COLUMBIA, Mo. — Judy Baker could push her faith as a cornerstone as a candidate for public office. After all, in addition to earning a master's degree in healthcare administration at the University of Missouri, she also holds a master of…
Are religious litmus tests for public office appropriate?
While the U.S. Constitution specifically spells out that no religious litmus test should be used to determine who holds office, Christians still grapple with if and how their faith should inform their choice in candidates. And they often use the…
Making choices in a fallen world is essential
Passion and conviction often direct a Christian in choosing public servants. Economic concerns, social justice issues, foreign policy or a host of other issues can be of primary concern. But suppose Candidate A’s approach on one issue matches but his…
Bearing false witness is still a sin, even in campaign
People of faith must measure the truthfulness of what they hear and see during an election year — and they must be especially careful about the information they pass along. Believers should weigh information they glean or that they receive…
In media coverage, learn to recognize bias, reliability
Voters want and need reliable and truthful information about candidates at all levels of government and from all political perspectives. But in an information age that overwhelms the electorate with sheer volume at breakneck speed, what factors should people of…
Missionaries heading from East to West
Western Christians often think in terms of West-to-East movement when missionaries are sent to other countries. But more and more frequently, evangelicals are coming from the East to evangelize the West. According to Dale Irwin of New York Theological Seminary…
Baptist agencies don’t recruit nationals for U.S.service
RICHMOND, Va. — Baptist missionary-sending agencies currently do not actively seek missionaries from other countries to minister to unreached or least-reached people groups in the United States, nor or they likely to do so. When the Southern Baptist Convention authorized…
WMU advocates for children victimized by trafficking
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The sticker in the hotel window reassured the visitor — this business would help protect children from predators while they and their parents are guests. "The Child Safe Zone," a project of Georgia Woman's Missionary Union and…
Cooperation among Baptists developed slowly but took root deeply
Mention "cooperation" and many Baptists think of the Cooperative Program, the Southern Baptist Convention's unified giving plan. But Baptists may have forgotten that instead of money, cooperation historically grew around accomplishing kingdom work together — primarily missions — when churches…