By Bob Allen After advising Southern Baptist Convention presidents for 29 years as chief parliamentarian during SBC annual meetings, longtime Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) minister Barry McCarty is officially part of the fold. The Christian Index reported recently that…
‘Preacher camp’ inspires sermons, ministries and lives of 6 pastors
By Jeff Brumley Every year, interest grows in a combined worship planning and support group that has forged an unbreakable bond between six Baptist pastors. Known as preacher camp, the annual, closed gathering got a lot of attention on Facebook…
Jimmy Carter says his future ‘in the hands of God’
By Bob Allen Former President Jimmy Carter said he was “surprisingly at ease” after being diagnosed with cancer, which has spread to parts of his brain, in a news conference Aug. 20 at the Carter Center in Atlanta. Carter, 90,…
Minister charged with murder appears in court
By Bob Allen A former Southern Baptist minister charged with murdering his wife appeared in court Aug. 19 in Birmingham, Ala. Attorneys representing Richard Shahan, former children and families pastor and facilities director at First Baptist Church in Birmingham, Ala.,…
Former Union University student pleads guilty to murder
By Bob Allen A former Union University student pleaded guilty Aug. 6 to second-degree murder and tampering with evidence in the 2014 shooting death of his fiancée on the campus of the Baptist affiliated school in Jackson, Tenn. Charlie Pittman,…
From microbiology to ministry, veteran leader retires from ABC-USA regional post
By Vicki Brown When asked why he gave up microbiology and academia for a pastor’s life, Dwight Stinnett always responds that God has a tremendous sense of humor. God’s humor not only led Stinnett into the pastorate, but also to…
Advocate links with CBF to combat payday lending
By Aaron Weaver In the Appalachian foothills of southeast Kentucky, Scarlette Jasper, one of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship’s field personnel, is working to educate others about the debt trap that is predatory lending. Jasper, who was commissioned by CBF in…
Baptist leaders pray for Jimmy Carter
By Bob Allen Condolences and well-wishes worldwide followed an Aug. 12 announcement by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter that he has cancer. “Recent liver surgery revealed that I have cancer that now is in other parts of my body,” the…
One couple tries to ease plight of Africa-to-Europe immigrants
By Greg Warner In past centuries, West Africans were forcibly exported as slaves to work in the New World and Europe. Today, that dangerous and desperate journey exists in a different form. During the slave trade of the 1700s and…