charge of sexual battery….
Judge denies change of venue for Union University murder trial
By Bob Allen A judge in Jackson, Tenn., has turned down a request to move a former Union University student’s murder trial to another county claiming that pre-trial publicity would make it impossible to seat an impartial jury. As a…
Former children’s minister pleads not guilty to murder
By Bob Allen An Alabama Baptist minister accused of fatally stabbing his wife in the home they rented from their church in 2013 pleaded not guilty to murder in a pretrial hearing and arraignment in a Birmingham, Ala., courtroom Feb….
Baptist pastor charged with abuse
By Bob Allen An American Baptist pastor in New York state is under arrest on felony charges of sexually abusing a 9-year-old girl. New York State Police arrested Thomas Wilson, 63, of Watertown, N.Y., on one count of first-degree sexual…
Trial postponed for accused Baptist preacher
By Bob Allen The trial of a Missouri Baptist preacher charged with child sexual abuse has been continued until Jan. 16, according to court documents quoted by a local newspaper. Travis R. Smith, 44, arrested in 2012 on felony charges…
For such a time as this
In the Old Testament Book of Esther, we are told a story about how the very existence of a certain group of people was threatened because of the anger of one man towards them. This man made threats to wipe…
Youth pastor charged with child abuse
By Bob Allen A former youth pastor at a Southern Baptist church in Charlottesville, Va., is under arrest for the alleged sexual assault of a child under his care. Jacob Daniel “Jake” Kepple, 35, resigned his post at First Baptist…