Interview by Robert Dilday Twenty-five years is a long time in national public policy life. How is the religious-liberty landscape different than it was 25 years ago? The religious-liberty landscape is definitely different. In some ways, religious liberty is in…
Dean Smith’s pastor remembers him as courageous
By Norman Jameson Some idols hold up under scrutiny. Dean Smith, known best to the world as the man who built University of North Carolina basketball into a program of consistent national significance, died Feb. 7 three weeks short of…
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…
CBF field personnel laments death sentence for two ‘Bali Nine’ members
By Jeff Brumley Australia and much of the rest of Asia are caught up in an international media and political storm swirling around the so-called Bali Nine as two of the group of drug smugglers are scheduled for execution in…
Alabama Baptist minister offers to marry same-sex couples
By Bob Allen A Baptist minister with childhood memories of her parents supporting African Americans in the struggle for civil rights saw Monday’s introduction of gay marriage to Alabama as a chance to make her own mark on history. Ellin…
Former Baptist blogger resigns as congressional aide over Facebook posts
By Bob Allen A congressional aide who 10 years ago as a young pastor helped introduce social media as a force in the Southern Baptist Convention, has resigned his job in Washington following controversy over Facebook posts criticized as racially…
Women feel spirit while leading Baptist communion service
By Jeff Brumley An all-woman team served communion at Spring Creek Baptist Church last Sunday. That was Pastor John Jay Alvaro’s idea of taking the Martha Stearns Marshall Month of Preaching to a new level at his Oklahoma City church….
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….
Pastor reflects on ‘exorbitant amount’ of funerals he’s preached
By Jeff Brumley For many pastors, two to three funerals a month is either average to a little high. For Barry Howard, that’s a light month. Howard, senior minister at First Baptist Church in Pensacola, Fla., said he’s seen as…
SBC leader says Marcus Borg redefined Christianity
By Bob Allen The liberal, intellectual approach to Christianity pioneered by recently deceased Jesus scholar Marcus Borg isn’t the Christianity taught in the Bible, a Southern Baptist theologian and seminary president said Jan. 28. Borg, 72, a driving force in…
Missionary couple brings international mission field to N.C.
By Jeff Brumley International mission work is taking on a whole different look — at least the way it’s being practiced by some Baptists in North Carolina. And yes, that means in North Carolina, not Uganda or Costa Rica or anywhere…
Missouri pastor excited about expanded role at Metro Baptist in NYC
By Vicki Brown and Jeff Brumley Kirkwood, Mo., has benefitted from Scott Stearman’s passion for urban ministry, social justice, human rights and the believer’s role in making a kingdom difference on earth. Now, New York City will benefit from that…