She’d lost her husband to a terrible, slow disease and now had just buried her son. I asked her how she was. “Some days, she said, “I just stand in the middle of my house and scream.” What a wise…
On baptism and peace
Baptism was abused and used violently as a form of capital punishment in 16th century Europe, a time of significant Anabaptist persecution. The death method of choice was drowning in order to mock believer’s baptism. Water has the amazing capacity…
Funeral arrangements set for Glen Stassen
By Bob Allen A viewing and memorial service for Glen Stassen, a Baptist ethicist and originator of the “just peacemaking” opposition to war, is scheduled this weekend at First Baptist Church in Pasadena, Calif. Viewing is scheduled 5-8 p.m. on…
Glen Stassen, Baptist peacemaker, dead at 78
By Bob Allen Glen Stassen, an evangelical peace activist who taught Christian ethics more than 50 years, died April 26 in Pasadena, Calif., months after being diagnosed with metastatic prostate cancer. Stassen, 78, the Lewis B. Smedes Professor of Christian…
Former WMU leader Willene Pierce dies
By Bob Allen Willene Pierce, a former leader in Woman’s Missionary Union and the Baptist World Alliance, who in 1997 launched a full-time ministry with Native American women, died March 18. Pierce, 71, accepted Christ in 1952 during a revival…
Fred Phelps, dead at 84, leaves behind legacy of hate
By Bob Allen Fred Phelps, founding pastor of Westboro Baptist Church in Topeka, Kan., is dead at age 84, family members confirmed to local media. Phelps’ son, Timothy, told Topeka television station WIBW that his father died late Wednesday night….
CBF leaders remember Tom Cleary
By Bob Allen Cooperative Baptist Fellowship leaders shared fond memories of Tom Cleary, one of the first field personnel appointed by the Decatur, Ga.-based CBF, who died March 19 in Tampa, Fla., after emergency surgery for a ruptured aneurysm the…
Tom Cleary dies, was one of first missionaries appointed by CBF
By Bob Allen Tom Cleary, one of the first global missions field personnel appointed by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship, died after suffering a ruptured aneurysm March 15, CBF Florida Coordinator Ray Johnson reported in an e-newsletter March 19. Cleary served…
Learning to suffer
I find it extremely ironic that the Church, which claims to be the embodiment the lamb that was slain, has such a difficult time ministering to those who are suffering. When tragedy strikes us, many congregants, deacons, and even some…
Should CVS Caremark be praised or confronted?
CVS is my pharmacy of choice. I am in their store a couple of times per month. I have always been aware they sell tobacco products. Yet I hardly notice them since I have no interest. Recently they announced that…
Praying for death
A year ago we took my mother home on hospice care. She died three days later, mercifully freed from a series of chronic health problems that were cascading out of control. But getting her out of the hospital—her sixth time…
Longtime missions prof Bryant Hicks dies
By Bob Allen A memorial service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18, at Lyndon Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky., for W. Bryant Hicks, a longtime missions professor at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary who died Jan. 12 at age…